ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

Panda AntivirusPlatinum 6.0

MANY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE been made to this latest release of Panda Antivirus Platinum. From the quick installation to the daily updated signature files, Panda Antivirus Platinum 6.0 ensures that you have the most up-to-date virus tool available for systems running Windows 3.x, 9x, ME, 2000, NT 4.0, MS-DOS and OS/2.

From the main interface, you can scan all local and network drives, as well as system memory and email. You can also select quick scans or configure more advanced ones. Starting a scan presents you with a voice message, which tells you that it's starting. Upon completion, a voice prompt once again tells you that the scan has finished and, hopefully, no virus infections found.

In the event that a virus is discovered, you're presented with various options for a course of action. As Panda Software updates its signature files on a daily basis, you should be equipped to handle any infection. If not, the infected file or email can be moved to a quarantine area. It can then be emailed to Panda Software, who claims that it will respond with a fix within 24 hours.

Although the signature files are updated on a daily basis, the software can be configured to automatically download these or to prompt you to manually update them. As a registered user, Panda Software will also physically mail an update CD-ROM to you every month, which will give you an extra level of security as well as peace of mind.

Panda Antivirus Platinum 6.0 also integrates with your email software, providing you with both background scanning and detailed reporting. At the click of a button, the software will scan all of your email or just your new entries, depending on which particular option you choose. As well as supporting all versions of Microsoft's Outlook, this effective anti-virus package will also scan all Internet traffic that's travelling through your system, including POP3, SMTP, HTTP, FTP and NNTP.

Ease of installation and usability of the product is good and with daily updates, you should remain virus free. There might be too many configuration options available for some users, but a quick visit to the help system should eliminate ambiguities. Panda Antivirus Platinum 6.0 is definitely one of the more user-friendly, cost-effective and well-supported anti-virus packages around at the moment.

Ashley McKinnon