SMK Immanuel II

Friendster VS Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Fri, 2 Oct 2009 07:13:00 +0700

Walau sama sama social network, Friendster dan Facebook sama sama mempunyai karakter sendiri-sendiri, terutama untuk fitur yang diberikan pada user. Friendster dan Facebook sama sama mengacu pada kemudahan user untuk menjadi member baru.
REGISTRASI
Untuk form registrasi, Friendster dan Facebook sama sama memberi kemudahan. Hal ini dapat dilihat pada halaman depan Friendster dan Facebook dimana keduanya langsung memberi penawaran bagi yang belum menjadi member baru. Bila bisa dinilai pada step registrasi, Friendster dan Facebook, keduanya sama sama mengacu pada kemudahan user untuk bergabung didalamnya.
Score:
Friendster: 1 Facebook: 1
CUSTOMIZE
Pada halaman bagian ini akan terlihat perbedaan antara Friendster dan Facebook. Pada Friendster, halaman depan sederhana dengan memberi pembagian segmen yang jelas. Bentuk informasi yang diberikan Friendster ini relative singkat dan cenderung menggunakan link.
Bila Anda bosan dengan tampilan default Friendster, Anda bisa melakukan editing untuk profile tersebut. Anda bisa mengubah dan mengganti tata letak serta pewarnaan dari halaman profile. Fitur CSS Friendster jelas lebih memanjakan user untuk membangun sebuah tampilan profile yang unik.
Sedangkan pada Facebook, halaman depannya juga memberi bentuk yang sederhana, bahkan cenderung lebih banyak teksnya dibandingkan dengan foto. Ukuran foto yang ditampilkan pun relative kecil, sehingga jelas terlihat kalau Facebook lebih mengumtamakan load pada halaman depan.
Untuk melakukan editing pada tampilan Facebook memang tidak semudah melakukan editing pada friendster. Artinya, pada Facebook, user “dipaksa” menggunakan tampilan default. Memang beberapa user bisa melakukan editing pada profile facebook, tapi tentu user yang berpengalaman.
Score:
Friendster :1 Facebook :0
Privasi
Privasi pada sebuah social network adalah hal yang mutlak. Seseorang biasanya enggan memberikan nama aslinya dan cenderung memberikan nama samarannya. Hal ini dimungkinkan karena sistem privasi yang kurang.
Pada Friendster, system privasi profile memang sudah ada, tapi ada beberapa data yang buisa ditampilkan, seperti nama, kota, atau alamat.
Sedangkan pada Facebook, privasi terbilang cukup bagus. Dengan fitur tawaran Privacy setting, memungkinkan user untuk mengeset siapa yang diperbolehkan mengakses informasi pada profile, dan siapa yang tidak. Mungkin hal ini yang menyebabkan banyak public figure yang nyaman memiliki account facebook dengan namanya sendiri.
Score:
Friendster: 1 Facebook: 2
Bagian komentar
Bagi yang sudah mempunyai Friendster, pasti sudah paham dengan yang namanya komentar atau dalam bahasa Friendster disebut testi. Pada bagian ini, Friendster masih dirasa sangat kurang karena tidak bisa menanggapi secara langsung komentar yang dituliskan orang lain. Apalagi, untuk sebuah komentar harus masuk seleksi terlebih dahulu sebelum ditampilkan pada profile.
Lain halnya dengan Facebook, dengan fitur News Feed dan Live Feed, user bisa melihat aktivitas apa saja yang baru dilakukan oleh seseorang di Facebook, Selain itu, satu komentar bisa dikomentari dengan rapi tanpa mengganggu komentar yang lainnya. Artinya, pemisahan untuk komentar ini cukup bagus.
Dari beberapa penilaian di atas memang facebook masih lebih unggul dibandingkan Friendster. Tapi penilaian di atas memang tidak mutlak, karena sebuah social network bergantung pada perilaku user itu sendiri. Facebook memang memiliki banyak fitur, tetapi saking banyaknya fitur yang disediakan, user jadi kurang bisa memaksimalkan fitur fitur tersebut. Berbeda dengan Friendster yang lebih mudah dipelajai

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 14:51:00 +0700

Privasi merupakan kebutuhan apalagi di media public seperti Facebook, banyak dari pembaca, di topik ini untuk membatasi user lain diluar teman kita, agar dibatasi melihat profil kita di Facebook.

Pertama buka Facebook, klik pengaturan

Kedua Setelah tampil pengaturan masuk tab pengaturan

Ketiga Klik kelola pada privasi

Keempat pilih Profil

Kelima ubah setting mulai profil sampai info pekerjaan, siapa saja yang bisa melihat profil anda, termasuk juga pada foto yang telah anda upload

Setelah selesai klik simpan perubahan

.: Selamat mencoba :.

Sejarah Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:14:00 +0700

Lebih dari seratus juta warga dunia kini keranjingan dengan jaringan sosial di dunia maya, Facebook.com. Lewat situs ini, pengguna dapat memperluas pertemanan lintas benua, bahkan kembali ”bertemu” dengan kawan-kawan atau pacar lama yang tidak terlihat lagi seusai perpisahan sekolah.

Presiden AS Barack Hussein Obama bahkan memanfaatkan situs ini sebagai salah satu cara untuk meraih dukungan dalam Pemilihan Presiden AS, tahun lalu. Inilah buah karya Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, seorang keturunan Yahudi AS, salah satu dari tiga pendiri Facebook.

Mengapa Facebook melejit? Pakar teknologi informasi, Dr Linda M Gallant, Asisten Profesor dari Emerson College, Boston, memberi penjelasan, ”Situs internet umumnya menyajikan informasi dan para penjelajahnya hanya menerima apa adanya. Sekarang ini para penjelajah ingin berpartisipasi sebagai pengisi situs. Facebook memenuhi hasrat itu.”

Mengapa Facebook mengejar My Space, situs jaringan sosial terbesar pertama di dunia sebelum April 2008? Keadaan bahkan sudah berubah, Facebook tidak lagi nomor dua sebagaimana ditulis di situs Techcrunch.

Situs Mashable (The Social Media Guide) menyatakan, desain Facebook lebih enak dilihat dan dijelajahi serta menawarkan hal-hal yang lebih riil. Sebagai contoh, Facebook menawarkan orang lain yang kira-kira Anda kenal untuk di-add (ditambahkan) jadi teman. My Space juga menyodori Anda beberapa teman, tetapi termasuk menyodori orang-orang dari negeri antah berantah menjadi teman.

Apa pun latar belakang kemajuan Facebook, nama Zuckerberg sudah melejit ke seluruh dunia seperti meteor. Banyak pengguna Facebook yang merupakan orang-orang elite dunia. Facebook juga menjadi sarana komunikasi para karyawan Toyota, Ernst & Young, dan perusahaan kaliber dunia lainnya.

Siapa Zuckerberg? Dia adalah pemuda berusia 25 tahun dan masih singel, perancang teknologi informasi sekaligus pemuda berjiwa wiraswasta. Saat belajar di Harvard University pada tahun 2004, dia menciptakan Facebook bersama kawannya, Dustin Moskovitz dan Chris Hughes.

Hughes kemudian direkrut Obama saat masih menjadi calon presiden untuk membuat situs barackobama.com.

Di Facebook, Zuckerberg bertanggung jawab untuk urusan garis kebijakan umum dan penyusunan strategi perusahaan yang kini menjadi rebutan para pemasang iklan dan para investor.

Zuckerberg telah mendapat julukan sebagai ”salah satu orang yang paling berpengaruh pada tahun 2008” versi majalah Time. Pada Forum Ekonomi Davos 2009, Zuckerberg termasuk dalam daftar pemimpin muda karena prestasi dan komitmen terhadap masyarakat serta berpotensi menyumbangkan ide untuk membentuk tatanan dunia baru.

Pemuda itu tampil dalam sesi ”Pengalaman Digital Mendatang” pada Forum Ekonomi Dunia di Davos, Swiss. Peserta lain yang hadir antara lain Chad Hurley (YouTube), Craig Mundie (Microsoft), Shananu Narayen (Adobe), Hamid Akhvan (T-Mobile), dan Eric Clemmons (Wharton).

