Entered CNET Catalog: 12/10/2008
SKU: 231
Manufacturer: Panda Software
Manufacturer description
Panda Internet Security 2009 is a security suite that lets you use the Internet with complete peace of mind. It protects you from viruses, spyware, rootkits, hackers, online fraud, identity theft and all other Internet threats. The anti-spam engine will keep your inbox free from junk mail while the parental control feature ensures your children can use the web safely. And thanks to the Collective Intelligence technology, the solution is now much faster than previous versions.Product summary
The good: Panda Internet Security 2009 is vastly improved in speed and effectiveness over last year's version.
The bad: Panda Internet Security 2009 drops the ball on technical-support options for users.
The bottom line: Panda Internet Security 2009 is vastly improved in speed and effectiveness over last year, but could use a little more work on specific features and technical support.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 12/09/2008
Panda continually reinvents itself. This year it got it right. Not only does the Internet Security suite look better, but it runs better, too, as evidenced by results from CNET Labs and third-party testing. The new interface is clearly a nod to Symantec Norton 360. Panda steps up the comparison by offering a similar online storage package (1GB for one year) to that offered by Symantec. But Panda can't match Symantec's customer service, nor that of its other competitors, leaving users to depend on online knowledgebase articles and e-mail support. For a fast, effective online security suite at a good price, we recommend either McAfee this year.
Setup and interface
Panda Internet Security 2009 remains one of the most expensive security products on the market, although street prices can be lower. Still, you can get similar suites from Symantec or McAfee for about $20 less. Like Norton, Panda Internet Security 2009 runs on Windows XP and Vista only.
As mentioned, the new interface looks a lot like Norton 360, with settings in the upper right and columns populated with related content front and center. The first column, Protection, contains antivirus, firewall, identity protection, vulnerabilities, an antispam filter, and Web content control. The middle column, Maintenance, includes the backup and recovery feature. A third column, Updates, includes the automatic update data. There is plenty of open space in the new design for Panda to offer additional features in the future.
However, clicking on any feature not only gives you detailed configuration setting, but also a second left-hand navigation panel for the other topics. This seems redundant; as though Panda couldn't decide which navigation system would work best.
Should you decide to remove Panda Internet Security 2009, there is an uninstall feature. Upon reboot we found no traces left on our test machine.
Features
In addition to providing antivirus, antispam, and a personal firewall, Panda Internet Security 2009 includes Identity protection and Safe Surfing control. And Panda Internet Security matches the look and feel of Norton 360, right down to including a free online backup service.
Web content control is Panda's cleverly reworded Parental Controls with preset filters for Office, teenagers, and kids; you can create your own. The section is password protected by the system administrator and must be installed separately.
As with Eset Smart Security, we liked the granularity of the Panda personal firewall, giving users the ability to monitor specific services as they access the Web.
Back up to CD or DVD is a two-step process--first to hard drive, then to disc. We wonder why you can't just back up straight to disc since that is what most people will want to do. Online backup is through Docoom and 1GB is provided free with the paid product.
Panda also allows users to create a rescue disk, a bootable disk to be used in case of an emergency. These used to be included with security products years ago, then went out of vogue.
There are some inconsistencies. For example, within Vulnerabilities, in contacting Microsoft for latest updates, Panda uses Internet Explorer. However, for technical support issues, it opens your default browser, which in our case is Firefox.
Missing are any security-related utilities, such as a secure data deletion option.
Performance
Panda Internet Security 2009 did very well in CNET Labs' performance tests and improved effectiveness in third-party, independent antivirus testing using live viruses. On our iTunes test, Panda Internet Security 2009 came in at 271 seconds--2 seconds above our test system. On our Microsoft Office test, Panda Internet Security 2009 was fast, at 1,413 seconds. For individual file scans, Panda Internet Security 2009 came in fast, at an amazing 171 seconds. But in boot speed, Panda Internet Security 2009 was sluggish compared with the competition, at 39 seconds. To find out how we test, see CNET Labs' How we test: software: Antivirus page.
In terms of protecting your PC, we refer readers to leading independent antivirus testing organizations. In the latest test results from AV-test.org, Panda Internet Security 2009 scored 91.8 in malware prevention and 95.6 in spyware prevention. In that same test, Panda Internet Security 2008 scored 86.4 and 93.4, respectively. Panda has not been tested by AV-Comparatives.org recently. Meanwhile, Panda Internet Security earned CheckVir.com's Standard rating, meaning only antivirus detection--and not antivirus removal--was tested.
Support
Panda lacks the technical support of its competition. Although there is a good in-program Help file, e-mail support, and some online knowledgebase information, missing are several important components to good technical support. Currently Panda lacks an online forum, a tutorial, and any online documentation beyond a pithy Quick Start guide. While multiple license holders receive a technical support telephone number, home users do not.
