Mumbai: Let's face it! All of us who access the Internet on a daily basis are living dangerously, risking our privacy and exposing the contents of our desktop or portable PCs for every microsecond that we are online. Sorry folks, it's the price we have to pay for the convenience of a connected lifestyle -- and installing a comprehensive Net security software has become an essential annual expense to -- hopefully -- avert serious disaster.
The 2015 edition of Kaspersky Internet Security which is now available for Rs 899 (1 PC, 1 year), goes beyond the annual incremental features which take note of new and recently detected malware signatures. We liked a trio of new features which respond to some of the emerging challenges that lay users of Internet face:
With so many of us using web cameras for Skype video calls and the like, Net Baddies have in recent months, made this their latest target. Kaspersky scientists have developed new countermeasures to prevent any anyone remotely gaining access to the webcam on one's PC or laptop. This "WebCam Protection" technology is now built into the 2015 edition.
With public WiFi networks increasingly being offered in malls, parks, airports and railway stations, who can resist using these free services instead of charging the browsing to any data cards or dongles we might be carrying? Granted, that in India using such public networks involves registering with our mobile phones and email IDs, it is not always proof against a determined onslaught: Such unsecured networks sometimes leave users vulnerable to interception of passwords, credit card numbers and the like. Kaspersky's new "WiFi Security Notification" does a quick security audit when you use WiFi networks and prompts you to tighten the security settings on your notebook or laptop if it perceives a latent threat.
Another tool called "Cost-Aware Networking" is useful when using your own WiFi, 2G or 3G -based data services. It allows you to set your personal data limit and prevents you from exceeding, them -- and receiving a nasty surprise when the next bill arrives! While Kaspersky Internet Security 2015, works with Windows XP, Vista, Win 7, 8 and 8.1, the Cost Aware Networking is available only on Windows 8 and later PC versions.