Salah satu poin menarik yang diberikan Zuckerberg adalah bahwa lebih dari 100 juta orang secara aktif menggunakan aplikasi bergerak pada Facebook. iPhone Facebook saja telah memiliki 5 juta pengguna aktif bulanan dan Blackberry untuk Facebook memiliki 3,25 juta pengguna aktif bulanan.

Kiprah Zuckerberg lewat Facebook melesat seperti roket. Pada Februari 2004 ketika Zuckerberg meluncurkan program itu, para siswa di AS langsung membuka akun di Facebook dan dari mulut ke mulut menyebar hingga merambah ke sekolah dan universitas lain.

Zuckerberg dan timnya pun kemudian pindah ke Palo Alto, California, dan mulai merangkul investor, seperti pendiri PayPal, Peter Thiel, dan pendiri Napster, Sean Parker.

Pada Agustus 2005, Zuckerberg secara resmi menamakan perusahaannya Facebook. Setelah berhasil mengumpulkan modal 12,7 juta dollar AS, dia mengembangkan perusahaan ke level berikutnya. Situs itu secara bertahap dan konsisten terus memperluas jaringan.

Saat ini ada lebih dari 175 juta pengguna aktif dengan berbagai fasilitas yang ada di situs itu. Facebook kini menjadi situs keempat yang paling sering dikunjungi di dunia.

”Pencuri”

Tentu saja sukses Zuckerberg dibarengi dengan kontroversi. Beberapa teman sekolahnya menuduh dia mencuri ide ConnectU untuk Facebook. Namun, gugatan soal itu ditepis pengadilan. Dia menyebabkan kehebohan karena dianggap ”menjual” data-data pribadi pemilik akun, tanpa menghargai privasi.

Pada tahun 2006, Zuckerberg mencengangkan dunia karena menampik tawaran Yahoo untuk membeli Facebook seharga 1 miliar dollar AS (atau sekitar Rp 12 triliun). Setahun kemudian, Microsoft membeli 1,6 persen saham Facebook seharga 240 juta dollar AS. Kini nilai ekonomi Facebook ditaksir sebesar 15 miliar dollar AS.

Zuckerberg yang lahir dari keluarga dokter yang kaya memiliki 20 persen saham di Facebook senilai 3 miliar dollar AS. Majalah Forbes mendeklarasikan Zuckerberg sebagai miliuner ”self made” termuda di planet ini.

Namun, jangan tanyakan perihal kehidupan pribadinya, tidak banyak yang diketahui. Maklum, ketika di SMA pun dia sudah berkutat dengan urusan komputer. Ketika itu dia ingin membantu jaringan yang dimiliki ayahnya untuk dipertemukan lewat dunia maya.

Kebiasaan ini terus melekat dan dia lupa belajar. Karena urusan komputer dan teknologi informasi inilah dia drop-out dari Harvard.

Entah iseng atau tidak, Facebook kini kebanjiran uang. ”Mengherankan juga, begitu banyak tawaran datang,” kata Zuckerberg kepada Techcrunch pada 7 Desember 2008.

Tidak banyak kalimat lain dari Zuckerberg selain ambisinya terus membuat Facebook senyaman mungkin untuk jadi alat penyatu warga dunia. ”Bukankah kami memiliki situs, yang membuat Anda merasa lebih enak menggunakannya?” ujar Zuckerberg.

Hmmm.... Zuckerberg, iya deh! *

Cara Mendaftar Di Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:56:00 +0700

Saat ini Facebook menjadi situs jejaring sosial (social networking) terpopuler di Indonesia. Facebook mengalahkan situs jejaring sosial lain seperti Friendster, Multiply dan Myspace. Facebook memiliki keunggulan lain dibanding pesaingnya dengan memiliki fitur menarik seperti : menampilkan status tebaru, membuat halaman sendiri, privasi yang dapat diatur dan dapat menjadi sarana promosi gratis (internet marketing). Saat ini Facebook memiliki anggota lebih ari 150 juta orang di seluruh dunia. Angka yang fantastis bukan?

Untuk mendaftar Facebook sangatlah mudah, berikut langkah-langkahnya:

Buka situs Facebook di http://www.facebook.com
Ubah bahasa menjadi Bahasa Indonesia untuk memudahkan pemahaman. Scroll tanda anak panah kebawah pada bagian kiri bawah. Pilih Bahasa Indonesia.
Isi data kamu dengan lengkap pada kolom daftar isian. Klik tombol Daftar. Isi kode keamanan yang diberikan, dipisahkan dengan spasi.
Periksa email yang kamu gunakan pada saat mendaftar. Klik tautan (link) yang di kirim Facebook. Tautan ini digunakan untuk verifikasi email yang kamu daftarkan valid atau tidak.
Login menggunakan email dan password kamu.
Impor daftar kontak email kamu untuk mengetahui teman-teman kamu yang sudah bergabung dengan Facebook.
Kemudian lewati saja semua kotak dialog yang ada dan mulailah menambahkan foto, melengkapi data pribadi dan pekerjaan sehingga memudahkan teman mencari profil kamu. Selamat bergabung di Facebook.

Cara mematikan Autorun

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:50:00 +0700

Komputer kita mungkin pernah atau sering kena virus. Walaupun dapat dihilangkan dengan menggunakan antivirus atau cara manual, registri windows kita telah menjadi rusak akibatnya. Ada kejadian seorang baru selesai meng-install ulang komputer sudah langsung kena virus. Dan mungkin kita merasa tidak pernah mengklik file-file yang mencurigakan. Penyebabnya adalah adanya virus yang diprogram untuk langsung running (autorun) ketika kita memasukkan data lewat flash disk, floppy disk dll. Contoh virus autorun ini seperti thumbdb.com dll.

Jangan cemas! Karena fasilitas autorun(autoplay) windows ini dapat dimatikan.
Caranya :

1. Jalankan RUN dengan menekan (ctrl+R) ketikan gpedit.msc

2. Jendela Group Policy akan terbuka, pilih menu pada bagian kiri Computer Configuration » Administraitive Templates » System
3. Lalu pada jendela sebelah kanan klik kiri dua kali pada bagian turn off autoplay

4. Kemudian akan muncul jendela turn off autoplay properties
5. lalu setting turn off pada tombol radio enabled, dan set untuk semua drive (All drives)

Ulangi langkah mulai no 2-5 di atas untuk bagian User Configuration » Administrative Templates » System

Selamat mencoba

Cara Mendaftar Di Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0700

Setelah kita berhasil membuat account email di Gmail, langkah selanjutnya adalah mendaftar ke Blogger. caranya adalah sebagai berikut: Buka halaman blogger dengan cara mengetikkan http://www.blogger.com/ di address bar, maka akan muncul tampilan seperti ini

untuk memudahkan, sebaiknya pilih penggunaan Bahasa Indonesia saja
Masukkan alamat email anda pada kolom Nama Pengguna dan password email anda pada kolom Kata Sandi
kemudian klik tombol masuk, maka anda akan dibawa ke halaman Mendaftar untuk Blogger

Masukkan alamat email Gmail anda, Nama Anda, Nama Tampilan yang Anda pakai, dan jangan lupa memberikan tanda centang di kotak sebagai tanda Anda menerima Persyaratan dan Layanan dari Blogger. Kalo sudah Klik tombol Lanjutkan

1. Masukkan Judul Blog yang akan anda pakai, judul ini bisa diganti sewaktu-waktu

2. Isikan Alamat blog (URL)

klik tombol cek ketersediaan untuk melihat apakah alamat blog yang anda inginkan tersedia, kalo tidak gantilah dengan alamat lain yang tersedia, pilihlah alamat dengan hati-hati karena Anda tidak bisa mengganti alamat ini di lain waktu

