Panda Antivirus 2012

The Panda Antivirus 2012 software suite is becoming a popular choice among consumers. One reason for this is that Panda Antivirus 2012 offers some features you would normally expect to find in full-blown (and more expensive) security suites, rather than just anti-virus protection. Generally speaking, anti-virus software does only two main things; it rids your computer of existing infections and prevents future malware infestations. Complete security suites do all that anti-virus software does in addition to providing a firewall, parental controls and anti-spam protection features, to name a few. Panda Antivirus 2012 crosses the line between anti-virus software and a full-out security suite, all while keeping the price low. However, Panda does not perform perfectly in independent virus-protection testing.

Panda Antivirus 2012 Features

Panda Antivirus 2012 can get eliminate the viruses and other bugs currently infecting your computer and protect you from future threats. Panda software comes with a full-blown firewall for enhanced protection, which is something you do not commonly see in basic anti-virus software.

Another excellent feature is that you can install and scan the software in Safe Mode. This really gives tech savvy users a lot of capability when it comes to manually scanning for and removing specific viruses. The software also comes with a SafeDisk bootable rescue CD and a USB vaccine and vulnerability scan. Panda software also gives you the ability to work in a safe browser mode with privacy protection, and foils web-based attacks and blocks phishing sites.

How Panda Stacks Up in Independent Testing

The biggest selling point for any anti-virus software is usually how well it can rid your computer of existing infections and the percentage of future threats it protects against. While most security software manufacturers claim their software protects against nearly 100 percent of future threats, this is often not the case. Reputable, independent testing labs, however, reveal more accurate protection levels.

So how does Panda Antivirus 2012 stack up in independent testing? It's relatively good, but it is topped by several other brands. In tests by West Coast Labs and AV comparatives, Panda Antivirus 2012 received an Advanced rating, which is the second highest tier within this rating scale. AV comparatives recently completed a round-up test of leading anti-virus software brands, and revealed that Panda ranked fifth among 17 brands for its ability to protect against future attacks. Panda protected against 97.4 percent of threats; however, higher-ranking brands protected against around 99 percent of threats, like top-contender Symantec, which warded off 99.3 percent of threats in the test.

Panda Antivirus 2012 Area of Weakness

While Panda holds its own in independent testing for protecting against future threats, the software is less adept at removing viruses that have already infected your computer. In one test, Panda was only able to fully remove seven of 12 pre-existing infections. The Panda software reported that all the infections were successfully removed when they were not. In two of the instances, the tester was able get rid of the infection by using Panda's unique ability to scan and remove malware in Safe Mode. The other three infections needed assistance from Panda's rescue CD.

Panda Antivirus 2012 Overall

The Panda Antivirus 2012 software is a good option if you want decent protection against future threats and all the options you'd normally find in a full-out security suite. However, if you need software to get rid of infections that are already present on your computer, Panda Antivirus 2012 is not the most effective choice.

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