Trend Micro Internet Security
Encyclopedia
Trend Micro Internet Security (known as PC-cillin Internet Security in Australia and Virus Buster in Japan) is an antivirus
/Internet security program developed by Trend Micro
. The program includes antivirus software, web threat
protection, browser cookie removal, parental controls and a computer firewall.
The Trend Micro Internet Security Pro version also includes:
In a test published by PC World
and performed by AV-test.org in April 2007, Trend Micro AntiVirus + AntiSpyware 2007 (the standalone Anti-Malware application) was tested along with several competing Anti-Malware applications
by various vendors. Trend Micro scored somewhat poorly in this test, scoring the lowest of all applications tested at 82% detection rate.
AV-comparatives also published a single test report in March 2007 which tested the Internet
Security
edition. Trend Micro fares somewhat better in this test, reaching an 87% detection rate, while the minimum detection rate to qualify for testing in AV-comparatives is 85%. However, the author of the test notes that Trend Micro was tested later than other products which are normally included in its comparative reports, and says that considering that Trend Micro had about 2 months more time (and hence was updated to a more recent date) than the other tested products, Trend Micro may or may not have reached the minimum certification level at the actual time of testing (i.e. 2 months earlier).
AV-test.org published another test report on May 22, 2007, which tested various other products along with Trend Micro. Trend Micro scored 90.97% overall.
In the Consumer Reports Electronics Buying Guide 2008, Trend Micro was rated higher than any other security suite tested. The results are based on tests published in Consumer Reports in September 2007.
Trend Micro has had moderate success with the Virus Bulletin
VB100 award failing 11 tests and succeeding 16. It has also acquired certification from ICSA Labs for Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware detection, as well as Check Mark, which signifies that it is able to provide at least basic protection against in-the wild (i.e. highly spreading dangerous malware with a high infection rate) malware.
Trend Micro's firewall has only undergone limited testing, however, tests conducted by Matousec Matousec indicate that Trend Micro's firewall has poor protection; Trend Micro scored a 27% on the firewall leak test.
Trend Micro's Smart Protection Network deploys bots to verify websites visited by users of Trend Micro Internet Security. While users of the software is visiting a website, the Trend Micro bots break security measures and rules specified by the website administrator and displays malware
characteristics . The antivirus software uses the trust websites have for users with administrative and other privileges to circumvent website
security measures to allow Trend Micro's bots the opportunity to download privileged information or to inject files to the website. This can be a major privacy
and security risk for Trend Micro Internet Security users who access Internet banking facilities.
Only versions from 2007 onwards are currently still being supported by Trend Micro.
PC-cillin 2000 and earlier versions were purely virus scanners without any additional features. PC-cillin 2002 and 2003 were stand-alone virus scanners which also included a firewall
component and improved the scanning engine somewhat. The newer PC-cillin Internet Security bundle offers more features such as spyware
protection, anti-spam
and an integrated firewall
along with an improved scan engine and enhanced heuristics. After PC-cillin 2003, Trend Micro did not offer a stand-alone antivirus program for the consumer
market till 2007, when the company finally released a standalone Anti-Malware product which offers protection from viruses, spyware, and (possibly) adware.
Antivirus software
Antivirus or anti-virus software is used to prevent, detect, and remove malware, including but not limited to computer viruses, computer worm, trojan horses, spyware and adware...
/Internet security program developed by Trend Micro
Trend Micro
Trend Micro Inc. is a computer security company. It is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and markets Trend Micro Internet Security, Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security, OfficeScan, and other related security products and services...
. The program includes antivirus software, web threat
Web threat
A web threat is any threat that uses the internet to facilitate cybercrime. Web threats use multiple types of malware and fraud, all of which utilize HTTP or HTTPS protocols, but may also employ other protocols and components, such as links in email or IM, or malware attachments or on servers...
protection, browser cookie removal, parental controls and a computer firewall.