3. Klik tombol Lanjutkan

Disini Anda diminta untuk memilih desain template yang tersedia, sementara pilih saja defaultnya (minima) karena Anda bisa mengubah template Anda nanti. Kalo sudah, klik tombol Lanjutkan

Selamat Anda telah membuat BLOG

Pengenalan Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:43:00 +0700

Awal mula blog adalah web log, tulisan serupa jurnal / buku harian yang ditampilkan di web. Ciri khasnya adalah tulisan tersusun secara kronologis, dengan tulisan terbaru ada pada bagian paling awal / atas. Pada perkembangan selanjutnya web log disebut sebagai blog, dan mulai ditambahkan berbagai fasilitas seperti pengunjung bisa meninggalkan komentar, ada sindikasi dengan menggunakan RSS feed, dan seterusnya.
Blogger adalah sebutan bagi orang yang menulis di blog tersebut. Ada yang menulisnya dengan dobel g, blogger, ada juga yang menulisnya dengan hanya satu g, bloger. Keduanya punya arti yang sama. Syarat seseorang bisa menjadi blogger hanya satu: bisa menulis! Soal teknologi untuk blogging, ada berbagai banyak pilihan di internet, dan banyak layanan yang menyediakan tempat menulis blog secara gratis, seperti wordpress dan blogspot.
Ada pakar “telematika” yang mengira blogger itu punya kemampuan teknis yang lebih, dan bahkan menyamakan blogger dengan hacker. Ini tentu saja hanya menunjukkan betapa tidak pantasnya orang tersebut disebut sebagai pakar, karena kemampuan utama blogger itu hanyalah menulis. Nah, dalam komunitas blogger yang semuanya adalah penulis, ada beberapa yang memang punya kemampuan teknis lebih, ada beberapa yang lebih suka menulis karya seni, ada beberapa yang suka menulis dengan gaya jurnalis, dan seterusnya; tapi adalah salah besar menganggap blogger itu punya kemampuan teknis di atas rata-rata. Jadi makin lebih memalukan lagi ketika pakar yang sama mengatakan blogger seharusnya bertindak bersama-sama mencegah para “hacker” melakukan perusakan situs.
Singkatnya, blogger adalah manusia biasa, dengan kemampuan rata-rata, dengan satu pembeda: suka menulis. Jangan percaya perkataan bahwa blogger itu jagoan soal teknis, blogger itu hacker, itu hanya menunjukkan orang tersebut sebenarnya tidak tahu apa itu blogger.

Anti Virus Lokal Terbaik 2009

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:37:00 +0700

Kenapa perlu antivirus lokal?Antivirus luar kebanyakan tidak mampu mendeteksi virus lokal yang saat ini telah mencapai lebih dari 2000 jenis/varian. Untuk itu disarankan untuk menggabung antivirus luar dan lokal sekaligus.
Berikut ini antivirus lokal yang kami rekomendasinya :

1. PC Media.

Versi baru sudah mampu mendeteksi lebih dari 2000 virus lokal dan mampu merecover file dokument yang berubah menjadi virus.

2. Smadav 2009.

Dengan fitur heuristik mampu mendeteksi keberadaan virus meskipun tidak ada dalam database smadav.

3. Ansav.

Antivirus buatan Jogja yang cukup exist dan memiliki kemampuan yang setara dengan smadav

Anti Virus Terbaik 2009

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:56:00 +0700

Di awal Tahun 2009 TopTenREVIEWS sudah mengeluarkan beberapa review untuk Anti Virus Terbaik 2009. Di Tahun sebelumnya TopTenREVIEWS juga mengeluarkan Top 10 Anti Virus, dimana pada tahun lalu posisi teratas di tempati oleh Bitdefender Anti-virus dan disusul oleh Kaspersky Anti-virus.

Antivirus Terbaik 2009 ini di nilai dari hasil review para pengguna
produk antivirus dan dari kemampuan serta fitur dari masing-masing
antivirus tersebut. Seperti kecepatan untuk melakukan scan, capat dalam
mengidentifikasi virus dan worms, kemudahan penggunaan, efektivitas,
update databases, fitur, kemudahan installasi, help dan support.

Review yang dilakukan oleh TopTenREVIEWS terhadap produk antivirus
sangat membantu kita dalam mengambil keputusan untuk memilih produk
antivirus yang tepat dalam menjaga komputer kita terhadap serangan
Virus, Worm, Spyware dan Trojan.

Yang perlu kita ketahui, semua software antivirus tidaklah sama, ada
yang bagus, yang buruk dan sedang. Begitu banyak software antivirus
yang berkembang saat ini, tentu kita sebagai pengguna dibuat bingung
untuk memilih antivirus yang baik, untuk itu TopTenREVIEWS membantu
kita dalam hal ini. Sebenarnya dalam memilih antivirus yang tepat dan
baik ada 2 faktor yang menentukan yaitu User-friendliness and
Effectiveness.

Berikut 10 Antivirus Terbaik 2009 yang dikeluarkan oleh TopTenREVIEWS:

Peringkat 1 : BitDefender Antivirus (www.bitdefender.com)

Peringkat 2 : Kaspersky Anti-Virus (www.kaspersky.com)

Peringkat 3 : Webroot Antivirus (www.webroot.com)

Peringkat 4 : ESET Nod32 (www.eset.com)

Peringkat 5 : AVG Anti-Virus (www.avg.com)

Peringkat 6 : Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware (www.vipreantivirus.com)

Peringkat 7 : F-Secure Anti-Virus (www.f-secure.com)

Peringkat 8 : Trend Micro (www.trendmicro.com)

Peringkat 9 : McAfee VirusScan (www.mcafee.com)

Peringkat 10 : Norton AntiVirus (www.symantec.com)

Sumber : rezaldo.wordpress.com

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:46:00 +0700

Wow. Eset NOD32 3.0 delivers a easy-to-use version of its award-winning antivirus engine. Finally, ease of use meets best-in-class protection. A second product, Eset NOD32 Smart Security, includes personal firewall, antispam, and antispyware in addition to antivirus protection. Although our performance testing was mixed, NOD32 continues to rank among the best-rated antivirus products by independent antivirus testing labs and ranks near the top of our list alongside our Editors' Choice of Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7
Setup and interfaceNOD32 is among the few antivirus products that still supports Windows 2000 and XP as well as Windows Vista.
With version 3, Eset finally gets the NOD32 interface right. After years of dealing with the cumbersome AMON (monitors the overall file system), DMON (monitors documents), and EMON (monitors e-mail transactions), we get version 3.0 with a completely intuitive and easy-to-use interface. There are two versions of the interface: standard and advanced. The left-hand column features Protection Status, Computer scan, Update, Setup, Tools (in Advanced mode only), and Help. The right window pane is reserved for the active feature in use. In Advanced mode, across the top is a toolbar to access the more advanced configuration options.
At first glance, the interface is easy for anyone new to antivirus protection. But digging deeper we were happy to find all the advance tweaks that anyone could ask for within reach. Symantec has gone in the opposite direction, making all the tools simply enable and disable, but Eset has left a number of intermediate options available to the more advanced users.
Should you need to remove NOD32 from your computer, there is an uninstall option. After a reboot we found almost no evidence of the product on our machine.
FeaturesEset continues to improve on its ThreatSense technology, allowing NOD32 to be proactive, yet use few system resources. We like the fact that during a scan you can either manually toggle the scan to the forefront or push it into the background.
The main enhancements to this version are the interface and behind-the-scenes tweaks to the speed of the scan.
Also, according to Eset, NOD32 will automatically remove threats, which could be bad if you need a component for a game (for example); however we found that, if necessary, you can restore any quarantined selection with a right click.
PerformanceNOD32 did well in CNET Labs' performance tests and very well in third-party, independent antivirus testing using live viruses. On our iTunes test, NOD32 came in at 271 seconds, 2 seconds above our test system. On our Microsoft Office test, NOD32 was third fastest at 1,360 seconds. For individual file scans, NOD32 came in fourth fastest at an amazing 181 seconds. And in boot speed, NOD32 again came in slow at 35 seconds. To find out how we test, see CNET Labs' How we test: software: Antivirus page.
In terms of protecting your PC, we refer readers to two leading independent antivirus testing organizations. In the latest test results from AV-test.org, NOD32 Antivirus 3 scored 97.7 behind Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 but ahead of Norton Antivirus 2008. At AV-Comparatives.org, in on-demand tests NOD32 found 97.7 percent of the malicious software and earned an Advanced + (highest) rating, and in Retrospective/ProActive tests found 71 percent and also earned an Advanced + (highest) rating. And NOD32 (Smart Security) was one of four products to earn CheckVir.com's Advanced rating
SupportNOD32 provides extensive, context-sensitive help files. For example, if you are on the Actions tab and you click Help, NOD32 takes you to the Actions tab definition page within Help. It's a small touch, but other than in Kaspersky, we haven't seen it offered in other security software. Online, Eset provides a fairly thorough 32-page PDF-file manual for download, plus online FAQs for NOD32, links to an active user forum dedicated to the software, and a Web form for contacting Eset customer support. While there is live telephone support offered, the call is not toll free and is available only during business hours, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.

