PC-cillin Internet Security 2005 [AntiVirus, Firewall, Spam, Spyware, Wi-Fi Patrol]

Rating:
Summary: Not Recommended - Stay Away!
Review: After installation I ran the PC-Cillin Spyware checker and it identified three files and suggested checking Trend's web site to determine whether to delete. The web site associated the files with spyware so I flagged for deletion. Now system gets 'Run-Time Error 429 ActiveX Component Can't Create Object' at start up.

Previously I've used Norton AntiVirus and Spybot, Ad-Aware, and Webroot AntiSpyware tools and NEVER have they prompted a system file for deletion. Furthermore there is no quarantine or un-do to restore the object.

Even if the software hadn't created a problem on my computer (instead of preventing problems...), the interface isn't as easy to understand as Norton. Many of the windows aren't adequately sized to read all the information without sliding back and forth or re-sizing column headings. If perplexed and you right-click, left-click, or hover over an entry no explanation is presented.

$49 down the drain and an annoying bug for my computer. Not a value I can recommend.

Buy a more mature piece of software that can distinguish between a valid file and virus or at least allows an un-do. Check out Zone Alarm or Norton.

Your mileage may vary. I hope, for your sake.


Rating:
Summary: PC-Cillin - An enigma unti itself
Review: After purchasing this product from Digital River dba Trend Micro, I am somewhat disappointed in the performance and
quality of this product.

First to reach a techical support technician by phone, is almost impossible. You would have better luck in purchasing a
lottery ticket and winning than reaching a technician.

I have noticed that as far as the virus scannning and spyware
by itself is deficient. Since I have had Norton 2004
installed, the Norton scan indicated that I had 180,000 files
installed on my Windows XP Home edition Computer which is appoximately 7.00 GB. When I do I PC-Cillin scan it only scans
up to 62,000. Unless the Pc-Cillin scan only scans about one third of the files per scan.

Another problem is the spyware scan. After doing a spyware
check with PC-Cillin 2005 and cross checking with Microsoft's
beta version of spyware checker, PC Doctor and Spybot search and
destroy I noticed that Pc-Cillin does not indicate all the spyware or adware on your system which should be removed.

I really don't know if I can trust the security of this product.
There is a security check on Pc-Cillin but is only checks if you have downloaded all the windows Critical and security updates. As far as I am concerned there is no way to check system vunerabilities such as port scans or firewall integrity.

Again, one has to trust their word for it and hope for the best.

Richard Layton.



Rating:
Summary: Hello...hello..are you there??
Review: I am enoying this producet since it is easy to use. One of the sweetest things about it is: There is real live Tech Support!!
Iv'e spoken to them before purchasing the product (Just wanted to test them out) as well as after installing same. Both contacts got me through rapidly and the Techies were professional and courteous. hello..hello...when you need someone on the other end....PRICELESS!!

Rating:
Summary: very weak
Review: I had an Norton Antivirus before that for 3 years. Since I switched to Broadband I decided to get a firewall. The revies for Norton Firewall were very bad. While reviews for the PC Cillin looked better, so I decided to give it a try. The installation is very easy, but...
1. It's very very slow in Initialization. Every time I turn on the computer it takes at least 5 minutes or more to come up. at the begining I thought it's the firewall so I disabled it and tried again. No difference still more than 5 minutes. I never experianced anything like that with the Norton. It's very anoing. Some times I just need to check something quick and it takes forever. So if you turning off your PC every time don't take it.
2. There it very leatle room for firewall control. But it doen't really meter to me since I don't need to allow any traffic inside.
Home it helps

Rating:
Summary: Goodbye McAfee, Hello PC-illin
Review: I had been a user of McAfee anti-virus products since 1999/2000. I found them acceptable, probably because they were they only company I dealt with. But in the past year I found their service to be lacking, especially when I needed customer report (go to their website and try to find it lol). But when I found out that I wouldn't be able to renew my McAfee security suite (every couple of years they make you buy a new one), it was time to do some research.

I looked at all the leading security suites, and then read the reviews on them at places like PC World and C/net. They gave the clear edge to PC-cillin. Finally, I mentioned to a friend who works in the computer biz that I was considering using PC-illin on my computer. He said that was what he recommended to all his customers. That sold me.

I first tried the 30 day download free trial that was available at their website. I then purchased the physical version from Amazon (so I could take advantage of the $25 rebate before 2004 ended). My impressions:

-As others have stated, you quickly notice the difference in computer speed. You don't notice the drain that McAfee (and I assume Norton) has on your computer until it's gone.

-PC-illin updates it's components at a much higher rate then McAfee ever did.

-The anti-spam and spyware programs aren't A+, but they are acceptable. I purchased an extra spam program (Spam Killer) from McAfee, and while it had many bells and whistles, it's interface was typically bothersome.

-Free customer phone support, and (as of 2004) only $20 to renew services. Outstanding.

In conclusion, my 2+ month use of PC-illin has been a happy one, and I plan on them being my computer security company for the long haul.

Rating:
Summary: PC-Cillin ROCKS
Review: I have no doubt that there are people writing reviews here connected with other products such as NAV that have conflicts of interest and are not giving this product a good or excellent review which is what it deserves..

I am very experienced with computer protection programs and let me say right now that imo PC-Cillin 2005 ROCKS..

