Internet Security Program Review Kaspersky Norton McAfee Microsoft Panda Webroot

Picture 1. The stack of fresh 2009 Internet Security Programs

At the beginning of the PC era, just about when DOS 5 appeared, the virus protection method of the times was simplicity itself. A simple program added each letter's hexadecimal value within each file, kept the remainder of the total that is known as the checksum of each and every file in all folders on ones computer. After all files were done, the program made a summary page that was left behind within each processed folder. If any of the files anywhere has changed as little as a single character, its checksum differed from that of the one on record and it was noted. The alerted user had to figure out if the change was reasonable or otherwise. Not only that system was simple and elegant, but also it was an easy, useful and efficient system. It did not required tons of fresh updates, daily downloads, and it was, and it still is exceedingly useable to anyone wishes to use it.

In time anti-virus vendors appeared and it did not take for them long to realize that for them a steady stream of downloads was a gold mine. So one after another decided to sell subscriptions to anti-virus update services. At that time the vendors were only too happy to sell their downloads to many different type operating systems. Then, a few years ago, as the revenue generated was ever more important, and the service become just an accidental side effect, they started discriminating more and more against some operating systems and dropped all but the latest and the most fashionable types.

Picture 2. The Panda Internet Security Program

All it takes is examining any web site's logs to realize that not everyone is using the latest versions of the excellent Windows operating system. Some oddballs always dare to differ from the majority and operate their personal computers with strange sounding systems. Many folks especially in Europe and other intellectually rich lands decided long ago, that free systems like Linux has merits and thrills and worth using them. The do this even if using such off-the-beaten-path systems requires their users to do some thinking more so.

Until recent times, there was no problem to find an Internet security program that was useable by a wide variety of different operating systems. But that is no longer the case. As I purchased my copy of my latest tax preparation program, I could not resist the urge to take advantage of the "free" companion Internet Security programs. Happily I purchased six different kind from different big name companies with the idea to try them all out and see whichever does the best job protecting my nice antique computer. The computer to protect still functions like the day it was made. Its fine "Pentium II processor", running at a leisurely 450 MHz clock rate and it works happily with its fine vintage Microsoft Windows 98 SE operating system.

Of all six new (2009) contenders - see Picture 1 - there was not a one, which was willing to work on anything but the Windows XP and Vista. That was all. So all of them go back to the store and to their makers. The way I look at that, any company that does serve only themselves, at not my real need does not worth my support!

One exceptional good product I found (I only have the 2007 edition), The Panda Internet Security made in Europe Picture 2. Panda is so exceptional that it worthy of my support and gratitude. They do support seemingly unheard of operating systems, past and present, so many of the wide variety of interesting ones I did not even know existed. So the moral of the story - if it isn't broken don't fix it! No need to buy another operating system or another computer just to please lazy and overly greedy, impotent software makers. Find a good security software maker and keep all your old software along with the old computer and use the web as much as you like and still enjoy full protection..

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