Check Point has promised updates that will, we hope, fine-tune the program's balance between protection and irritation. Meanwhile, at $29.95, ZoneAlarm ForceField is an inexpensive online safety net for those who want an extra layer of protection.

ThreatFire adds a worthwhile layer of security for your computer. Even more impressively, it's free.

Agnitum Outpost Pro Security Suite 2008 remains in essence a top-notch firewall with some security features bolted on — some good, some not so good. Price-wise, it's not a compelling proposition. For the moment, Norton 360 remains the security suite of choice for the non-techie user.

If you are fed up with spam, then ClearMyMail is the business. It stops spam in its tracks and, from our experience, does so without causing the almost as worrisome headache of rejecting valid emails without good cause. It is simple to set up for POP3 account holders, but offers lots of control if you want it. Some ISPs perform spam filtering and so only a handful of unwanted e-mails get through. ClearMyMail is probably overkill for this fairly rare type of user. Apart from not supporting webmail (yet), the service does introduce one small unknown. All e-mail is being run through not one but two services, namely the ISP providing the account and ClearMyMail's, which are two possible points of failure. This wouldn't worry most people, but it's worth being aware of.

A raft of small but useful improvements make Norton 360 2.0 a useful addition to anyone's utility tool bag. It remains powerful and yet very easy to use. At the same time, it's not dumbed-down enough to deter power users.

While it's not as fast as we'd like, Spyware Doctor 5.5 does a good job of cleaning up infections and uses an intuitive interface to take control of your system's security. The small sum of $10 for added anti-virus protection is an extra bonus.

There's no doubt that Webroot Parental Controls is a thorough program. Any youngsters trying simple tricks such as altering the time will find themselves unstuck. While Mum and Dad may find it time consuming adding Web addresses to the Trusted Sites section, it's certainly worth it.

K9 is an effective Web filter for parents. It's easy to use, won't take up noticeable system resources and can even guard against keyword searches. With nothing to pay, it's well worth checking out.

Microsoft Windows Live OneCare 2.0 is relatively inexpensive, particularly when you factor in its unique 24-hour free phone support. Those who demand best-of-breed protection will still scoff at OneCare, but other users who don't want to think very hard about security should consider it.

Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall is very good value and offers a lot of first-rate protection for a very reasonable price. The real-time malware and virus protection work very well, and the quarantine service is easy to manage. We like how the various shields worked together to provide the overall security posture while still allowing a level of customisation. When shopping for an antivirus, antimalware product for your home office or small business, don't overlook Webroot's offering.

The firewall itself is extensive and would be a good purchase in its own right. As a complete suite, though, ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite is full of holes.

From a user perspective it's a clean, easy to use application that covers all the bases. However, if you want the absolute best cleaning service this software may not cover it quite as well.