It was rated #1 by Zdnet of all the AV programs for 2005
and I totally agree having tried most of them and being a Norton user for the last 8 years.. I dumped that dog..

I receive more AUTOMATED virus definition updates from PC-Cillin in ONE DAY than I used to get in a WEEK from Norton..

Things change and products either keep up with the times or they don't .. Norton hasn't .. The new STAR on the scene today in 2005 is PC-Cillin.. anyone that says different either has an conflict of interest or frankly is just wrong..

Rating:
Summary: Better utilities out there
Review: I have the 2004 version but just read review of new version at pcmag.com. They gave it a "fair" rating. I would agree because, as with the new version, it did not do a good job of keeping spyware off machine. Also, updating can be troublesome. Firewall configuation leaves much to be desired; not enough fine tuning possible but desirable.

Rating:
Summary: Better software than norton
Review: I have used both Norton and PC-Cillin. This does not look as professional as Norton. Considering performance, I would say this is 100 times better than Norton 2005. Norton sucks and eats up too much of system resources. Even normal browsing becomes tough, if you have 128/256 MB RAM. It reminds with new viruses and updates with new patch.



Rating:
Summary: Tapping my foot in Atlanta...
Review: Tried the product but uninstalled it after only a few days....couldn't tolerate the extremely long boot time. I have no idea what the product was doing during all that time but one thing for sure...I got tired of waiting so I got rid of it and went back to ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite.

Rating:
Summary: BYE Norton Systemworksless, PC CILLIN for Life!
Review: Yes the title is a little dramatic but it is justified. I have been a user of Norton products from 1997. THE resource shackles are off, thanks to Trend Micro's PC Cillin. Norton had the market cornered at that time as it offered what we all needed, a measure of Operating System (OS) stability at a time when Microsoft was clearly milking its dominant stance in the OS market (VIA aggressive OEM original equipment manufacturer contracts almost all new PCs came loaded with MS OS). Norton's tools were great for maintaining the registry, cleaning redundant and corrupted files out and offering the best Antivirus available.

As OS technology improved and MS finally decided to stop milking its customer base with degrading OS versions and presented home users with XP Norton focused on Anti Virus and Net security seeing that XP didn't play nice with third party utilities. With XP virtually taking care of itself this made many tools Norton offered obsolete. From here it seems Symantec went backwards. When their Norton's AV and Utilities software used a lot of system resources back when WINDOWS versions crashed constantly that was an acceptable price to pay for avoiding disasters. The usefulness of the utilities kept even novice users fairly safe from having to format hard drives every 3 months or so.

Today for Norton to have Antivirus, Internet Security and Utilities programs using so many system resources doesn't work with current technology. Norton AV has been on a steady decline in performance. They are no longer showing the industry leadership in virus engine technology and early detection labs they once claimed. All of these issues show in their recent product releases which seem more like bloatware packed full of redundant features and the showcase tools like AV. and Net Security are the prime abusers.

Many of the other tools like WIPE info, Go back , Ghost and Norton's protected bin (which is a hog of the system in itself and can be a nightmare for some to actually recover a file) are either provided by XP or other companies that ask a small price for much better performance when compared with Symantec's pricing for the two suites they offer: Systemworks and Internet Security.

For anyone with a windows PC who needs an Anti Virus, Net Security, Email scan, Wireless Network/network security ( wireless really powerful addition to the program) suite with useful extra features that keep the resource use low PC Cillin is the perfect choice.

FINALLY! A company that learned from its programs past versions, realized the need of current unsatisfied users of Norton AV/ Net Secure and Mcafee's suites of bloatware. (which I don't even mention, because I really never cared for any of Mcafee software)Responded to it, created and improved upon a product that is VERY GOOD, VERY FAST, compact,packed with features, useful extras, tech support and a great website. Not to mention the simple interface that allows the user to decide how much or how little warning they want with no noticeable drain on system resources. Thus having a awesome product that responds to the power user and novice. PC CILLIN by Trend Micro is the product that in my opinion anyone with a broadband connection with home networking should not be without.

Dialup PC's should have it built in with their ISP's software! Dial up is slower and slower nowadays with all the media content being streamlined for the demand broadband has created. PC Cillin being less taxing on system resources with easily adjustable settings to add or shutdown with a few simple clicks, lets a Dial up user free up resources and time quickly allowing for those pages to load faster and still get maximum protection.(Both my computers still sport 56k modems and I fired up AOL to dial out for a connection on my desktop system with Norton Systemwork running. I let the notebook connect to dial up AOL with PC Cillin running and the speed the laptop showed was far better than that of the desktop and it is a faster computer than the laptop!)

All the features have been explained in some detail here in other reviews already so there no need for me to rehash them. Besides, Trend Micro offers a free FULL 30 day trial on their website. So you can see it for yourself. I have installed this program on the units in my wireless network and I will have this program for life! I will recommend it to all my clients as well. As for the the only review saying it "flat out does not work" I would attribute this to human error than this great software package. Most problems I have encountered with clients machines I can trace back within minutes to simple mistakes made by the client which led to frustration that mad them severly dislike a good program. After I show them how simple the oversight was, they laugh and move on with more productivity. Trend Micros support is great and would solve operator error probably as easily!