F-Secure Internet Security Suite 2010/2011

Families that need to control Internet access for younger children and teens will find much to like about F-Secure Internet Security 2010/2011. Parental controls can be set to accommodate various user types, including time limits imposed on Web surfing. Website safety ratings and browser exploit detection also ensure that time spent surfing is safe. A slimmer footprint ensures ease of use even on older PCs or netbooks and is particularly attractive for gamers. Retailing at $59.99 for use on up to 3 PCs, F-Secure Internet Security 2010/2011 offers protection the whole family can enjoy.

F-Secure Internet Security 2010/2011 combines antivirus and firewall with beefed up Web security, parental controls, spam filtering, and behavior analysis. The behavior analyzer, dubbed DeepGuard, warns when programs or files attempt potentially malicious actions. This can be particularly useful protection when confronted with a never before seen threat for which signatures are not yet available. The downside of all the extra protection can be a slight delay when the on-access scanner does detect a malicious file, but other than that performance is quite impressive.

Processes needed by F-Secure Internet Security 2010/2011 are down to only nine (from 24 in previous versions). Each of those nine processes is only spawned when needed and shutdown afterward, preserving system performance for those tasks that caused you to buy a computer in the first place. The trimmed down performance is particularly beneficial to those using netbooks, older PCs, and gamers.

Web safety is a big concern and F-Secure Internet Security 2010/2011 addresses it from multiple angles. Password-protected parental controls can be configured based on profile (small children or teenager), category of website, and time allowed browsing. In addition, F-Secure's web protection includes website safety ratings integrated into Google and Yahoo searches, realtime detection of malicious sites (based on reputation or presence of malware), and exploit detection to guard against browser or third-party plugin attacks.

Those who prefer fully customizable permission-based firewalls may be a tad disappointed in that aspect of F-Secure Internet Security 2010. However, those who prefer a more hands-off approach may find it a perfect fit. Overall, the trim performance, enhanced Web security, and robust parental controls make F-Secure Internet Security a great choice for families.