A new generation of security software is emerging, characterized by a “Total Protection” mindset. In addition to updated security features, the software from AOL, McAfee, Microsoft, and Symantec promises to provide backup services and phishing protection for users.
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| Source: centurionsoft |
The payment structure will also be calculated differently, with a new pricing model.
Microsoft is the pioneer of this trend, having launched Windows Live OneCare at the end of May, a service that combines a full suite of antivirus, antispyware, and firewall tools with a simple Windows interface.
Additionally, OneCare allows users to back up data to CDs, DVDs, and external hard drives. However, with OneCare, users cannot store data online.
Meanwhile, the trial version of McAfee’s Total Protection service also adds backup features alongside traditional security functions. Total Protection promises users a virtual hard drive of up to 1 GB. The complete version of this service is expected to officially launch at the end of this summer.
Similarly, McAfee’s competitor, Symantec, plans to debut Norton 360 in March next year. Norton 360 will feature exclusive phishing protection capable of analyzing and dissecting suspected fraudulent sites.
A newcomer, AOL, has also entered the fray by announcing its “total protection” service, Total Care. However, if you are not an AOL registered member, you will not have access to this service.
AOL plans to eventually expand Total Care’s coverage to all users, but currently, there is no specific schedule or pricing available.
Alongside firewalls, antispyware, and antivirus (AOL uses McAfee’s virus scanning tools), all three new services from AOL, Symantec, and McAfee also include various phishing protection measures. Only Microsoft’s OneCare lacks this defensive feature, possibly because it has been integrated into the IE7 browser.
Like IE7, AOL can only block websites that have been pre-identified as phishing sites. In contrast, the services from Symantec and McAfee are more advanced, capable of analyzing all websites and assessing their safety levels.
However, OneCare has the advantage when it comes to pricing—an extremely important factor. The service costs $50 per year for a package covering three computers, while traditional security packages typically cost over $50 for a single computer, not including the annual antivirus subscription fees. OneCare performs software updates for free each time, while traditional services do not.
Chris Swenson, director of NPD Group, hopes that the yet-to-be-released Total Protection and Norton 360 will have pricing comparable to OneCare, although both McAfee and Symantec have remained tight-lipped about pricing.
Clearly, Microsoft’s entry into the security market is shaking things up, and according to Swenson, the biggest beneficiaries of this shift are consumers.
Thien Yi
