Panda Security unveils 2010 line-up and 80% performance gains

Panda Security has this week launched its 2010 line-up of security products and the focus this year seems to be on performance.

There are four versions of the latestprotection including:

• Panda Antivirus for Netbooks ($39.95)
• Panda Antivirus Pro 2010 ($39.95 one PC, $49.95 three PCs)
• Panda Internet Security 2010 ($59.95 one PC, $79.95 three PCs)
• Panda Global Protection 2010 ($69.95 on PC, $89.95 three PCs)

Each version takes advantage of a cloud computing solution Panda call Collective Intelligence. Using that has helped the company minimise the resources required to protect your machine and boast just an 8MB memory footprint while running. Panda are also claiming an 80% performance improvement over previous editions, 60% improved browsing speed, and 40% improved downloading speed.

In the same way Kaspersky introduced its Ultra Portables solution earlier this month; Panda has decided to target netbooks with one of its Antivirus SKUs giving antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall, ID protection, anti-phishing, and anti-rootkit protection for mobile users.

For those not using a netbook there are three options. The Pro suite gives you a basic range of protection, Internet Security adds 2GB of online backup and recovery tools, anti-spam, parental controls, Web Filter, and Information Filter technology. Global Protection takes the online backup storage to 5GB, adds CD/DVD backups, and introduces PC tune-up.

All Panda Security 2010 products are now available to buy via the Panda Security website.

Read more at the Panda Security press release

Matthew’s Opinion

There seem to be three trends appearing with security vendors at the moment: performance, cloud computing, and netbook support. All three of those are very welcome focus points in my opinion.

Netbooks are a growing market, but have limited performance so a lightweight security solution is going to help keep them performing well while remaining protected. Performance of any security solution is always key and most vendors have come a long way with their latest solutions, for example, Norton 2009 was a vast improvement over earlier editions.

Cloud computing is still relatively new in terms of providing protection, but it is clearly a growing trend. Signature-based solutions alone are just not going to be good enough in the future and an online database and constant update/checking system is going to be key over the next few years.

Panda’s latest products seem to offer everything you need, but it looks like you need to buy at least Internet Security 2010 if you don’t want to rely on other security software as well. I don’t appreciate them charging extra for a three PC license though and I hope they revise that so the one PC license price becomes the three PC license price.

Source:http://www.geek.com/articles/news/panda-security-unveils-2010-line-up-and-80-performance-gains-20090626/