Trend Micro Internet Security

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:35:00 +0700

Trend Micro Internet Security has made significant gains since last year, although most are under the hood. Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 is a bare-bones, just the essentials, basic Internet Security suite offering antivirus, antispam, antiphishing, and a two-way firewall. Parental Controls are built-in, not optional. In terms of performance, Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 is lighter than last year and more than holds its own against competing products, coming in equal to or better than Norton Internet Security 2009 in CNET Labs tests. In terms of effectiveness, Trend Micro ranks well, although not at the top of the list. Like Symantec, Trend Micro offers free telephone technical support. Our only complaint is that the product could be a bit more feature rich. For more bells and whistles, you'll need to purchase the Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2009 edition. Still, if you're looking for a very basic and easy-to-use Internet Security suite, we recommend you try Trend Micro Internet Security 2009.
SetupTrend Micro Internet Security 2009 is available for Windows XP and Vista users and can be used on up to three computers within one household. It supports Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers, and MSN Messenger 7.5 and Windows Live Messenger 8.0 instant-messaging programs. A free, full-function trial is available. This is one of two Internet Security products; Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2009 includes home networking and mobile features for about $20 more.
Our installation occurred without incident or a reboot. After activation, we were allowed to update the signature database as well as any program updates.
There is an uninstall option, should you decide to remove Trend Micro Internet Security 2009. And we found few traces of the product upon reboot.
InterfaceThe interface is a refinement of last year's, removing some of the line boxes. Across the top are two tabs, one for the Internet Security suite and a second for home networking. Down the left side are Overview, Virus and Spyware Controls, Personal Firewall Controls, Internet and E-Mail Controls, and Other Settings. Clicking these will open a more detailed view in the right windowpane. In Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2009, there are additional features that appear in the form of a pop-up dialogue, including protection for mobile phones, system utilities, and onscreen keyboard. Prominent across the bottom are buttons for Scan Now and Update Now. The whole page is color coded and uses the now-standard red for alert, yellow for warning, and green for good.
FeaturesTrend Micro Internet Security 2009 covers the basics, providing antivirus, antispyware, antiphishing, antispam, Web identity theft protection, two-way firewall, and, unlike other Internet Security suites, includes Parental Controls.
The Home Network feature scans the local network and lets you control the security settings on two additional computers.
The antiphishing feature blocks suspicious sites using a combination of heuristics and white lists. The Pro version includes the "First Visitor" feature that actively scans for malicious code on live Web pages, so that if you are the first one to visit the site after a compromise attack, you'll be protected.
PerformanceIn CNET Labs' performance tests, Trend Micro Internet Security 2009, in general, scored even with Norton Internet Security 2009 this year. In one third-party independent antivirus test, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 scored well, in the upper-middle rank. On the CNET iTunes test, Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 came in at a respectable 271 seconds, 3 seconds longer than our test system. On the CNET Microsoft Office test, Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 finished last at 1,415 seconds, better than some standalone antivirus products. In a test scanning a single folder with compressed and media files, Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 had very respectable results, completing this test in 229 seconds, only a few seconds more than Norton. In terms of boot speed, Trend Micro Internet Security 2009, at 30.45 seconds, was much faster than Norton Internet Security 2009, at 33 seconds.
To find out how we test antivirus software, see CNET Labs' How we test: Antivirus software page.
In terms of whether Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 will protect your PC, we cite results from two leading independent antivirus testing organizations. From AVtest.org, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 found 91 percent of the malicious software and 88 percent of the adware in the September 2008 test. Despite stumbling on the On Demand antispyware portion, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 scored average or better in the other individual tests performed. AV-Comparatives.org has not included Trend Micro in recent tests and so no past test results are available.
Support Like Symantec, Trend Micro offers free technical support. Users are first directed to an Answer Guide. If you can't find a solution in the FAQ, then you can search the knowledge base, submit a question via e-mail, conduct an online chat (1 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends), or call a representative (5 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays only).
Online there is PDF-file documentation. There is also a video tutorial (which other vendors should supply but don't), an interactive learning guide to the product's features, and a Getting Started manual that covers the basics.
ConclusionFor a good, basic Internet Security suite, we recommend Trend Micro Internet Security 2009. You can't beat the price. However, for better protection, it's worth the additional $20 to get the Pro version.

