Established in 1990, Panda Security Corporation is one of the pioneers in anti-virus software development. It repeatedly claims each new version to be faster than the previous one. We have tested Panda Internet Security 2010, and it was pretty fast, yet slower than some of the market leaders. A key to a quick scanning is file whitelisting (preventing from re-scanning clean files), which Panda doesn’t have.
Installation is very easy and takes olny 6-7 min, unlike navigation and configurations. With Panda’s multi-layer menu, even our expert team faced difficulty finding some of the options, not to mention average users. The good thing is that default features are pretty abundant, so configurations are mostly necessary if you use P2P or online gambling websites. Another challenge is going to be uninstalling Panda software.
The strongest features of this antivirus are its Firewall protection and Parental control. Panda Internet Security is very efficient in identifying malicious websites and preventing them from loading. The program protects your PC from viruses and spyware, including Trojans, hijackers and key loggers. It allows you perform a full system scan, disk scan or email scan. Note that the only email service it scans is Outlook.
None of the existing antivirus products are able to provide 100% security, and Panda is not an exception. Its estimated protection level is about 90-95%, which is a little above average. We have noticed that most of the viruses and spyware, undetected during the first scan, were detected within the following scans.
In case you need additional assistance, there is a help section in the menu, as well as FAQs on 31 topics. You can also contact Panda tech department via email. There is no live chat option, and phone service is only available for sales and marketing departments.
Panda Security software is certified by ICSA Labs and West Coast Labs.