McAfee discount 50% off
Posted by kent on November 20th, 2009
Internet security software provider McAfee has made a significant, limited time price reduction on its total Total Protection product. This brings the price down to $39.99, a pretty good deal. No coupon is needed, just follow any link to McAfee's site from NextAdvisor.com. McAfee has yet to release its 2010 product, but users who buy the 2009 version will get an automatic upgrade when it's released.
Check out our reviews of Internet security software to see which one's right for you.
- 50% off McAfee; No discount coupon code required
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Kaspersky adds SugarSync backup, garners awards
Posted by kent on November 19th, 2009
Kaspersky has added a compelling offer to its Internet security suite, bundling 10GB of online SugarSync storage. We really loved SugarSync when we reviewed it.
Kaspersky was one of the first Internet security software products to go 2010. Since that time it has done very well in the rigorous Virus Bulletin VB100, and the AV-Comparatives Malware-Detection and Malware-Removal tests (receiving an Advanced rating in the former, and an Advanced+ rating in the latter).
Originally we'd knocked the suite for its price of $71.95 and some detection failures in our tests. But the independent testing data, and the addition of 10GB of SugarSync storage have changed our minds on both counts.
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Popular Facebook games include scams
Posted by Caitlin on November 18th, 2009
Many of the most popular applications on Facebook, including FarmVille, CafeWorld, and Mafia Wars, are created by a company called Zynga. Zynga's CEO, Marc Pincus, recently acknowledged that these games contain "scammy" offers, in which users are offered various deals in exchange for in-game currency. These offers, unsurprisingly, tend to be deceptive schemes designed to trick users into unknowingly signing up for unwanted subscription services, or download upwanted software. Zynga has pulled some of these offers, Facebook has suspended some applications, and at least one law firm is investigating a possible class action suit against Zynga and Facebook, as well as MySpace and several of the marketing companies responsible for the offers themselves.
When you allow a social media application to access your profile information, you open yourself up to a wide variety of scams. The more applications you use, the easier it becomes for tricky marketing schemes or malware to slip through. It's safest to avoid these types of games altogether, but if you just can't quit, be very careful when downloading files, clicking on ads, or agreeing to any type of offer. Be sure to install Internet security software on your computer, and set it to update automatically. And consider investing in an identity theft protection service, to help prevent the worst possible result of an Internet scam.
- Facebook phishing scams increase risk of identity theft on the popular social network
- Facebook exposes personal information of up to 80 million members
- Facebook moves to protect users in partnership with 49 states
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- Fake Facebook profile page victim awarded $43,000 in damages
Why you do not include VIPRE in your reviews?
Posted by kent on November 17th, 2009
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
I need to download new antivirus protection and I am wondering why you do not include VIPRE in your reviews. Is it because it doesn't work as advertised? Just trying to choose the best.
A: We haven't gotten around to reviewing VIPRE yet. While we can't comment on its effectiveness as anti-virus software, it does not seem to have a built-in firewall. While VIPRE has a separate firewall module available for purchase, we tend to prefer products that offer the firewall as part of the full suite. The combined price of the VIPRE anti-virus and the firewall would push the price into the $50.00 range (or more, if you're looking for multiple licenses), putting it in the same price category as many of the suites we reviewed, such as McAfee. Some, such as BitDefender and ZoneAlarm are even cheaper.
Will Norton Internet Security 2010 software work with both the Windows Vista SP2 32 bit and 64 bit systems?
Posted by kent on November 17th, 2009
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Will Norton Internet Security 2010 software work with both the Windows Vista SP2 32 bit and 64 bit systems?
A: Yes, Norton Internet Security 2010 works with both 32- and 64-bit versions of Vista. Here's the official line from the Norton site:
Microsoft Windows Vista® (32-bit and 64-bit) Starter/Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Ultimate
Norton Internet Security 2010 is our favorite of the current crop of Internet security software. It's been well-received by the press, including an Editor's Choice award from PCMag, and has captured a number of awards, including the AV-Comparatives Advanced+ rating.
You can read our review here, and you can use the coupon code SYM2010NEW to receive a 10% discount if you decide to purchase it.