Features
The latest version is Trend Micro Internet Security 2010, which offers the following features:- Anti-virus
- Anti-spyware
- Anti-spam
- Email safety scan
- Protection against rootkits
- Proactive intrusion blocking
- Two-way firewall
- Home network protection
- Website authentication
- Parental controls (including content filtering and Internet access scheduling)
- Personal data leak prevention
The Trend Micro Internet Security Pro version also includes:
- Wireless network validation
- Keylogger protection
- Online backup
- Remote folder and file permissions control
- PC tuning and cleanup
- Trend Micro Mobile Security for Windows Mobile PDAs and Symbian OS mobile phones
Effectiveness
A May 2006 test published by PC World Australia revealed that the virus scanner component of PC-cillin Internet Security Suite 2006 was severely lacking in heuristic capabilities, catching just 5% of worms and 7% of backdoor programs on a testbed with month-old anti-virus definitions. This was due to Trend Micro's belief that the problems caused by heuristics (in particular, the inconvenience of false positives) outweighed the benefits. The product did, however, benefit from fast outbreak-response times, and the user interface was easy to use.In a test published by PC World
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
and performed by AV-test.org in April 2007, Trend Micro AntiVirus + AntiSpyware 2007 (the standalone Anti-Malware application) was tested along with several competing Anti-Malware applications
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
by various vendors. Trend Micro scored somewhat poorly in this test, scoring the lowest of all applications tested at 82% detection rate.
AV-comparatives also published a single test report in March 2007 which tested the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
Security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
edition. Trend Micro fares somewhat better in this test, reaching an 87% detection rate, while the minimum detection rate to qualify for testing in AV-comparatives is 85%. However, the author of the test notes that Trend Micro was tested later than other products which are normally included in its comparative reports, and says that considering that Trend Micro had about 2 months more time (and hence was updated to a more recent date) than the other tested products, Trend Micro may or may not have reached the minimum certification level at the actual time of testing (i.e. 2 months earlier).
AV-test.org published another test report on May 22, 2007, which tested various other products along with Trend Micro. Trend Micro scored 90.97% overall.
In the Consumer Reports Electronics Buying Guide 2008, Trend Micro was rated higher than any other security suite tested. The results are based on tests published in Consumer Reports in September 2007.
Trend Micro has had moderate success with the Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin is a magazine about the prevention, detection and removal of malware and spam. It regularly features analyses of the latest virus threats, articles exploring new developments in the fight against viruses, interviews with anti-virus experts, and evaluations of current anti-malware...
VB100 award failing 11 tests and succeeding 16. It has also acquired certification from ICSA Labs for Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware detection, as well as Check Mark, which signifies that it is able to provide at least basic protection against in-the wild (i.e. highly spreading dangerous malware with a high infection rate) malware.
Trend Micro's firewall has only undergone limited testing, however, tests conducted by Matousec Matousec indicate that Trend Micro's firewall has poor protection; Trend Micro scored a 27% on the firewall leak test.
Trend Micro's Smart Protection Network deploys bots to verify websites visited by users of Trend Micro Internet Security. While users of the software is visiting a website, the Trend Micro bots break security measures and rules specified by the website administrator and displays malware
Malware
Malware, short for malicious software, consists of programming that is designed to disrupt or deny operation, gather information that leads to loss of privacy or exploitation, or gain unauthorized access to system resources, or that otherwise exhibits abusive behavior...
characteristics . The antivirus software uses the trust websites have for users with administrative and other privileges to circumvent website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
security measures to allow Trend Micro's bots the opportunity to download privileged information or to inject files to the website. This can be a major privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
and security risk for Trend Micro Internet Security users who access Internet banking facilities.
History
Previous versions of the program as of March 2009, are:- PC-cillin
- PC-cillin 2000
- PC-cillin 2002
- PC-cillin 2003
- PC-cillin Internet Security v11/2004
- PC-cillin Internet Security v12/2005
- PC-cillin Internet Security v14/2006
- Trend Micro Internet Security v15/2007
- Trend Micro Internet Security v16/2008
Only versions from 2007 onwards are currently still being supported by Trend Micro.
PC-cillin 2000 and earlier versions were purely virus scanners without any additional features. PC-cillin 2002 and 2003 were stand-alone virus scanners which also included a firewall
Personal firewall
A personal firewall is an application which controls network traffic to and from a computer, permitting or denying communications based on a security policy. Typically it works as an application layer firewall....
component and improved the scanning engine somewhat. The newer PC-cillin Internet Security bundle offers more features such as spyware
Spyware
Spyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's...
protection, anti-spam
Stopping e-mail abuse
To prevent e-mail spam , both end users and administrators of e-mail systems use various anti-spam techniques. Some of these techniques have been embedded in products, services and software to ease the burden on users and administrators...
and an integrated firewall
Personal firewall
A personal firewall is an application which controls network traffic to and from a computer, permitting or denying communications based on a security policy. Typically it works as an application layer firewall....
along with an improved scan engine and enhanced heuristics. After PC-cillin 2003, Trend Micro did not offer a stand-alone antivirus program for the consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
market till 2007, when the company finally released a standalone Anti-Malware product which offers protection from viruses, spyware, and (possibly) adware.