pctoolbox.co.uk » Internet

Learn about AVG Internet Security 9.0 – Video

Alex — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 08:50:38 +0000

A fantastic video to explain how AVG Internet Security works and why you should purchase it!

AVG 9 Comparison

Alex — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:53:53 +0000

Here is a table comparing the latest AVG packages. They are all currently available from Brandstar with a 15% Discount!

Free Anti-Virus software doesn’t protect you, your files or your identity while:

Shopping online
Banking online
Chatting to friends
Downloading music, files and films

Feature	AVG Free	AVG Anti-Virus	AVG Internet Security

RRP – 1 Year	Free*	£27.99	£39.99
RRP – 2 Years	Free*	£38.99	£59.99
Anti-Virus – Makes sure you can get or spread a virus, worm or Trojan horse
Anti-Spyware – Prevents unauthorized information access by spyware and adware
LinkScanner ® – Ensures every page you visit is safe – before you go there
Web Shield – Lets you download and exchange files without risking virus infections
Advanced Anti-Rootkit Protection – Ensures even the toughest and most sophisticated hidden threats are kept out
Game Mode – Keeps you safe without interrupting you while you’re playing
AVG Identity Protection – Keeps your private information safe from known and unknown threats.
Anti-Spam – Blocks spammers and scammers from clogging your system
Enhanced Firewall – Prevents hackers from seeing inside your computer
System Tools – Optionally customize how AVG Protection works with your system
Free Support – Free 24/7 support from AVG
Download	Free	30 Day Trial	30 Day Trial
Buy at Brandstar	N/A	Buy at Brandstar	Buy at Brandstar

PCToolbox….Match Making?

Alex — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:19 +0000

Recently a client had a bizarre discovery about PCToolbox. They typed the URL address into the address bar as normal, however they found the website was blocked by the school Internet filter. They then looked further down the page to find that they website was classified as ‘Match Making’! (Click on image to enlarge)

Maybe it’s time for the West Sussex Grid for Learning to review their school Internet filtering service!?

Hoax-Slayer

Alex — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:00:26 +0000

Hoax-Slayer is a website we discovered a couple of weeks back and a member of our team literally fell in love with it straight away. Graham described it as a ‘website after my own heart’! Therefore, I’ve been set the task to let you know what it’s all about! The description on the Hoax-Slayer website pretty much sums the site up in one paragraph:

“Hoax-Slayer is dedicated to debunking email hoaxes, thwarting Internet scammers, combating spam, and education web users about email and Internet security issues. Hoax-Slayer allows Internet users to check the veracity of common email hoaxes and aims to counteract criminal activity by publishing information about common types of Internet scams. Hoax-Slayer also includes anti-spam tips, computer and email security information, articles about true email forwards and much more. New articles are added to the Hoax-Slayer website every week.”

So in other words, Hoax-Slayer is out with a mission to remove any scams and hoaxes around on the internet to make it a better and safer place for all! The site has a variety of really helpful articles and guides to help you avoid any problems!

The site is really worth browsing over to prepare you for any potentially problematic emails/scams on the internet!

Antivirus Comparison – The Final Ratings and Rankings

Alex — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:00:39 +0000

We’ve now come to the end of our Antivirus Comparison Series. To finish everything off we’re going to give each software a rating and a rank….

Software	Rating	Rank
		6
		7
		3
		4
		2
		5
		1

From all our investigations over the past few weeks we can conclude in our opinion AVG Internet Security is the best software around! We were really pleased and excited to see that Avira and Kaspersky have so much potential and are on the verge of being world class products. Norton 360 and McAfee, for us, were the biggest let downs. The quality of product and service just isn’t as good as you expect. In many cases you’re better off going for a smaller brand or AVG! All software used in the comparisons were the best available home software from the brand at the time of writing.

I think the interesting and most important thing to take from the investigation is that the two biggest household names are rated as last. Consequently this whole survey really asks this question…’do the big name brands always provide the best service and product?’

Want to find out more? Check out the original comparison articles:

Antivirus Comparison – Summary Table

Alex — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:00:38 +0000

Over the past month we have been comparing antivirus software. Below is a table which summaries our findings! We’ve put all the results into percentages to make everything fair!

	Alternative Software %	AVG % in Comparison
	64%	86%
	63%	88%
	75%	94%
	69%	88%
	77%	82%
	67%	90%

As you can see from the table, AVG is by far the superior antivirus software when compared to the others. Throughout the entire comparison process we were very impressed with the potential of some of the lesser known software like Avira and Kaspersky. In a few years time they could really be battling with the rest! Look out for our ratings table in coming weeks!

Trend Micro Internet Security Pro vs AVG Internet Security

Alex — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:00:39 +0000

Today we’re comparing Trend Micro Internet Security Pro and the Award Winning AVG Internet Security! Many of you wouldn’t have heard of Trend Micro. They’re one of the less known Anti-Virus Software providers. For more information on Trend Micro visit their website! The comparison will involve an overview of the features each package has and then at the end we’ll tell you which we think is better through our rating system. Our ratings are worked out by the amount of ticks the product has. Further points are awarded for faster download, simpler/better installation and cheaper price.

