Antivirus and filtering

Avira AntiVir Personal 8
AntiVir Personal 8 provides more than adequate malicious software protection, but for the price, we expected more features and polish.
Specs: Complete package, 133 MHz Intel Pentium, 133 MHz Intel Pentium

Norton AntiVirus 2009
Norton AntiVirus 2009 hits all the right security notes, and its superior protection technologies might even win back some jaded anti-Symantec folks, though for some, technical support may continue to frustrate.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2, 300 MHz, CD-ROM, 300 MHz, Windows

F-Secure Internet Security 2009
While offering roughly the same features and performance as its competition, F-Secure Internet Security 2009 is about $20 too expensive.
Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Starter, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32/64 bits), 600 MHz Intel Pentium or higher, 600 MHz, CD-ROM, Internet connection, 600 MHz Intel Pentium or higher, 600 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 5.0

Trend Micro Internet Security 2009
You can't beat the price. For a good, basic Internet Security suite, we recommend Trend Micro Internet Security 2009.
Specs: 3 PCs, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2, 350 MHz, 800 MHz, XGA monitor, 350 MHz, 800 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later, Internet Explorer 6.0 SP2 or later

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 provides adequate protection, but the program itself could use some work in telling the user what's going on.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 800 MHz Intel Pentium (Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista), 800 MHz Intel Pentium (Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista)

Norton 360 2.0
A near-perfect all-in-one solution for brand new PCs, Norton 360 v2 may be hard to install and run on legacy machines. However, don't count on Symantec's time-consuming and expensive technical support for help.
Specs: 3 PC in one household, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Starter, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2 or later, 300 MHz, 2.0, CD-ROM, 300 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

Windows Defender (version 1593)
Windows Defender is free and therefore should be a part of your desktop antispyware collection.

Sunbelt CounterSpy 2.0
Sunbelt CounterSpy 2.0 distinguished itself in a crowded field by providing a clean, institutive interface and great test results.
Specs: 1 user, License, Windows

CA Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2008
CA Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2008 holds the middle ground this year, featuring faster code but lacking any compelling "must-have" features.
Specs: 3 PCs, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, 300 MHz, 800 MHz, CD-ROM, Internet connection, 300 MHz, 800 MHz, Windows

Panda Antivirus 2008
Panda Antivirus 2008 is slower than the competition and lacks independent, third-party antivirus test results, and thus doesn't receive our recommendation.
Specs: 3 PCs, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Microsoft Windows Vista (64-bit versions), 150 MHz, CD-ROM, 150 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0