Peter Griffin: Vista will sharpen up other security suites

It is security season in the computer world, which means the likes of Computer Associates, McAfee, Symantec and Trend Micro are starting to push their 2007 slate of internet and security products.

Signing on with these companies sees you pay at least $100 upfront and subscription fees each year thereafter. They're not cheap, but leaving yourself unprotected from random but sophisticated attacks from internet hackers is pretty reckless, especially as we increasingly buy things online.

A few years ago, security software was often more trouble than it was worth, constantly annoying us with warning prompts every time programs on our computers tried to access the internet. It just encouraged us to turn off our firewall and antivirus protection, which defeated the purpose of buying it.

Thankfully, all of the security suites have improved to the stage that once you've approved the rules by which your computer operates, you'll be alerted only if there's an attack on your computer or when updates are available.

Any good security suite needs these key features: a firewall, antivirus protection, a spam filter, parental controls and online security protection against browser-borne attacks and "phishing" scams designed to trick you into entering financial information and personal details into bogus websites. Customer support via a phone helpdesk or by email is also essential.

So what separates the big security software players?

The package you choose will come down to price, the number of computers you need to protect, the type of user interface you prefer and the security provider's reputation for discovering and patching new exploits quickly.

Most of these security packages are primarily designed to protect the software of one company - Microsoft. It would seem more logical for Microsoft to take responsibility for the security of its own products. While Microsoft's security track record has been woeful, the company is promising much better security features as part of its new operating system, Vista, which will be released next year.

In doing so, it has annoyed the independent security software makers. Symantec is locked in a bitter legal feud with Microsoft over a feature of Vista called PatchGuard, which is designed to stop system files on your computer being modified. The problem with PatchGuard, says Symantec, is that it makes it difficult for third-party software vendors to interact with Vista.

Another aspect of Vista, Windows Security Center, will provide a console designed to give a complete overview of your computer's security profile - something Symantec and company also provide.

Microsoft has already dipped its toe in the premium security market with its Windows Live OneCare service. So will we in future be able to get all of our security protection from Microsoft, instead of buying third-party software? I don't see Trend Micro and McAfee going out of business with the arrival of Vista's security features. Those companies are building versions of their software for Vista, and Microsoft's presence in the market will keep them on their toes. No matter who provides your computer security, it should be remembered that no package guarantees security. Being ultra-cautious in how you store your personal information and who you give it to is still the most important security measure you can take, and it's free.