Feature
Download Time	Very Long	Fast
Installation	Installation is of average length and is simple. However, it doesn’t take you through any setup.	Takes an average length of time. Quite extensive and helps you set up the basic features of the software.
Anti-Virus
Anti-Spyware
Anti-Spam
Blocks unauthorized programs
Web Shield
Toolbar
Authenticates wireless hotspots and Wi-Fi Networks
Child Protection (inc time, length and content)
Personal Information Protection (Encryption)
Link Scanner
Snapshot of security features
Clean up PC for faster performance
Anti-Malware
Anti-Phishing
Anti-Rootkit
Identity Protection(Advanced)
Firewall
Available to buy from Brandstar
RRP (3 PC’s for 1 year)	£54.95	£58.71
Overall Rating	14 out of 21	19 out of 21

Overall I haven’t been that impressed with Trend Micro Internet Security Pro. It has a long way to go before it will compete with the liks of AVG. It may be cheaper but you have to buy the 3 PC package which is pretty pointless if you only have 1 PC. The features that the software offers aren’t as capable and advanced as that of AVG Internet Security. Trend Micro is however easy to use and have a very user friendly layout! However, to fight for a place in the top 3 they’ll need to bring something unique and some quality to the table neither of which they provide now. So my advice, if you’re stuck between the two go for AVG!

McAfee Total Protection vs AVG Internet Security

Alex — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:00:46 +0000

Today we’re comparing McAfee’s Total Protection package with AVG’s Award Winning Internet Security Package. The comparison will involve an overview of each packages features and then at the end we’ll tell you which we think is better through our rating system. Our ratings are worked out by the amount of ticks the product has. Further points are awarded for faster download, simpler/better installation and cheaper price.

Feature
Download Time	Average	Fast
Installation	Installation time is long but happens automatically which discards any confusion. However, unlike AVG you still have to configure all the software features after the installation/setup process.	Takes an average length of time. Quite extensive and helps you set up the basic features of the software.
Antivirus
Anti-Spyware
Anti-Spam
Anti-Phishing
Firewall
Identity Protection
Web Shield (Browse the web safely)
Link Scanner
Free 24 Hour Support
Anti-Rootkit
Data Backup
Parental Controls
RRP	1 Year: £58.69 (up to 3 PC’s)	1 Year: £48.93 (for 3 computers)
Available to download from Brandstar?
Overal Rating	10/16	14/16

So after playing around with the two programs I can conclude that we think AVG Internet Security is better than McAfee Total Protection. It has a wider range of tools and equipment to give an overall better performance. McAfee looks nicer than AVG but we all know looks can be deceiving and AVG turns out to be far easier to use. A huge advantage of AVG is that you can buy it for 1 computer if you only have 1 computer, whereas you dont have the option to do that with McAfee Total Protection. Although the installation of AVG involves you having to make some choices it saves you having to do them in the long run and it helps provide you with an even better performance. Whereas with McAfee you spend ages doing the Automatic installation to find out you still have to configure all the features yourself!!

Next time we will be comparing AVG Internet Security with Kaspersky Internet Security.

Norton 360 vs AVG Internet Security

Alex — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:00:49 +0000

Over the next few weeks we are going to run a series of comparisons between different Anti-Virus Software. In these comparison post’s we’re going to show you the main features that the two products provide and then tell you which we think is better through our rating system. Our ratings are worked out by the amount of ticks the product has. Further points are awarded for faster download, simpler/better installation and cheaper price. This time it is Norton’s 360 v3.0 vs AVG’s Award Winning Internet Security v8.5.

Feature
Download Time	Average	Fast
Installation	Quick but slightly tedious (you have to register for a second time.) Doesn’t help you set up the general running of the software.	Takes an average length of time. Quite extensive and helps you set up the basic features of the software.
Antivirus Technology
Identity Protection (Including Phishing Protection, Checks Links, Keeps you details safe whilst shopping online, etc)
Antispyware
Backup Software
Automated Virus Updater
Protects against Viruses, Bots, Spyware, Rootkits, Worms, Trojan Horses, etc.
Online Storage Available?
Helps Secure and Monitor Networks
Download and Instant Messenger Screening
Firewall Protection
RRP	1 Year: £59.99 2 Years: £109.99	1 Year: £39.14 2 Years: £58.71
Available to Download from Brandstar?
Overall Rating	9 out of 14	12 out of 14

So to conclude, from our investigations and playing around with the two software’s, we can announce that we think AVG Internet Security is the better software of the two. It may not have any backup software within the package but it works out cheaper to get AVG and then buy yourself a decent back up tool and external hard drive.

Next time we’ll be comparing AVG Internet Security with McAfee Total Protection.

12 Days Of Christmas – Day 2 – 123-Reg

Alex — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:00:32 +0000

Our retailer for the Second Day of Christmas is 123-reg.co.uk. 123-Reg sell domain names and hosting for websites. So if you have to buy a present for a computer addict this would be a great present to get them blogging on the Internet in 2009!

Need some help with setting up a website? Check out our Quick Tip Series on Basic Website Setup!