McAfee Internet Security

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:32:00 +0700

The good: McAfee Internet Security 2009 is faster and lighter than last year's version with better malicious software detection and removal capabilities.
The bad: McAfee Internet Security 2009 stumbles a bit on installation and technical support.
The bottom line: Once it's up and running, McAfee Internet Security 2009 is competitive with Norton on speed, detection, and removal of malicious software.
Specifications: License qty: 3 users ; License type: Complete package ; OS type: Windows See full specs
Price range: $14.99 - $69.98 check prices
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by:
Robert Vamosi
Reviewed on: 11/12/2008
Released on: 10/15/2008
At first glance, McAfee Internet Security 2009 appears not much different from last year's offering, a truth that masks some improvements in programming under the hood. In our tests, we found McAfee Internet Security 2009 to be as fast as the much improved Norton Internet Security 2009. What McAfee adds to the competitive landscape is faster malicious software detection. With Active Protection, they're neither talking about hourly signature file updates nor five minute updates like rival Symantec; at McAfee they're talking about instant updates. In terms of features, we found that McAfee has the most tools of any suite we reviewed. In addition to antivirus, antiphishing, antispyware, and a personal firewall, McAfee provides a backup-and-restore feature and several handy utilities. We still have minor issues with McAfee's technical support, although it has improved over last year. For a full protection suite, we were impressed with McAfee Internet Security 2009.
SetupMcAfee Internet Security 2009 offers three-user licenses for $69.95, with $10 off; street prices may be even less. McAfee Internet Security 2009 runs on Windows 2000, XP, and Vista, while Norton Internet Security 2009 only runs on Windows XP and Vista.
McAfee continues to use a bootstrap method of downloading code to your machine, it then installs the suite module by module. This year, the process was much faster in our informal tests. According to McAfee, this method allows it to offer the latest build; the alternative is to install the product, then immediately update. We experienced an unusual problem, one that most users won't. We found that by having Internet Explorer 8 beta 2 installed on our test machine, we could launch McAfee Internet Security 2009 but not see or use any of its features; the Security Center interface was blank. By removing IE 8 Beta 2, we were able to use the product. While this is not expected to be a problem once the final version of IE8 is released, it is worth noting.
Should you want to remove McAfee Internet Security 2009, there is no uninstall option for McAfee in the Start menu listing. Instead, you'll need to use the Windows Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs option. Again this year, after a reboot, we were pleased to find little evidence on our machine.
InterfaceWe continue to like that McAfee integrates all of its tools--security, utility, and networking--in one interface. The McAfee Security Center offers a left-hand navigation for all tools, with a right-hand windowpane for system status. There are two tables of contents: one lists basic features, which should be sufficient for most people, while a second lists tools that are more advanced.
FeaturesLike other security suites, McAfee Internet Security 2009 includes all the features within its McAfee VirusScan Plus, then it adds additional protection for the Internet suite. Like McAfee VirusScan Plus, McAfee Internet Security 2009 includes McAfee SiteAdvisor, an antiphishing protection package.
What's new is McAfee's Active Protection (also known as Artemis) that lets the product detect and remove a new threat that is only minutes old. How it works is the application uses its heuristics and built-in signature files to detect and remove known threats. When McAfee Internet Security finds a new threat, it sends it back over the Internet to the up-to-date McAfee AVERT Labs database, then receives an update for that one new threat. McAfee states that the process is almost "instantaneous." McAfee will continue to send down daily signature file updates to McAfee Internet Security, but will move toward using the instant feedback mechanism of its Active Protection in future releases.
Also new is enterprise-class spam protection. McAfee includes support for Outlook, Eudora, and Thunderbird in its protection, as well as POP3, MAPI, and Web connections.
Another new feature is Active Protection, McAfee's near-instant communication with the master signature database back at McAfee. Whenever a new malicious software is trapped by McAfee Internet Security, rather than wait for the new update, protection is sent back to the desktop. Trend Micro is offering something similar, using "in the Cloud" technology. By comparison, Norton is sending mini database updates every few minutes.
Although not new, we like McAfee's home networking feature; it's much easier to use than Norton's. Also enhanced over last year's version is the integration of antivirus, antispyware, firewall, and antiphishing. The heuristics, or System Guards, have also been improved. Returning are home network monitoring, parental controls, and backup and recovery. McAfee remains one of the few suites to include system utilities such as secure file shredding, which we think should be a part of every Internet Security suite
PerformanceIn CNET Labs' performance tests, McAfee Internet Security 2009, in general, scored considerably better than last year's version, and on one test it scored better than Norton Internet Security 2009. In third-party, independent antivirus testing using live viruses, McAfee Internet Security 2009 scored in the upper ranks, although not always at the top position. On the CNET iTunes test, McAfee Internet Security 2009 came in at 271 seconds, 3 seconds above the test system but one second faster than Norton Internet Security 2009. On the CNET Microsoft Office test, McAfee Internet Security 2009 finished at 1,495 seconds, squarely in the middle of the pact. In a test scanning a single folder with compressed and media files, McAfee Internet Security 2009 completed this test in a fast 200 seconds, virtually tying Norton Internet Security 2009. In terms of boot speed, McAfee Internet Security 2009 took only 30 seconds, faster than Norton and most of the other suites we tested.
To find out how we test antivirus software, visit CNET Labs' How we test: Antivirus software page.
In terms of whether McAfee Internet Security 2009 will protect your PC, we cite results from two leading independent antivirus testing organizations. In the September 2008 AV-test.org results, McAfee Internet Security 2008 scored well, having a few false positives, but is scored toward the bottom of the list in response times to new threats (something that the new Active Protection features should address in the 2009 version). In the latest test results from AV-Comparatives.org for on-demand scans, McAfee VirusScan Plus 2008 earned an Advanced (second highest) rating, catching 94 percent of all malicious software tested, falling behind Norton, Kaspersky, Eset Nod32, and others. The same is true for the Retrospective/Proactive test, McAfee VirusScan Plus 2008 earned an Advanced rating, proactively stopping 32 percent of the "new samples" in the test.
SupportOnce again, McAfee comes up a little short on the technical support end. Unlike Trend Micro and Norton, which both offer free telephone support, McAfee only offers its support for a limited time. The 30-day free phone support is available daily from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Pacific. Afterward, telephone support is listed under fee-based support, with a variety of per-minute or per-incident plans starting at $9.
McAfee Virtual Technician is an optional plug-in that , when downloaded, will diagnose the state of your McAfee product, the computer's health, and then make recommendations on how to fix it--for free. It seems unnecessary, but then again you can't argue with the price. User support forums remain hidden, not easily accessible from the technical support area where it is expected. McAfee doesn't have a tutorial or online manual. By comparison, Kaspersky offers a complete 321-page manual, a robust user forum, and toll-free telephone support.
ConclusionIn a strictly Norton versus McAfee universe, McAfee Internet Security 2009 once again offers more features than Norton Internet Security 2009 and integrates them with a more intuitive user interface, one that allows you to understand the specific feature as well as tweak its settings. Although independent security test scores could be higher and the technical support could be better, McAfee provides you with more than adequate protection.

Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:07:00 +0700

Sunbelt Software, known best for its award-winning CounterSpy antispyware, came very late to the antivirus table, only creating its own antivirus engine from the ground up within the last two years, while its rivals boast more than 20 years of antivirus experience. Arriving late has its advantages, however. Traditional antivirus engines have been slow to adapt to emerging threats, especially the blending of antispyware threats with antivirus threats. To bridge the best of traditional antivirus with new cutting-edge thinking, Sunbelt Software hired veteran antivirus expert Joe Wells for a one-year stint to help design a "hybrid" antivirus antispyware engine.
While other standalone antispyware vendors merely added antivirus to their existing offering, Sunbelt Software created an entirely new product, Vipre. Ordinarily new antivirus products, such as Microsoft's Windows Live OneCare, suffer through a few years of "getting the code right." We don't see that here; in our opinion, Vipre has vaulted to the upper third of the antivirus products on the market today. While it remains to be seen how Vipre holds up against the 2009 antivirus offerings, our initial impressions are very good, and should hold up when more established antivirus vendors start releasing their products later in 2008.
InstallationVipre costs $29.95 for a single user license, $39.95 for a three-user license, and $49.95 to license all the computers in your house. If you are a current CounterSpy v2 customer, you can upgrade for $9.95. There is a 15-day, fully functional, free trial available. Vipre requires Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Vista; it is not compatible with Windows 95, 98, or ME, Macintosh, or Linux.
The Vipre installation took us a few minutes and did not require a reboot. After the files were installed, a wizard asked a few predictable questions on the following topics: Internet and proxy settings, automatic updates (default is every two hours), active protection setting (High, Medium, Low), joining the Sunbelt threat community to report new threats, scan schedule (default is 1 a.m.), adding Vipre to Windows Security Center (default), disabling Windows Defender (default), and activating and registering for technical support (name and e-mail).
The Vipre interface is one of the cleanest we've seen on any antivirus product. It's intuitive and easy to use. Your system status is displayed along the left-hand window, while the right side displays current worldwide threats and the latest local scan results for your machine. Four tabs across the top take you to Scan, Manage, Tools, and the overview page.
Should you want to remove Vipre, you will need to use the Windows Control Panel's Add and Remove Software feature; Sunbelt Software does not provide an uninstall function. After a reboot we found no traces of Vipre in our system registry or file directory on our test system.
FeaturesMuch of what we like about Vipre is beneath the hood--which is where it should be. The scanning engines are fast and, in our limited testing, accurate. What we like most about Vipre, however, is that it packs a lot of extras--extras that other antivirus products should have but often do not.
In addition to antivirus and antispyware protection, Vipre features other useful tools such as a secure file eraser that writes 1s and 0s over deleted files, a history cleaner that goes beyond just what's in your Internet browser cache, and something called PC Explorer, which reveals processes and services running that are suspect or known to be malicious. Many of these tools are also featured within Sunbelt Software's standalone antispyware product, CounterSpy v2.
Missing from Vipre is firewall protection, which is available in some antivirus software.
PerformanceVipre scored well in both our CNET Labs' Windows XP performance tests, however, there are no public third-party tests that we can point to at this time. On our iTunes test, Vipre was in the leader of the pack at just 1 second above our test system. On our Microsoft Office test, Vipre came in near the middle at 1,378.67 seconds. For scanning a single folder with multiple files, Vipre came in first at 122 seconds. And in boot speed, Vipre again came in first place, with a speedy 28.73 seconds. To find out how we test, see CNET Labs' How we test:software:antivirus.
In terms of protecting your PC, Vipre is too new for us to be able to cite results from independent antivirus testing organizations at this time.
As for antispyware results, CNET Labs tested CounterSpy v2 in November 2007; in March 2008, CNET Reviews named it our Editors' Choice. Vipre uses the antispyware technology found within CounterSpy v2.
SupportSunbelt Software provides a wealth of support options. We like the contextual Help files--when you are on the Tools page, Help opens to the sections on tools. There is also a list of online help URLs, e-mail help addresses, and a toll-free telephone support available on every Help page, so that if you still can't find the answer, you are welcome to try other areas of support. You can even send feedback on the Help file itself. Unfortunately, telephone support is only available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, so if you have a critical problem on the weekend, you'll have to send an e-mail.
ConclusionVipre is a worthy addition to a crowded antivirus field. Sunbelt Software says it will continue to develop CounterSpy as a standalone antispyware product. Future releases of Vipre will probably include Sunbelt Personal Firewall code. However, Sunbelt Software is shying away from calling the resulting product a security suite.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:01:00 +0700

