Edit: as you can see below, I've been running a freeware program, SuperAntiSpyware, as a sanity check on Trend Micro. In other words, I use it to catch the stuff that Trend Micro doesn't. Until today what was caught by SAS was only spyware.

SAS today, a few minutes ago, identified that I had a trojan called Vundo that delivers spyware, replicates itself in the registry and reduces system performance. Not only did Trend Micro not detect it, the firewall did not prevent it. Fortunately, SAS was able to remove it and I've just bought the paid for version which includes real time prevention.

In Trend Micro's defense, very few of the name brand antivirus suites are able to get rid of Vundo right now. However, I shouldn't have to buy a second program to do what I'm paying the first program for.

Thred Micro is gone once the subscription expires.

The rest of the original review is below, except I'm changing the 2* rating to 1*

I've been using Trend Micro Internet Security Suite, the current version, since June 2008.  I had Zone Labs' product, which I did not renew because it was slow and it had detected some malware it could not clean.

I have a Dell Dimension 8400 PC, which I use to support my music business. I have a lot of files, and a lot of file space, using 3 200g external hard drives.. I also have a Dell Inspiron 1100 laptop, which my wife uses occasionally and I use for connecting to my office computer through VPN

Once I decided to get rid of the ZoneLabs product, I evaluated the AVG, Btdefender, Kaspersky and Trend Micro products. I went with Trend Micro because of the fair price, the high levels of detection in tests, and the ability to pay only once for a home network.

Trend Micro's key features are:
*One installation can protect a network of up to 3 PCs
*Antivirus and antispyware; current updates of malware definitions
* configurable firewall
* on IC, protects against keystroke logging
* protects against internet malware
*system tuning utilieis (registry cleaner and others)
* remote file lock protects files if a PC is stolen
* protects against unwanted program changes


I had originally been attracted to Trend Micro when I found an objective web site that compared most major security packages on the following criteria:

Detection of viruses
Detection of spyware
Detection of spam
Scan speed
Number of false positives
Response time to new viruses
Cleaning of viruses found

The web site can be found here:
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/ihs/alex/results_2D2008m3b_US.htm
 

Trend Micro did well on detection of viruses and spyware (not quite as good on spyware) scan speed and response time to new viruses.

I paid $69 for an annual subscription.

The firewall has done well. It was easily configured and it has understood what I wanted to do. I also like the program change feature. I get a warning if a program has been changed.

In use, it has done reasonably well in virus detection and has been able to fix the ones it has found. I've had a repeated problem over the past month with Trend Micro identifying a virus as a false positive. I've been able to demonstrate that by uploading the allegedly offending file to an objective web site that tests individual files for viruses that can be found here:

http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus

Trend Micro is aware of the problem. It is being discussed on the forums on their site. However, nothing has been done about it.

Not only have the false positives been annoying but the scan speed, which faster than Zone Labs, has been fairly slow on the desktop and there is a substantial impact on system performance when the scan is going. Tredn Micro puts my system into slow motion and it's just about as bad as Zone Labs when it comes to that. I've tried to split up my scans by drive and tried to do the scans during off times, like when I am at work or overnight, but that then makes it difficult for me to save power by shutting down the PC.

I also have continued to scan weekly with the free version of SuperAntiSpyrare as one of the techies at the office recommended it. The SAS scans always find items that Trend Micro doesn't.

So, the slowness of scan, the impact on the computer during scanning and the false positives are all barriers to me renewing without trying alternatives. Norton's new product has reviewed well and I may evaluate that when the Trend Micro subscription is up.

Not recommended

2 stars

Thanks for reading. God bless!

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Recommended: No