September 2008
CR Quick Recommendations Antiphishing tools

These tools check sites against an online database of known phishing sites. Most alert you, via a popup or other message, if a site is suspect; you can still proceed to the site if you choose. We tested the antiphishing components of the software we tested in our Security Suite Ratings, browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox, free antiphishing add-ons for your browser, and spam filters with antiphishing claims. The Antiphishing Tool Ratings reflect performance. The Quick Picks are high performers that are free. We recommend that you use at least one.


Quick Picks
Free add-ons for use with any browser:
McAfee SiteAdvisor
Netcraft Toolbar

These are especially recommended if you’re not confident that the security software or browser you use blocks sites dependably. SiteAdvisor also comes bundled with the McAfee Internet Security Suite.
September 2008
printable version
 

CR Quick Pick
 Security suites

Quick Picks
Adequate protection at no cost:
A free suite

Though lighter in features than most suites, these three online programs will probably suffice if you practice careful computing, and they won’t tax your computer’s resources. The Avira AntiVir Personal Edition Classic 7 (replaced by Free Antivirus 8, which claims faster scan speed and other enhancements) provides good virus protection. But it might take a bit longer than the best suites to recognize a new virus or might occasionally flag a safe file as a threat. Microsoft Windows Defender, built into the Vista operating system and available as a free download, rivaled the best suites against spyware and adware. SPAMfighter Standard is a very good supplement to the spam filter in your
e-mail application if you require it.
Best choice for optimal protection:
BitDefender Internet Security 2008 $50

Consistently very good in performance and fairly rich in features, including the best array of antivirus tools of the high-rated suites. Drawbacks compared with most suites include a few more false positives and a bit less information about tagged sites, requiring a little more research than others to determine whether a site is in fact a threat.

Fine choice for a newer computer:
McAfee Internet Security Suite with SiteAdvisor $50

Best used with at least 2 gigabytes of memory, found on newer computers. This suite is feature-rich, performs comparably to BitDefender, and is among the most effective against spam and phishing. Its $40 annual renewal fee is less than half that of the Kaspersky. But it’s a little less effective than the other top performers at detecting spyware and adware.


Best browser in our tests:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7

If you’re already using Internet Explorer 7, you need only activate its antiphishing protection. If your browser is Firefox, upgrade to Firefox 3; while it arrived too late for our tests, it promises to provide better protection than Firefox 2.