Last year's CNET Editors' Choice award winner Kaspersky returns with another winner. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 features a new interface and new protection. But, unlike last year, the competition for Editors' Choice in this space was fierce with several worthy contenders all bunching toward the top of the scale. For example, BitDefender Antivirus 2008 is perhaps the most improved product of the year, nipping at the heals of Kaspersky. What makes Kaspersky Anti-Virus continue to outshine its competition is its ease of use combined with thorough antivirus protection. No firewall, no gimmicks, just straight AV protection. Kaspersky also makes an Internet security suite, yet Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 feels complete as a standalone product and not, like Norton Antivirus 2008, a cog in larger family of products. That said, there is no firewall protection within Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2008, leaving you to choose your own firewall protection. Once again, Kaspersky requires considerably less disk space than Norton. The only real negative here is the list price, which can be $10 to $20 more than the competition, depending where you purchase it. Still, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 provides the most complete antivirus production on the market today and deserves our Editors' Choice for best antivirus product for 2008. For a look inside, see our slide show.
SetupKaspersky Anti-Virus 7 costs $59.95 for a single license and $69.95 for a three-user license. By comparison, Norton Antivirus 2008 costs $39.95 for a single-user license (there are no three-user versions of NAV 2008). Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 runs on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, where Norton Antivirus runs only on Windows XP and Windows Vista. Kaspersky requires 512 RAM and at least 50MB of hard drive space (Norton requires 300 MB of hard drive space). A full-function 30-day trial version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 is available.
We experienced no problems with several different installations during the month of August. After installation, the system requires a reboot for full protection.
Should you want to remove Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7, the product includes an uninstall option in the All Programs menu. Once we uninstalled the product and rebooted, we found no lingering evidence of Kaspersky remaining on our machine.
InterfaceKaspersky Anti-Virus 7 sports a cleaner, more sophisticated interface than last year's. We like it best among the 2008 antivirus applications we've seen. Immediately our eye was drawn to the red banner with text that told us our signature files were out of date. This is visually very effective and efficient, whereas a simple Fix It button to the side is not always informative. Also, unlike Norton's morbid, black border, we like the open, bright, and colorful interface of Kaspersky that is skinnable to suite your own tastes.
We like Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7's clean, intuitive interface best among the 2008 antivirus applications we've seen.
Another interface feature we like is the left navigation. Within seconds, we were able to find the configuration settings we wanted to tweak.
In addition to antivirus and antispyware protection, Kaspersky offers antirootkit protection as well. We like the built-in System Restore, so that should your computer ever become infected, Kaspersky will roll back any registry changes to a time prior to the infection. This is effective against spyware and rootkits.
FeaturesNot only is the malware protection within Kaspersky proactive, with top-of-the-line heuristics to identify newly created malware, and, like BitDefender Antivirus 2008, Kaspersky's traditional signature-based protection is updated hourly, along with any available program updates. We like this approach, as Kaspersky seems to have figured out what Norton has not: how to deliver small file updates. Plus, Kaspersky has consistently demonstrated the shortest response time to breaking new malware threats.
Kaspersky still provides users with the process of creating a rescue disk, something that many antivirus products no longer offer. And, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 includes a process so that the operating system can revert back to a time just before an infection. Like Norton, Kaspersky can also throttle back on system resources, depending on user activity. Unlike Norton, Kaspersky can, by default, scan only recently changed files, greatly shortening the overall scan time considerably.
PerformanceKaspersky Anti-Virus 7 scored well in CNET Labs' performance tests and in third-party, independent antivirus testing using live viruses, although not always the top position. On the CNET iTunes test, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 came in just 4 seconds above the test system at 272 seconds. On the CNET Microsoft Office test, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 finished in 1,518 seconds. In a test scanning a single folder with compressed and media files, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 completed it in 521 seconds. And in boot speed, Kaspersky came in second, with a fast 29.77 seconds. To find out how we test antivirus software , see CNET Labs' How we test: Antivirus software page.
In terms of whether or not Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 will protect your PC, we cite results from two leading independent antivirus testing organizations. In the latest test results from AV-Comparatives.org, for on-demand scans Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 earned an Advanced + (highest) rating, catching 98 percent of all malware tested and tying with Norton Antivirus 2007. However, for the Retrospective/Proactive test, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 earned an Advanced (second-highest) rating, although Kaspersky produced very few false positives compared with other antivirus apps in the same test. From CheckVir.com, there is no data. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 was not included in recent tests, however, when it was last tested, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6 earned a Standard rating when only the ability to search is tested, not antivirus removal.
SupportKaspersky Anti-Virus 7 provides an excellent context-sensitive, in-program help file. For example, if you are on the Data Files page and you click Help, you're taken to the entry for Data Files within the Help file. It's a small touch, but one we don't see often enough. Kaspersky offers a robust 321-page PDF manual (the most complete of any antivirus application we've seen); it includes just about everything--except for an index, although the table of contents is richly detailed. Kaspersky also delivers excellent online FAQ and knowledge base. There are also active user forums. Finally, you can e-mail or call a toll-free number for live technical support.
ConclusionIf you're looking for an antivirus application that's good, fast, and light on system resources, Kaspersky is the one. We found this antivirus application easy enough for beginners, with customization features that will please more-advanced users, as well. But, with the competition gaining, by no means was this a knockout; this year's Editors' Choice race was tighter than ever.

