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Today we’re comparing Trend Micro Internet Security Pro and the Award Winning AVG Internet Security!  Many of you wouldn’t have heard of Trend Micro.  They’re one of the less known Anti-Virus Software providers.  For more information on Trend Micro visit their website!  The comparison will involve an overview of the features each package has and then at the end we’ll tell you which we think is better through our rating system. Our ratings are worked out by the amount of ticks the product has. Further points are awarded for faster download, simpler/better installation and cheaper price.

Feature
Download Time	Very Long	Fast
Installation	Installation is of average length and is simple.  However, it doesn’t take you through any setup.	Takes an average length of time.  Quite extensive and helps you set up the basic features of the software.
Anti-Virus
Anti-Spyware
Anti-Spam
Blocks unauthorized programs
Web Shield
Toolbar
Authenticates wireless hotspots and Wi-Fi Networks
Child Protection (inc time, length and content)
Personal Information Protection (Encryption)
Link Scanner
Snapshot of security features
Clean up PC for faster performance
Anti-Malware
Anti-Phishing
Anti-Rootkit
Identity Protection(Advanced)
Firewall
Available to buy from Brandstar
RRP (3 PC’s for 1 year)	£54.95	£58.71
Overall Rating	14 out of 21	19 out of 21

Overall I haven’t been that impressed with Trend Micro Internet Security Pro.  It has a long way to go before it will compete with the liks of AVG.  It may be cheaper but you have to buy the 3 PC package which is pretty pointless if you only have 1 PC.  The features that the software offers aren’t as capable and advanced as that of AVG Internet Security.  Trend Micro is however easy to use and have a very user friendly layout!  However, to fight for a place in the top 3 they’ll need to bring something unique and some quality to the table neither of which they provide now.  So my advice, if you’re stuck between the two go for AVG!

Our penultimate recommended retailer is The Carephone Warehouse.  They are one of the biggest phone retailers in the UK.  Not only do they supply mobile phones but they also supply broadband.  The company often has a variety of deals involving pay as you go and contract phones which sometimes include a wide range of free gifts.  Have a look on their website or instore for their offers!

This week our quick tip helps you and the environment always good when we all need a bit more cash and with the growing importance to think about our carbon footprint. So, recycling our phones and getting paid for it has been made nice and easy with tiscali, and tiscali claim you can get up to £150 for your phone, not sure why anyone would get rid of a phone worth that much but who knows

Check out the tiscali site here for more info, we have a couple of phones we are going to send off and see how it goes! Let us know how you get on.

Despite most ISP broadband setup instructions saying this there is still a misunderstanding somewhere when it comes to filters. So here is my Quick Tip attempt to help

When you are setting up broadband in your home of office you will be given some micro-filters, the amount depends on how generous your chosen ISP are feeling!

The reason you need these filters is because when you have broadband activated on your line you effectively have two signals coming down that one physical line. Therefore you need to separate (filter) them. The filter sends the analogue signal to the socket on the filter to which you plug in the phone or fax or old style dial-up modem. The other small socket has just the digital signal that is required by your broadband modem.

All that said there is still one important point to remember. You MUST have a filter on any phone in the house or office no matter if there is a modem connect to that socket or not! The reason for this is that otherwise the phone will interfere with the digital signal that your broadband modem requires to connect you to the internet and thus your internet will randomly drop out!

For some that seems obvious but for others hopefully that will help