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Review: Laplink PCdefense Security Suite By Jack M. Germain April 5, 2006 2:02PM I lost some faith in PCdefense when a system sweep generated an alert about a possible rootkit -- a rogue program installed at such a fundamental level in Windows that it can escape the scans of most security software. Instead of deleting the program, PCdefense invited me to visit the company's Web site to learn how to remove it manually.   Related Topics Spware Viruses Trojans Security Latest News Endeavour Inspected for Damage Autism Risk for Kids of Older Mothers Go Online and You Can Save the Planet In Haiti, Relief Gaps Are Spreading U.S. To Form Climate-Change Agency Among the most essential applications that any computer user must rely on these days is security software, especially given the prevalence of viruses and Trojans circulating the Internet and the increasing sophistication of hackers bent on stealing the identity of unsuspecting users. While Symantec and McAfee have been the name-brand companies dominating the world of PC security, there are several lesser-known companies that offer great software too. One of these is Laplink, a company that offers a suite of security tools called PCdefense. This suite might be called the Holy Grail of spyware packages because it bundles several essential spyware-fighting tools, along with a rootkit-detection utility, in a single, self-updating suite. But the software, while comprehensive, is not quite ready for prime-time use as the only security tool running on your system . Features The suite consists of several modules -- SpyAlarm Monitor, Spyware Scan, and Keylogger Prevention -- that work in conjunction to keep personal information from being compromised by Internet threats. PCdefense also offers antivirus capabilities to help protect against existing and emerging viruses. In addition, the suite comes with a disaster-recovery tool -- a nice feature that most security suites do not offer. The recovery tool can restore files, settings, and programs if Windows is damaged beyond repair and must be restored. The recovery program works by capturing an image of the hard drive and then storing it on an external disk or on CD or DVD backup media. Performance While the software found several possible problems on my test system when I first installed it, it failed to detect several other fairly common adware and spyware components that I deliberately downloaded to test the application. Missing certain pieces of malicious software is common among security tools that each use different scanning engines and definition lists. But not being able to identify a few of the most common pieces of spyware represents a serious flaw in a software program touted as being able to protect your computer's security. In addition to missing certain key spyware infections, it also created false alerts about good programs. PCdefense does warn up front that it might issue false positives until it can determine whether a program is legitimate, but it generates way too many of these alerts. In my testing, alerts popped up identifying files associated with McAfee's antispyware application and with the Viewpoint Toolbar -- a search add-on for Internet Explorer -- as potential threats. No other major security packages tag these applications as malicious files. (continued...) 1  |  2  |  Next Page >   Tell Us What You Think Your Comment: Also Visit: iPad Info Center Billions of Bytes Mobile Device Now Apple Info Center TopTechWire.com Advertisement  Software 1.   Tips for More Windows 7 Productivity 2.   MS: Russian Pirates Scamming Us 3.   Veteran SAP CEO Abruptly Resigns 4.   Mobile Phone Apps Gaining Ground 5.   Twitter Clients Save Time and Clicks Oracle, Adobe Patch Vulnerabilities Microsoft's Patch Tuesday very light. Average Rating: Tips for More Windows 7 Productivity Win 7 is chock-full of unsung features. Average Rating: Veteran SAP CEO Abruptly Resigns Cofounder will guide new co-CEOs. Average Rating:

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