Panda Antivirus 2008

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:57:00 +0700

The good: Panda Antivirus 2008 includes antispyware protection.
The bad: Panda Antivirus 2008 has not been reviewed by many independent antivirus test sites, making it hard to say how effective it is; it tends to be slower than the competition; support is light, with almost no documentation and a requirement that Panda own any personal information sent via e-mail technical support.
The bottom line: Panda Antivirus 2008 is slower than the competition and lacks independent, third-party antivirus test results, and thus doesn't receive our recommendation.
Specifications: License qty: 3 PCs ; License type: Complete package ; Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP , Microsoft Windows 2000 , Microsoft Windows Vista , Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition , Microsoft Windows Vista (64-bit versions) ; ; See full specs
See all products in the Panda Security 2008 series
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by:
Robert Vamosi
Reviewed on: 10/12/2007
Released on: 08/01/2007 This year, Panda offers two distinct antivirus products. To compare with other products tested and reviewed by CNET this year, we chose the Panda Antivirus 2008. A second product, Panda Antivirus plus Firewall 2008 was not reviewed. The $39.95 price for a three-user license is at the low end, which is good. However, when compared with the also economical BitDefender Antivirus 2008, Panda comes up short, lacking some features and, more importantly, similar test results. Panda is slower and is mostly unrated in independent, third-party antivirus test results. If you're looking for economy, chose BitDefender. If you're looking for the best antivirus product for 2008, we recommend Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2008, our Editors' Choice.
SetupPanda Antivirus 2008 includes three PC licenses for $39.95. By comparison, BitDefender Antivirus offers its three-user license for $29.95. Kaspersky offers a single license at $49.95 and charges $59.95 for its three-user license. Panda Antivirus 2008 runs on Windows 2000, XP, and Vista, while Norton AntiVirus 2008 works only on XP and Vista.
After downloading the 35MB file, Panda performs an initial scan of your system, and in our case, found eight different examples of spyware. Unfortunately, Panda didn't tell us precisely what spyware it found; only that it deleted it. Later, we could find no record of this scan for reference, although we did find subsequent log files of spyware that had been removed. We prefer to have control over what is quarantined or removed from our machine, and wish Panda had provided us with more information.
Should you want to remove Panda Antivirus 2008, there is an uninstall wizard available. Upon reboot, we did not find any traces of Panda left on our machine.
Panda Antivirus 2008 includes an interface with bright, contrasting colors and basic graphics.
InterfaceCompared to the interfaces found with other antivirus products, Panda Antivirus 2008 is simple, even cartoonish: bright, contrasting colors, with basic graphics; as though Fisher-Price made antivirus interfaces for kids. We were, however, pleased to find configuration options within easy reach.
During a manual scan, we were unable to open other features of the program, something we could do in other antivirus apps.
FeaturesPanda Antivirus 2008 includes TruPrevent, Panda's heuristic engine that proactively blocks viruses. However, it blocks only viruses. The full version of TruPrevent, which blocks other forms of malware as well, is available in the Panda Antivirus and Firewall and Panda Internet Security products.
Antiphishing protection is included with Panda Antivirus, but Panda Antivirus and Firewall and Panda Internet Security products include additional protection from malware lurking on Web pages.
PerformancePanda scored near the middle of the antivirus products in CNET Labs' performance tests. On our iTunes test, Panda was fast at 270 seconds, just 2 seconds more than our test system. On our Microsoft Office test, Panda was solidly in the middle at 1,355 seconds. In a test scanning a single folder with compressed and media files, Panda scored a fast 135 seconds, however, the default setting excludes many of the compressed files used in our test. And in terms of boot speed, Panda came in dead last at 39 seconds. To find out how we test antivirus software, see CNET Labs' How we test: Antivirus software page.
In terms of protecting your PC, we cite results from two leading independent antivirus testing organizations. Panda was not tested by AV-Comparatives.org. CheckVir.com tested Panda Internet Security 2006 and awarded it a Standard rating, meaning it was evaluated only on its ability to search for viruses, but not the removal of them.
Although we were told U.S. residents didn't have to accept this disclaimer, the notice still appears in domestic downloads of Panda Antivirus 2008.
SupportSupport is extremely light for Panda Antivirus 2008. The built-in Help file lacks significant detail. The Panda Web site includes an interactive troubleshooter, which seems promising until it takes you to the weak knowledgebase section. Other antivirus apps have interactive self-diagnostics, so be careful of this terminology; Panda uses something else. On the Panda knowledgebase page, when you type in a query, the site spits back an FAQ in response. If you want to cut to the chase and see all the preanswered questions in advance, simply click Hot Topics. There is a secondary PDF document; it, too, was light on technical details. Nor could we find a user forum, chat, or telephone support section.
E-mail technical support includes a curious box that says any personal information you send to Panda becomes property of Panda and its business partners. We could not advance our query unless we agreed. When we asked our Panda representatives, they explained that users within the United States should not have seen that box, that it is a requirement only within Europe. After waiting six weeks for Panda to remove this check box, we downloaded a fresh copy of the program and found that it still included the checkbox.
ConclusionWe do not recommend Panda Antivirus 2008. For the price, we think that BitDefender Antivirus 2008 is a better deal in both protection and features. Overall, we recommend Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2008 as the best antivirus product for 2008.

Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 9.0.0.407

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:09:00 +0700

Avira's AntiVir Personal 8 comes highly rated by independent third-party antivirus experts, so we were eager to compare it with other antivirus products. While we can't complain about its high level of protection, there were several nitpicks about the application itself that set us back. For one thing, you pay more for AntiVir, in part because of the exchange rate. However, there's a decided lack of features and finesse to the product. AntiVir reminds us of early editions of Nod32, which had terrific test results, but poor user appeal. We were expecting a Norton replacement, and found something less.
SetupAntiVir Personal 8 is available for Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista. The free version contains fewer features; the premium version for three users, however, is more expensive than competitive products (in part because of the U.S. dollar-euro exchange rates). There is also a surcharge--a donation to the Auerbach Foundation--that adds 5 euro to the final price and cannot be removed from the shopping cart.
For this review, we looked at the paid and free versions of AntiVir Personal 8. The free version can be downloaded from Download.com. Also, a limited-function 30-day trail of the paid version is available from Download.com.
Installation went smooth and did not require a reboot. We like the fact that AntiVir Personal Edition 8 lets you opt out of providing any personal details and register at a later time; some antivirus vendors do not allow this.
Should you decide to remove AntiVir, you'll need to use Microsoft Windows' Add and Remove Programs feature. After a reboot, we found no traces of the product left behind, which is good.
InterfaceThe interface in AntiVir Personal 8 leaves something to be desired. Unlike with AVG Anti-virus, we were left with a feeling there is something missing. Part of the problem is that AntiVir gives the user not much to configure or monitor.
Additionally, we weren't crazy about the large dialogue boxes that informed us of the product's activity, or the large pop-up windows that attempted to sell us the security suite from the company. We could do without all the noise.
FeaturesPerhaps the best features of AntiVir Personal 8 are its antivirus signature database and heuristics capabilities. The product consistently scores high marks in independent third-party malicious-software tests, and often leads the competition in producing updated signature files. AntiVir Personal also includes some antispyware and antiphishing protection as well.
For Web-based attacks, AntiVir Personal 8 includes the capability to block downloads from known hacked sites and desktop checks to see if a virus was installed during a Web site download. The method is good, although it is not as robust as AVG's Linkscanner technology.
There's also a Scheduler within AntiVir that lets you set automatic virus scans or perform updates, as opposed to using the one in Windows.
Missing (even in the premium edition) are various extras we see elsewhere. For example, Sunbelt Software Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware includes several system utilities in its price. Also, there is no personal firewall, common in some antivirus products these days.
PerformanceAntiVir Personal Edition 8 scored well in CNET Labs' performance tests and in third-party, independent antivirus testing using live viruses, although it did not always take the top position. On the CNET iTunes test, AntiVir Personal Edition 8 came in just three seconds faster than the test system at 271 seconds. On the CNET Microsoft Office test, AntiVir Personal Edition Premium 8 finished in 1,373 seconds--one of the faster times. On a test scanning a single folder with compressed and media files, AntiVir Personal Edition 8 completed it in at a lightning fast 150 seconds. And in boot speed, AntiVir Personal Edition 8 came in with a fast 30 seconds. To find out how we test antivirus software, visit CNET Labs' How we test: Antivirus software page.
In terms of protecting your PC, we refer readers to two leading independent antivirus testing organizations. The latest test results from AV-Comparatives.org, gave AntiVir Personal Edition Premium 7 an Advanced rating (highest) for On Demand protection and Advanced Plus (highest) for heuristic protection, blocking 97 percent of the malicious code used in the test. Our second source of independent antivirus testing, CheckVir.com, did not test Antivir. Another trusted testing site, AV-test.org did test AntiVir in January 2008 and gave it a 99.6 accuracy rating (the highest among the 30 products tested).
SupportAvira offers a wide variety of technical support options. There's a robust community forum, a so-so online knowledge base, and a fairly extensive downloadable document to support its paid product. There is e-mail support; however, there isn't an online chat service. Telephone support is only offered in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (and a few other select European countries), starting at 1.99 euros per minute. There is no North American telephone support.
ConclusionDespite positive third-party test results, and speedy performance results in our CNET Labs test system, we're not gushing over Avira AntiVir Personal 8. It's expensive, the company tries a little too hard to promote its other security products, and there are fewer features than are found in competitive products. For those looking for an alternative to the McAfee, Symantec, Trend Micro usual suspects, the three-user edition of Sunbelt Software Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware, for example, is just as fast and is also highly rated, but is a much better deal.

