AVG's security software is popular worldwide, with 80 million users speaking 15 different languages in 165 countries. Most are using AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition software, but some opt for the more powerful malware protection in AVG Internet Security 9 ...

Very good malware detection. Multilayer malware blocking. Accurate spam filter. Fewer firewall queries. Actively blocks exploits. Protects against malicious Web sites and scripts. Free identity-theft recovery help

Doesn't thoroughly remove detected malware. Slows some system activities. Anti-phishing not effective. No parental control

The latest suite from AVG is a distinct improvement over its predecessor. It integrates multiple new anti-malware technologies and its firewall problems are fixed. It's now a good choice, though not a challenger for Norton Internet Security 2010 and ...

Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposed second bill of rights declared that citizens deserve a living wage, an education, medical care, and more. He would surely agree with AVG's maxim: "All computer users have the right to free basic protection against ...

Optimization scan speeds malware scanning. Can scan in Safe Mode. Detected most threats. Good at keeping a clean system clean. Toolbar protects against malicious Web sites. Identity theft recovery

Didn't clean up detected threats thoroughly. Didn't block installation of much scareware. Toolbar's antiphishing not effective

AVG believes everyone deserves free basic protection against Internet threats. The company's free antivirus offers that protection, and it's better than Microsoft's free product. Of course, the best for-pay anti-malware tools are even better, but not ...

BitTorrent claims over 160 million users around the world. Content providers may balk, but the BitTorrent protocol itself is legal, and there's plenty of legal content to be found with itfrom independent label music to high-definition videos, open ...

Fast performance. Very tweakable. Windows, Mac, and Linux versions available

Still fairly obscure for novices. Larger installer than uTorrent with no obvious benefit

BitTorrent 6.2 is a good default option as a mainline peer-to-peer client and performs admirably, but it's puzzling why BitTorrent incorporated the uTorrent code without actually combining the two clients together.

One of the most impressive features of Picasa Web Albums has finally come to the desktop softwarethe ability to find all pictures containing a certain person's face. Adobe just added this to its $99 Photoshop Elements 8, but in Picasa 3 you get it for ...

Polished interface. Many new features and usability improvements. Support for RAW camera files. Syncs local edits with online images. Mac version available. Free

Atypical interface may confuse some users at first

With a slick new interface and cool new features and tools, Picasa remains a terrific, easy, and free way to edit and organize your images.

Chances are your cell phone needs a better Web browser. While smartphones often come with powerful software for accessing the Internet, feature phones are usually left in the lurch. Fortunately, Opera Software has covered that niche for years with the ...

Slick new interface. Tabbed browsing. "Speed Dial" launch page. Works on many phones

No Flash, AJAX, or JavaScript support

Opera Mini 5 is the best browser available today for feature phones.

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Super-fast JavaScript performance. Easy installation. New themes spruce up the browser window. Rendered all test pages without errors

No RSS reader. No extensions

Chrome has come a long way, quickly. It's pulled further ahead in its JavaScript speed performance, and has fixed compatibility issues with major sites. It's less customizable than Firefox, but its Incognito mode and support for cutting-edge standards ...

Deftly combines multiple IM services, social networks, and e-mail account interactions. Clear, customizable interface

Somewhat slow to startup and display chat window. Offers a lot of unnecessary software when you install

Digsby would be the instant messaging client to beat, had it not resorted to underhanded tactics for making money. Its adroit incorporation of Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter feeds with all major IM systems, and a skinnable, versatile interface ...

Panda Security pioneered behavior-based malware detection with TruPrevent technology back in 2004. Panda's NanoScan, a tool designed to quickly identify any malware in memory, offered an early example of cloud-based detection. Online "collective ...

No signature database required ; detection takes place in the cloud. Lightweight. Attractive, simple user interface. Detected almost all malware samples. Effective against scareware

Can cause problems when suppressing malware that has hooked into valid programs. Cleanup left behind almost all data-file and Registry traces. Ineffective against rootkits. Some user interface problems

This lightweight, attractive, free antimalware tool uses no signatures. All malware detection occurs online. Some snags I hit in testing indicate that Panda still has a little work to do on this beta. But even now it's effective at protecting a clean ...

Desktop media players are a dime a dozen, and everyone has a favorite they won't hesitate to defend. I've used dozens over the years and keep a few on my system at all times: one for podcasts, one for CD ripping, one for playlist editing, and another ...

Supports iPod/music-player syncing. Artist bio information and videos are built in. Sleek new interface, but still skinnable. Desktop song alerts. Enhanced audio/video playback support. Support for new online services and plug-ins

A bit of a memory hog. Too many versions to choose from. Too many key features (CD-ripping, full-speed CD-burning) are limited to overpriced paid version

The new Winamp brings the features and services needed to make it competitive with modern desktop players but retains enough familiarity to lure back users who may have left it behind.

Tweaking the iPhone's white balance probably isn't high on the average iPhone owner's wishlist. PCMag readers, who tend to want to tinker with everything, are another story altogether, however. So I was thrilled when I found the $2.99 Real Cam SP, ...

White balance manipulates color. Leveler

No help or wizards to show you how to use app. No information about what white balance was being applied. No settings options

Adding a way to adjust white balance to the iPhone's limited camera is a noble pursuit, but this app falls short in many ways, especially in its unbelievably counterintuitive interface.