Conclusion
While this release marks a welcome change, it is not perfect. In the future, we'd like to see better technical support--certainly an online manual and a user forum.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25out of 25 user reviews
Panda could do better
Pros: It does the job, BUT
Cons: It slowed my system right down, to the point that I thought I was infected
It does have an easy to use interface - however, having to go online to find out just about anything is rather tedious.
I do believe that this product is maturing, and we can expect them to be able to pull their socks up
As I was experiencing this I was wondering if Panda was just like the bear, a little too lethargic.
out of 25 user reviews
Firewall is user-hostile
Pros: Didn't find any.
Cons: Firewall is user-hostile: can't be truly disabled, VERY inadequate blocking options, DEP incompatabilities essentially mean you can never unblock a host once it's blocked. Poorly designed/executed UI always pops up new windows half-off-screen.
out of 25 user reviews
fireall is worst
Pros: nothing special .......
Cons: very bad firewall , hangs the system always when u try a online game .
out of 25 user reviews
Not bad.. Noooot bad
Pros: Ok detection rate, Quite a good antivirus for a basic user that doesn't do much.
Cons: Technical Support may vary...
Some people are useless!!
Some are great!!
out of 25 user reviews
Stay away from this sorry excuse for software
Pros: None - OK, its cheap. You get what you pay for.
Cons: Eight - 8 different running processes are installed by this!!
Whenever WebProxy kicks in, IE either locks up or loses connection!
After running a few days, it will prevent RDP sessions! -- Do NOT install this on corporate servers!!
Buy this at your own risk. You've been warned.
out of 25 user reviews
One of the worst software programs I ever tried.
Pros: I have used Panda Antivirus some 3-4 times in the past. I really liked it. I recently installed the Panda 2009 Antivirus on my computer and I started to have severe problems with my computer. I thought the hard drive was dying.
Cons: It crashed my computer. My web browser kept coming up repeatedly and would not stop until I had restarted the computer.
out of 25 user reviews
tech support is shameful, froze computer upon uninstall
Pros: other than a cute name, nothing
Cons: where should I start, I had to ask tech support to stop yelling at me on the phone, took forever to get to speak to a real person, and then to be treated poorly...
out of 25 user reviews
Great product
Pros: great service
Cons: I purchased the product that day and it found infections that my norton did not! Great product!
out of 25 user reviews
nice good easy less detections
Pros: nice good easy
Cons: less detections ,if you buy it i will recommend that you should have some freewares to support it like malwarebytes & superantispyware,cuz it totally sucks in malware detections.
out of 25 user reviews
Great product and service
Pros: Works really well
Cons: nothing to complaing about
out of 25 user reviews
Maybe the worst software I ever tried
Pros: None that I have noticed. It was priced lower than other software and claimed to be better at some things.
Cons: I feel very vulnerable to attacks. There is zero protection from adware so you will think it's 2001 with all the pop ups and the random words online double underlined and linked. Recently computer basically stops after being online
Kaspersky>>Norton(high price but limited)>>trendmicro(serious issue with MS office 2007)>>McAfee(horrible)>>Panda(useless)
I didn't think anything would be worse than McAfee but Panda certainly is
I'm done with it today
out of 25 user reviews
Joke of a product
Pros: Named after a cute animal
Cons: Being shipped.
First, it took me 4 hours to figure out how to install this piece of junk. It always complains about existing remnants of antivirus software that I never had and crashes the installer. I had to find all sorts of uninstaller and registry cleaner online and ran sweeps after sweeps. After 4 hours, Panda was finally content and started installing its malicious software.
After installation, my internet no longer works. It complains that I needed to set up proxy. Hmmm... I never had any. After unsuccessful tries, I uninstalled and reinstalled from scratch. Yes, finally I had internet connection! But wait! I had to activate the code. Oh well, oh well, code activation freezes my computer and I had to force kill the machine. Great. Now after a 20 minute restart (I was nervous waiting for my computer to restart), Panda pops up again and freezes my Firefox, Chrome or IE. Great. Another restart.
Tick tock tick tock... restart process is already in its 30th minute, still not shutting down. Force kill. Restart the OS. Great, now I type in my username and password. Oops, freeze! Panda won't let me in. Another force kill.
OK, imagine me doing this for another 6 times. After the 11th try and the last successful login, I immediately uninstalled Panda and cleaned any traces of registry it infects my computer with and threw it away!
Anyone silly enough to try out this piece of junk, beware! I cannot believe this product shipped in the first place.
out of 25 user reviews
NO Tech Support!
Pros: Looks better
Cons: Causes my Vista OS to crash, Anti-virus turns off when Windows malicous updates are done and you can't enable it. You have to shut down and hope on reboot it enables itself.
out of 25 user reviews
Great product makes everything easier
Pros: Detects everything I've incountered as far as malware,trojans,spyware etc....