Avast Home Edition

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:09:00 +0700

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5.406

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:09:00 +0700

This antivirus program offers rock-solid protection. AVG Free provides the bare necessities, including a real-time shield to prevent infections, anti-virus and anti-malware wrapped up in one engine, and a link scanner for Web surfing with care.
By default, the application is set to search for new virus definitions daily, but you always can use the scheduling tool to change this. Should a virus create serious system problems, AVG creates a rescue disk to scan your computer in MS-DOS mode. The program doesn't tax your system when scanning or when running in the background and always proved effective in our tests. The new interface is much easier to navigate than in previous version, with tabbed navigation on the left assisting users in drilling down to the tools they need.
Though the free version of this program will suffice for average folks, those who demand more control should certainly consider AVG Anti-Virus Professional.

Mengetik 10 Jari

noreply@blogger.com (SMK Immanuel II) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:42:00 +0700

Organisasi Komputer

Komputer berasal dari bahasa latin computare yang berarti menghitung. Karena luasnya bidang garapan ilmu komputer, para pakar dan peneliti sedikit berbeda dalam mendefinisikan termininologi komputer.
· Menurut Hamacher [1], komputer adalah mesin penghitung elektronik yang cepat dan dapat menerima informasi input digital, kemudian memprosesnya sesuai dengan program yang tersimpan di memorinya, dan menghasilkan output berupa informasi.
· Menurut Blissmer [2], komputer adalah suatu alat elektonik yang mampu melakukan beberapa tugas sebagai berikut:- menerima input;- memproses input tadi sesuai dengan programnya;- menyimpan perintah-perintah dan hasil dari pengolahan;- menyediakan output dalam bentuk informasi.
· Sedangan Fuori [3] berpendapat bahwa komputer adalah suatu pemroses data yang dapat melakukan perhitungan besar secara cepat, termasuk perhitungan aritmetika dan operasi logika, tanpa campur tangan dari manusia.
Sistem kerja komputer secara garis besar terbagi atas 3 bagian, dan seluruh bagian ini saling berkaitan satu sama lain.
INPUT
DEVICE
PROCESS
DEVICE
OUTPUT
DEVICE

Gambar 1.1 Bagian-bagian Komputer

Gambar 1.2 Satu unit komputer

· Input device atau alat masukan adalah perangkat keras komputer yang berfungsi untuk memasukkan data atau perintah ke dalam komputer
· Process device atau alat pemroses adalah perangkat keras komputer yang berfungsi untuk mengolah data atau perintah yang diterima oleh alat masukan dan memberikan hasil pengolahan data tersebut kepada bagian output
· Output device atau alat keluaran adalah perangkat keras komputer yang berfungsi untuk menampilkan hasil yang telah diolah oleh bagian proses

Keyboard

Penciptaan keyboard komputer di ilhami oleh penciptaan mesin ketik yang dasar rancangannya di buat dan di patenkan oleh Christopher Latham pada tahun 1868 dan banyak dipasarkan pada tahun 1877 oleh Perusahaan Remington.
Keyboard komputer pertama disesuaikan dari kartu pelubang (punch card) dan teknologi pengiriman tulisan jarak jauh (Teletype). Tahun 1946 komputer ENIAC menggunakan pembaca kartu pembuat lubang (punched card reader) sebagai alat input dan output.
Bila mendengar kata “keyboard” maka pikiran kita tidak lepas dari adanya sebuah komputer, karena keyboard merupakan sebuah papan yang terdiri dari tombol-tombol untuk mengetikkan kalimat dan simbol-simbol khusus lainnya pada komputer. Keyboard dalam bahasa Indonesia artinya papan tombol jari atau papan tombol. Pada keyboard terdapat tombol-tombol huruf A – Z, a – z, angka 0 - 9, tombol dan karakter khusus seperti : ` ~ @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ - + = < > / , . ? : ; “ ‘ \ serta tombol-tombol khusus lainnya yang jumlah seluruhnya adalah 104 tombol. Sedangkan pada Mesin ketik jumlah tombolnya adalah 52 tombol. Bentuk keyboard umumnya persegi panjang, tetapi saat ini model keyboard sangat variatif.
Dahulu orang banyak yang menggunakan mesin ketik baik yang biasa maupun mesin ketik listrik. Nah, keyboard mempunyai kesamaan bentuk dan fungsi dengan mesin ketik. Perbedaannya terletak pada hasil output atau tampilannya. Bila kita menggunakan mesin ketik, kita tidak dapat menghapus atau membatalkan apa-apa saja yang sudah ketikkan dan setiap satu huruf atau simbol kita ketikkan maka hasilnya langsung kita lihat pada kertas. Tidak demikian dengan keyboard. Apa yang kita ketikkan hasil atau keluarannya dapat kita lihat di layar monitor terlebih dahulu, kemudian kita dapat memodifikasi atau melakukan perubahan-perubahan bentuk tulisan, kesalahan ketikan dan yang lainnya. Seperti juga “mouse”, keyboard dihubungkan ke komputer dengan sebuah kabel yang terdapat pada keyboard. Ujung kabel tersebut dimasukkan ke dalam port yang terdapat pada CPU komputer.
Secara fisik, keyboard terbagi atas 4 bagian, yaitu:

1. Keyboard Serial

Menggunakan DIN 5 male dan biasanya digunakan pada komputer tipe AT.

Gambar 1.3
Port pada keyboard serial

2. Keyboard PS/2

Biasanya digunakan pada komputer ATX dan saat ini yang paling banyak dipergunakan. Pemasangan keyboard tipe ini harus dilaksanakan dengan cermat, sebab port yang dimiliki sama dengan port untuk mouse.

Gambar 1.4

Port pada keyboard PS2 dan konektor pada motherboard

3. Keyboard Wireless

Sesuai dengan namanya, keyboard tipe ini tidak menggunakan kabel sebagai penghubung antara keyboard dengan komputer. Jenis koneksi yang digunakan adalah infra red, wifi atau bluetooth. Untuk menghubungkan keyboard dengan komputer, dibutuhkan unit pemancar dan penerima. Unit pemancar biasanya terdapat pada keyboard itu sendiri, sedangkan penerima biasanya dipasang pada port USB atau serial pada CPU.

Gambar 1.5

Keyboard dan mouse wireless

4. Keyboard USB

Komputer terbaru saat ini sudah banyak yang mempergunakan jenis konektor USB yang menjamin transfer data lebih cepat.

Gambar 1.6

Konektor USB

Struktur tombol pada keyboard

Dari sisi tombol yang digunakan, keyboard memiliki perkembangan yang tidak terlalu pesat sejak ditemukan pertama kali. Yang terjadi hanyalah penambahan – penambahan beberapa tombol bantu yang lebih mempercepat pembukaan aplikasi program.
Secara umum, struktur tombol pada keyboard terbagi atas 4, yaitu:
5. Tombol Ketik (typing keys)
Tombol ketik adalah salah satu bagian dari keyboard yang berisi huruf dan angka serta tanda baca.
Secara umum, ada 2 jenis susunan huruf pada keyboard, yaitu tipe QWERTY dan DVORAK. Namun, yang terbanyak digunakan sampai saat ini adalah susunan QWERTY.
6. Numeric Keypad
Numeric keypad merupakan bagian khusus dari keyboard yang berisi angka dan sangat berfungsi untuk memasukkan data berupa angka dan operasi perhitungan. Struktur angkanya disusun menyerupai kalkulator dan alat hitung lainnya.
7. Tombol Fungsi (Function Keys)
Tahun 1986, IBM menambahkan beberapa tombol fungsi pada keyboard standard. Tombol ini dapat dipergunakan sebagai perintah khusus yang disertakan pada sistem operasi maupun aplikasi.
8. Tombol kontrol (Control keys)
Tombol ini menyediakan kontrol terhadap kursor dan layar. Tombol yang termasuk dalam kategori ini adalah 4 tombol bersimbol panah di antara tombol ketik dan numeric keypad, home, end, insert, delete, page up, page down, control (ctrl), alternate (alt) dan escape (esc).