Trend Micro Internet Security 2012

Trend Micro Internet Security 2012 Review: Internet Security Software

 
Visit Trend Micro Internet Security 2012 Website
Rating:
Bottom Line:
Best bet for users looking for quality, inexpensive software. New features up the software's game.
Full Review:
[Editor's Note: Trend Micro is offering an exclusive deal to NextAdvisor.com readers. Simply click any Trend Micro link on NextAdvisor.com and get 40% off.]

Trend Micro doesn't throw in a lot of complicated options, but that doesn't mean it's lacking in any way. The software has improved in both protection and performance, and the sleek and simple design streamlines the security experience for the user.

Installation

For the most part, Trend Micro does all the work for you. Besides needing to enter your serial number and agreeing to the terms of use, the software does the rest of the work. It's also very fast, installing the software in less than 10 minutes, although the initial download does take longer.

Interface



In the last two years, Trend Micro has done much to improve their security software suite, including the effectiveness of its interface. The simple design gives the user the information they need when they need it, without all the extra explanation that the others give.

The main page gives you a big green check mark to let you know you are protected, with two small counters underneath that keep track of all the viruses, spyware and web threats that Trend Micro has stopped. It also tells you exactly when your subscription will lapse, so you never go unprotected.

The Tools button leads you to a small screen with three feature icons (Parental Controls, Data Theft Prevention and Rescue Disk) and simply tells you if they are activated or not. Clicking the icons will obviously lead you to the pages for those features, which have more details and settings.

The interface also offers a very sleek security report that tracks the threats to your system and maps them out in both a pie chart (cut up into virus, spyware and web threat slices) and a line chart that maps the historical ups and downs of the threats.

Antivirus/Anti-malware and Performance

Trend Micro's interface is not the only thing that has been overhauled. Both the protection offerings and the performance have gained ground since our last review. The new suite offers a slew of protection features, including spam guards, cloud detection, installed-applications protection, an optimized firewall, identity guards and file shredding, just to name a few.

Not only did Trend Micro decisively block all of our attempts at compromising our computer's safety, it also scored 3 out of 3 stars in AV-Comparatives' Whole-Product Dynamic Test, which takes into account the sum of the product's parts in protecting PCs, which is a first for the company. The suite also stepped up in the performance department, garnering 2 out of 3 stars in AV-Comparatives' Performance test.

Other Features



While Trend Micro doesn't offer any features that are above and beyond the normal offerings, they do have a complete list of all those features. Per user request, the Trend Micro Vault can seal off files so they don't infect your computer. The parental controls offer the standard restrictions on surfing the web. The Rescue Disk is a nice feature to have as backup. And the email protection helps filter spam and scan attachments for possible threats. While most of these are included on many security software suites, it's nice to see them added to Micro Trend's wide range of features.

Conclusion

Trend Micro is the most reliable protection software of the smaller security suites. It offers many of the same features that the more expensive suites offer, as well as similar test results. It has grown a lot in the past two years, and we happily recommend it for those looking for reliable, inexpensive security software.

System Requirements: Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7

AV-Comparatives ratings on a variety of tasks related to the antivirus and anti-malware product. Scores may reflect previous software versions.



AV-Comparatives ratings on a variety of tasks related to the antivirus and anti-malware product. "Known Malware" refers to a product's ability to catch pre-identified viruses, while "Unknown Malware" refers to its ability to detect brand new viruses. Older scores may reflect previous software versions.




Test Date and Type TrendMicro
02/10 Known Malware Detection Not Tested
02/10 Unknown Malware Detection
08/10 Known Malware Detection Not Tested
08/10 Unknown Malware Detection Not Tested
11/10 Unwanted Application Detection
11/10 Dynamic Test
02/11 On Demand Detection
06/11 Dynamic Test
Historical Average



Visit Trend Micro Internet Security 2012 Website | Compare to Other Internet Security Software

 
Service Details:

Price:$41.95/yr for up to 3 PCs
Ease of Use:Excellent: Well organized and attractive
Special Features:Cloud detection; file shredder; Trend Micro Vault; network map; parental controls
Personal Information Manager:No ID vault, but can protect usernames, passwords and credit card info
Anti-malware/Antivirus Score*:
System Performance Score*:

*Averaged 2010/2011 scores for each company's antivirus/anti-malware product by independent testing agency AV-Comparatives. Score indicates overall effectiveness in a variety of tests over time. † indicates that company did not take part in all tests. See reviews for details.

**Score indicates impact of antivirus product on system performance. August 2010 test by AV-Comparatives.

NextAdvisor Internet Security Software Blog Headlines

Avast Discount: 30% Off for the Holidays
Avast! is offering NextAdvisor users 30% off their top-rated security software for the holidays, bringing the price down to $34.99, making it one of the cheapest and most reliable security software we review. Avast! has everything the average consumer could want from security software. Fast installation. User-friendly interface. Top-rated protection. Quick performance. All combined with [...]

Is Customer Service Part of Norton Internet Security 2012's Features?
Q: On Norton's customer support, if I am having problems is there a charge or is this part of the service? A: Norton Internet Security 2012 offers customer service as part of their security suite package. And not only do they offer the service, they customize it to your particular software, so that you don't [...]

You Could Win Cash for the Holidays with the NextAdvisor $500 Giveaway!
Need some extra money for the holiday season? Well, you're in luck. NextAdvisor is giving away cash prizes every week of December! Just go to our Facebook page and click on the NextAdvisor $500 Giveaway, fill out the entry form, and you'll be entered to win. It's our way of saying thank you to our [...]


About UsBlogContact UsTerms & Privacy PolicyAffiliate ProgramSite Map
NextAdvisor.com is a BBB Accredited Information Bureau in San Francisco, CA

Disclosure: NextAdvisor.com is a consumer information site that offers free, independent reviews and ratings of online services. We receive advertising revenue from most of the services we review. Our editors thoroughly research and whenever possible test each service we review and offer their honest opinions about each one. We are independently owned and operated and all opinions expressed on this site are our own.