Eset Smart Security 5

R450 for one PC, for one year. R580 for three PCs.

Eset's current offering, Eset Smart Security 5, is the most budget friendly package on this list after Kaspersky's; costing R450 for one user for one year, but it is certainly no lightweight in the features department. Along with offering cloud-based, heuristic real time protection, the software also offers users an intelligent firewall, an optimised anti-spam module and a gamer mode, which postpones pop-up windows. Importantly, Smart Security 5 further scans DVDs, memory cards and flash drives (a potential weak link in one's security measures) for infection as well.  Additionally, the optimised start-up procedure ensures users are protected from the moment they boot up, while Smart Security 5 further enables users to customise system behaviour to their liking if so inclined.

Visit www.eset.co.za

Bitdefender Total Security 2013

R500 for one PC, for one year. R600 for three PCs.

Along with the virus, spam and anti-theft protection as offered in previous iterations, Bitdefender Total Security 2013 includes a few notable new features as well. One of these is Bitdefender Safepay, which automatically opens electronic banking and ecommerce sites in its own, secure browser, while the new anti-theft feature is able to locate, lock and completely erase lost or stolen notebooks.

Also new is the USB Immuniser, which 'immunises' flash drives from viruses when they are connected to one's computer.

Visit www.bitdefender.co.za

Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security 2013

R640 for three PCs, for one year.

Taking into account the popularity - and vulnerability - of social networks, Titanium Maximum Security 2013 indicates dangerous links on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest, while also boasting a Facebook privacy scanner which identifies settings that may make one's personal info vulnerable.

Additionally, it caters to Windows 8 Metro by offering Windows 8 tablet security with Trend Micro GoEverywhere, and provides expanded support for up to three devices for one year. The product further gives users 5 GB of encrypted online storage with Trend Micro SafeSync.

Visit www.trendmicro.ae

Kaspersky Internet Security 2013

R417 for one PC, for one year. R535 for three.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 introduces even stronger protection for one's financial information, with its Safe Money feature, which focuses on verifying the legitimacy of online banking, payment system and e-commerce websites.

Also new is Secure Keyboard, which aims to foil keyloggers. Another new feature, particularly aimed at notebooks, enables the software to reduce its power load when one's notebook battery is running low. The software further brings a number of improvements to its anti-spam, antivirus and anti-phishing modules.

Visit www.kaspersky.co.za

Norton Internet Security

R519 for three PCs, for one year.

The latest version of Norton Internet Security boasts five layers of protection which the company asserts can detect and eliminate malware more quickly than the competition. while Newly added is the ability to remove particularly invasive threats that are more difficult to eliminate.

Also on offer is improved SONAR behavioural protection, a network defense layer and Norton SafeWeb for Facebook which scans one's news feed and protects against dangerous links and unsafe websites.

Visit http://za.norton.com

AVG Internet Security 2013

R350 for one PC, for one year. R480 for three PCs.

The latest internet security package from AVG has paid particular attention to refining and tweaking its previous offering to offer greater ease of use. Internet Security 2013 boasts a revamped and new user interface that is aimed at catering for touchscreen devices, while AVG Turbo Scan is intended to deliver faster scans.

The product further offers a very comprehensive range of protection, checking files before they are opened, websites before they load, and Facebook links before the user clicks on them. [RN]

Visit www.avg.com/za