Living in a less nervous world
Posted by kent on November 12th, 2009
Does the world seem a little less anxious than it did six months ago? A study released this week indicates a "15% improvement in the levels of anxiety that people feel." People seem to be feeling especially comfortable about "Internet security, personal safety and national security." Unisis, the global IT security giant which conducted the study, provides this illustration of the phenomena:
It's interesting that this study comes out in a week when both Apple and Microsoft released massive security updates, and a week after a series of Facebook and MySpace exploits came to light. Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water.
It is suggested that a possible end to the economic downturn has resulted in the ease of anxiety. People still remain concerned about some areas, however. According to the study, "when it comes to Internet and personal security, people in the countries where the bi-annual survey was done showed the most worry over bank cards and identity theft." The countries where people showed the most concern? Brazil, the United States, and Germany.
If you're one of those that's concerned about identity theft, check out our reviews and comparisons of identity theft protection services.
- LifeLock selected as exclusive ID theft prevention service for a variety financial firms
- USA Today says online backup services a good way to pinch pennies on the web
- Data Breach Alert: Registration website exposes presidential primary voters to identity theft
- Reports say passport snooping is part of training program
- Court decision will keep Vonage subscriber fees low
Another day, another Facebook attack
Posted by kent on November 3rd, 2009
Internet security company Symantec is warning Facebook users about a pair of malicious email attacks that claim to come from Facebook. Both use similar messages, informing users they need to change their passwords. Originally Symantec reported that the emails contained trojans that connect to a Russian botnet. Now it seems there's a phishing attack that's coming along with it. The email's call to action, an update link, hits a faux-Facebook site designed to steal your password. There's also a version of the attack gained at MySpace users.
Symantec reports that the emails are using the following subject lines:
Facebook account update
New login system
Facebook Update tool
As always, if you receive an email purporting to come from an online service that you use, it's best not to follow any links in the email. Always go directly to the site by entering the url in your browser. As Symantec points out, "users need to be extra careful of suspicious attachments, especially those including a “password reset” request because legitimate websites will not send an attachment for resetting a password."
Check out our Internet security software ratings and reviews to find out how to better protect yourself from online attacks.
- Facebook phishing scams increase risk of identity theft on the popular social network
- Facebook exposes personal information of up to 80 million members
- Type carefully when looking for a free credit report
- Facebook moves to protect users in partnership with 49 states
- Malicious hack impacts 2.2 million shortened URLs
Don't open that email from the FDIC…
Posted by Caitlin on October 28th, 2009
Because it isn't really from the FDIC. There has been a recent rash of phishing emails that appear to be sent by the FDIC. The emails say, "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets." The emails also ask recipients to download and open a "personal FDIC insurance file" to check their deposit insurance coverage. This download is certainly not an FDIC document, and is most likely some form of malware. The emails also contain links to malicious websites.
If you recieve an email that appears to be from the FDIC and prompts you to visit a website or download a file, delete it. Do not click on any links within the email and do not download any attachments. The FDIC is working to uncover the details of this scam, but in the meantime, recipients are instructed to "consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to online banking services or to conduct identity theft."
To protect yourself from this and other phishing scams, be cautious when downloading attachments or clicking on links in any unexpected email from an unknown source. These emails often appear to be from banks or other trusted institutions. You should also be sure to install Internet security software on your computer, and you may wish to consider investing in identity theft protection, since identity theft is often the ultimate goal of phishing scams.
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Internet security software and Windows 7
Posted by kent on October 22nd, 2009
Windows 7 launched today to generally positive reviews. As you decide whether or not to upgrade, you might be wondering about your favorite Internet security software. The 2010 versions are all made to work with Windows 7. We've added this info to the system requirements section at the bottom of each of the reviews.
We'll continue to add more as they become available to us for testing. The most recent Internet security product to get the 2010 update is CA.
AVG Internet Security: 27% off, or two years for the price of one?
Posted by kent on October 21st, 2009
AVG Internet Security has two competing discounts right now. They are mutually exclusive, so here's how they compare:
Offer #1: AVG is offering two years of Internet Security 9.0 for $54.99. This seems to be their standard offer, and it's the one reflected in our comparison chart. That's a cheap two-year plan, breaking down to $27.50 per year.
Offer #2: Until October 28th, you can get a single year of AVG Internet Security 9.0 for $39.99. It's a discount of 27%. Unfortunately there's no way to combine these two offers.
In our recent review of AVG Internet Security, we were impressed with the url blocker and the process viewer. To get the full scoop, and to see how it compares to other services, check out our Internet security software reviews and comparisons.
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