AVG Internet Security 2013 is a capable
security suite which does a generally very good job of protecting your
PC from dangers, both on and offline.
At the program's core is AVG's strong antivirus engine. A little more
accurate in this release, and with significantly reduced scanning times,
this monitors every file you access, detecting and removing malware
before it can cause any damage. And, conveniently, Whole Computer scans
now look for and remove rootkits, as well: you don't have to run a
separate scan to locate them.
The suite also includes a firewall, which protects you from network
attacks and monitors running programs to make sure malware can't "phone
home". A key improvement here is that this now works almost entirely
automatically, so you're unlikely to be hassled with pop-ups and alerts
any more.
The spam filter is also significantly enhanced. The last edition blocked
only 55% of our test junk emails; AVG Internet Security 2013 has raised
the detection rate to an impressive 88%.
And the suite also benefits from a new Windows 8-style interface. While
this looks a little plain, we found it simple to use, with the various
tiles delivering quick access to the program's various functions and
features. An Options menu allows you to carry out just about any
Internet Security Suite action in just a couple of clicks, and if you're
still a little confused then a good local Help file will quickly point
you in the right direction.
The news isn't all quite so good. Previously AVG Internet Security was
able to add icons to results from all the main search engines,
highlighting dangerous sites so that you'd know not to click their
links. Now, these icons only appear when you use AVG's own Secure
Search, either via the suite's browser toolbar, or by changing your
browser search page. (AVG Internet Security 2013 will set this up by
default during installation, but if you'd rather it leave your browser
untouched then choose the Custom Installation option and you can turn
the relevant options off.)
Fortunately, the suite does include other technologies to help keep you
safe online. AVG's LinkScanner module vets web pages before they're
displayed in the browser, for instance, and blocked a little more than
half of our test malicious URLs. And if something does get downloaded
then it'll be vetted by the antivirus engine, which will detect and
remove most dangerous files.
And so, on balance, AVG Internet Security 2013 looks like a solid move
forward. Not everyone will like the slightly plain interface, and
browsing protection still needs work, but otherwise the suite is faster,
more accurate and smarter than before, and it does a generally good job
of keeping your PC safe from harm.
