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Kaspersky Internet Security 2011
by Carrie23
I am using Kaspersky Lab products for the last 3 years. I have currently installed Kaspersky Internet security 2011, it is easy to use, protects from all viruses, Trojans and spyware. The price is logical but it is better to buy the 3 license pack since it you can save some money.
When a virus is detected by Kaspersky a notification ... pops-up showing the thread type and it automatically stops it. I usually get notifications for Trojans or potentially dangerous applications trying to run in my computer. In 2011 I only had a few of these notifications (around 10).
The extra safety features are really helpful, since it provides the safety keyboard as a virtual keyboard for sites where you need extra safety (Bank accounts, Paypal etc.). This can protect the user from becoming a victim of scams, from stealing personal codes and information.
The virtual keyboard reduces the danger of intercepting the information that is entered through the computer keyboard. It is found in the Security+ section and it is safer than entering directly the usernames and passwords even when you register to sites. I always need this extra security in online shopping and online-banking where I provide payment details. I have used it in both Internet Explorer and Mozilla but I am not sure if it works with other web browsers.
The only disadvantage here is that when a full scan of my computer is performed, it becomes slower and it reduces its performance. I haven't noticed any significant effects in the performance when it is updating.
The installation is easy and the use is simple and straightforward, even for a user that has the minimum idea about how the anti-virus software work.
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Acronis True Image Home 11
by Neo420
Acronis True Image Home 11
Website: www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
== What is it? ==
The files on your computer like music, photos or the operating system like Windows, are just saved as ones and zeros on your hard drive. Acronis True Image is a disk imaging program. It makes an ... exact copy of the data on your hard drive, saving it into one compressed file known as an archive. It is like taking a photograph; it captures and saves everything on your hard drive at the time you make the backup. In future, you can use this file to restore your computer back to the time you made the backup. You can save the archive file onto an external hard drive or DVDs. You can then explore this to recover particular files or if your computer has a virus, then you can use this file to go back to the stage when your PC was working normally without having to go through the hassle of reinstalling Windows, your favourite software, user settings and drivers.
It can make an image of any drive so you have a backup of it in case your computer dies or has a computer virus. Using this, you can be back up and running again in less than 20 minutes.
This is aimed at home users and small businesses.
== My Experience ==
I only use this to create an image of the partition/drive that Windows is installed on. I make an image once I install Windows onto a new PC along with all the software and drivers that I will use. I will focus on this feature primarily as this is its main purpose, but it has other features as well that I will try to mention at the end.
The application gives you the option of making a bootable / rescue disk which contains the full version of this program by burning it onto a CD / DVD. You can then use this disk to load up the program and backup and restore images, even if Windows won't boot up. I would recommend that you do this. I have found it very useful when Windows Vista refused to boot up. I used the bootable DVD to load this application. The DVD whirs for a while when you press the power on button and then after a few seconds the main application screen comes up. I had already saved the backup image onto an external hard drive which I then used to restore the image and make windows load again.
The main screen of the application is well laid out. Just click on what you want to do, either backup and restore or create bootable media. It uses wizards to guide you through for the main operations. You mostly need to click on the next button and on screens where you need to choose any options, it clearly explains what each one does.
It can take 2 to 3 hours to make a backup image depending on the size of your hard drive. However, restoring an image, usually takes me less than 20 minutes. During both procedures, you get a countdown of the estimated remaining time. While creating the backup image, you can continue to work in Windows but while restoring an image, it will need to reboot to carry this out.
One feature I like about this is that you can restore an image from within Windows Explorer. You need to highlight the backup image you want and right click. Choose on restore image . . . and the Restore Image wizard will pop up on screen.
== Problems ==
It has a few quirks. When creating a backup image, you need to make sure you don't put any spaces in between the filename of the backup image. It will make the backup image but it won't recognise it when you try to restore it. You can't change the filename after you've made the backup, as the program will refuse to accept it. I end up using the underline symbol if I need to use spaces.
It supports 3 types of backup: normal, incremental and differential. A normal backup is a full backup and will backup everything on your hard drive and will therefore take up more space and more time to complete. I find the file size can vary from 10 GB to about 20 GB when creating an image of a 60 GB drive. This is the type of backup I prefer using.
An incremental backup only saves files that have been created or changed since the last normal or incremental backup you made. This is useful say if I install some new software and I make an incremental backup image after I've installed it. This means you end up with a smaller backup file which can be created more quickly, but you need to have made a normal backup first.
I've never used differential backups but they sound pretty similar to incremental backups.
I have tried creating incremental backups but I have never gotten the program to recognise the backup archive file when trying to restore it.
The program has worked well in Windows XP and Windows Vista Home Premium (32 bit) editions. Although, I have had problems with Windows 7 (32 bit). It creates the backup image fine of my Windows 7 machine but after restoring it, Windows refuses to boot. I had to use the Windows 7 setup DVD and do a repair installation.
== Other features ==
It has a few extra features which I've never used myself but I've listed for anyone who may be interested. These were taken from the information that came with Akronis True Image:
- A file-based backup option, which enables you to back up and restore individual files and folders, like your My Documents folder, your music, video and photos or some specific file, like your latest tax return.
- You can also back up your applications settings. If an application seems to malfunction or ceases to run you are supposed to reinstall it using the last updates and then recover your settings from the backup.
- back up messages, accounts and settings for Microsoft Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003 and Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Windows Mail.
- Try&Decide feature. Performing potentially dangerous changes in the system, such as installing new software from the internet can be a risky operation as it may lead to system instability or even worse add Viruses or spyware to your computer. You can now safely perform these potentially risky operations. When Try and decide is turned on, all the changes performed will be transparently recorded on a virtual disk automatically created in Acronis Secure Zone. At any time you can decide if you want to validate the changes you made or discard them and therefore revert the system back to its previous state.
- Disk Cleanser, File Shredder, and System Clean-up - Securely wipes data stored on an entire hard disk, individual partitions or in individual files and eliminates all traces of user activities in the system.
== Summary and recommendation ==
When it works, it works well but when it doesn't, it can be a great pain in the bum. I have found it easy to use with Windows XP and Vista but Windows 7 has given me a lot of problems.
The makers of this program do say that this version doesn't officially support Windows 7.
I still use this on machines that I install XP onto but for Windows 7 Ultimate, I use the in-built backup software that comes with it.
I use this to fix my PC, whenever I think Windows is starting to slow down after a few months use or whenever I install some new software that messes up my settings. It is very easy to restore my PC to a time when it was working well.
Saying that, I would still have to give it 2 stars for the fact that when it doesn't work, it can give you a really bad headache.
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