Fast update system.
Scans faster than most antivirus.
Cons: Over protective
out of 25 user reviews
Outstanding program that does great job!
Pros: Found spyware and viruses that Norton did not
Cons: None so far...
out of 25 user reviews
"Good complex protection of the computer."
Pros: Fast work, set of useful functions, the general protection of high level, wide range of languages, careful scanning.
Cons: All is pleasant to me.
However after the first days of use Panda I have understood that now I do not require additional protection.
I have removed from my computer Ad-Aware and Spyware doctor. Now its are not necessary to me. Besides I wish to inform, that normal work Panda (unlike Norton and NOD 32) is possible only if the computer has no other antiviruses.
Scanning Panda little bit long (if to compare with Norton IS 2009) and very fast (if to compare to previous versions Norton). In any case this scanning of high quality. Panda finds out those wreckers who do not notice other antiviruses. Panda does not delete its, but offers some variants of disposal of its.
For example in my laptop Panda has found some suspicious files (I knew about its). I have left them in my computer. Other antiviruses did not see these files.
It can seem that update once a day a little. I do not agree. Updatings Panda the real! Instead of thought up (that is possible update each five minutes!?)
My native language Russian and Panda has made very good and clear transfer (it distinguishes it from other programs also). Good help and other service possibilities.
I on advantage have estimated aspiration of experts Panda really to secure their clients (but not to make such visibility for advertising!).
I could write still some of numerous advantages Panda, but I think what better simply to try this product.
out of 25 user reviews
Works Silently and Scans Fast
Pros: Updates itself swiftly, no program based unwanted HD scans. Once you set the permissions for programs, it handles great.
Cons: Despite its promise, a few things managed to infect my system.
Handling emails, it forgets which emails are spams and which are not, even after you mark emails "this is not spam" and accept senders
The renewal is overpriced considering you don't get a new cd etc. Thus, there's no justification for the high renewal price. I asked them about customer loyalty and wanting to keep their users. They didn't care.
out of 25 user reviews
Good, bad, ugly
Pros: Easy to use and install. I like it better than Norton because it doesn't seem to be as pervasive through your whole system. Doesn't seem to clog it up.
Cons: Tech support is horrible! Be sure you want the automatic renewals, because when it expires they auto bill your credit card. No email notification or anything. You have to opt out if you don't want that. On hold now for 35 min.!
out of 25 user reviews
Superstar support team!
Pros: One of my computers had a really bad infection with Avira and I found Panda Security on Twitter. I talked to their team and they had someone from support remote in and fix the problem in 5 minutes!!! They didn't charge me a thing! Awesome!
Cons: Zero, zip, zilch, nada!
out of 25 user reviews
Technical Support was almost non-existent.
Pros: It filters out almost everything, viruses, malware, phishing etc.
Cons: It filters out applications that I want to allow to frequently update. No matter what I do according to the Technical support's suggestions.
I work as a developer and know you can save hours of guessing by actually speaking to someone and asking specific questions.
So, instead, after about 3 weeks of running around with their "24/7 email Technical Support," and while I would send in screen prints verifying my claims, they just ignored me. I requested that this incident be escalated. I received an email response thinking it was genuine. It said to call a number between certain hours. So I left work early, called and reached a switchboard where they wanted to charge me $19, plus I would have to wait about 30 minutes and wait. Well, this was not acceptable. As a developer, I know all applications have bugs. No problem. But I expect someone to work with me in solving the problems as they occur. I sent another email asking for a manager etc. It was ignored. I cleaned Panda from my system and purchased another vendor's product for the desktop as well as my new laptop. Why? Because there was no knowledgable support available to handle the issues.
out of 25 user reviews
Met my expectations hands down
Pros: I have used other Panda Software versions and found that this one was very different in the look and over all functions that made it easier to navigate to what I needed to do, the interface along with the ability to customize my install
Cons: I found that tech supports website was a little hard to navigate to find out issues that I needed to look up. Tech support hours even though that they are in the US did not give me enough time to get home from work and call them
out of 25 user reviews
Panda software is very easy to install and setup
Pros: For one it has accurate spam filtering. does not use alot of system resources which leads to a better performance,Collective intelligence aids malware recognition and it detects Wi-Fi intruders.
Cons: there has been problems with the firewall protection and the renewal and registration process is to complicated.
out of 25 user reviews
Virus free!
Pros: Fast Boot up speeds, low resources, Tech support is in the USA!
Cons: 4 months and haven't encountered one yet!
out of 25 user reviews
2009 Panda Rocks over the 2008, user friendly!
Pros: Great Service!
Cons: slows my computer at times
out of 25 user reviews
Great product and great service!
Pros: Better than average detection
Cloud scanning technology
Doesnt slow down your computer
Excellent service
Cons: None so far
