Kaspersky Internet Security Review

Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS) is one of the most effective and up-to-date security tools. It was developed by Kaspersky Labs, a Russian computer security company founded by Natalia Kaspersky and Eugene Kaspersky in 1997. Kaspersky Lab offered a wide array of computer security products like antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-malware, and anti-intrusion programs. IDC ranked it as the fourth largest global vendor in antivirus products in 2008. In 2009, it became the first Russian company to be included in software top 100 of the world’s software company rankings.

KIS is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 / 8. It can detect and remove malware and email scams and is loaded with a phishing filter.

The first version, KIS Version 6.0, was released in 2007. Upon its launch, it received a very positive response from its users and critics. It performed efficiently and soon became one of the top internet security suites available. It successfully detected 97.5% of adware samples. Its advanced scanning feature could scan compressed and hidden files seeing 83.3% of hidden malware.

The interface of Version 6.0 was a bit awkward and challenging to navigate. KIS was believed to produce a high rate of false positives, which means it often labeled safe or secure programs as a potential threat. However, this problem can be countered by downloading the latest definition files and constantly updating the security suite. Still, reporting false positives was considered a significant drawback of KIS. Kaspersky also didn’t include the parental control and instant messaging protection features in KIS, which its competitors Symantec and McAfee were offering.

In 2008 KIS Version 7.0 was released. This version was found to be much better, faster, and far more efficient and user-friendly than the previous version, which lacked some important GUI-based features. Some of the components were renamed: for example, the Anti-Hacker Module became the Firewall, and the Anti-spy module was incorporated inside the security module. The new features included parental controls with different settings for each age group. Inside age categories, there are other content categories like drugs and violence. This advanced feature gives users the ability to configure profiles manually.

KIS filters content at the network layer, which is practical for every browser. You can also block entire sites and monitor users’ activity on the internet. Internet access can be limited according to a pre-defined schedule. It also gives you the ability to block chat rooms. Spam filtering and prevention are also highly efficient.

Protection against malware was further improved in version 7: KIS 7 effectively blocked 100% of threats and successfully detected the rootkits. Firewall performance (Learn about firewall performance) was also impressive and stopped all incoming connections. However, the issue of false positives remained unresolved.

In 2009 KIS Version 8.0 was released. It consisted of an even more improved and less complex user interface. The antivirus engine was updated, and a vulnerability scanner and application filtering modules were added to improve efficiency further. The scanning speed was also enhanced by using a new antivirus engine without compromising on performance and security. KIS version 9.0 was released in 2010. It did not include any modifications or upgrades except that it now supported Windows 7.

The notable features of Kaspersky Internet Security are:

  • Real-time proactive protection against all internet threats, including all kinds of malware and infections
  • A Safe Surf feature for online security
  • Preservation of digital identity by using an advanced virtual keyboard and an anti-phishing feature
  • Feature-rich and improved parental control
  • Improved application control feature protects your computer from malicious software
  • System Watcher technology that continuously monitors your system for suspicious behavior
  • A unique safe run mode to let you run suspicious applications
  • Easy Access Desktop gadget
  • The installation CD can also be used as a bootable rescue disk for your system.