Kaspersky Internet Security 20.0 for Windows Installation and Review

With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging on, a huge chunk of human lives continued and shifted from the physical to the virtual world. While we have adapted to this kind of phenomenon, a huge struggle lies as to how cyberspace can be a safe haven to people from all walks of life. Online fraud. Invasions of privacy. These are the threats we experienced in the digital era. Who knows? Behind every virtual activity someone is lurking around, watching every move you make.

As new threats arise in the cyberspace, it is important that our online activity and privacy covered. With that Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company offers the Kaspersky Internet Security, an advanced consumer security solution for the whole family to protect our browsing, shopping, chats and data across our multiple devices - PC, Mac and Android devices - against malware, dangerous sites, online tracking, fraud and money theft.

The Kaspersky Internet Security features the award-winning antivirus plus a range of tools built to guard your private life and identity like - easy, one-license protection of your connected devices; mix-and-match security to fit any combination of devices; customized for device protection, performance and usability; real-time protection against all new and emerging Internet threats and premium anti-theft/loss protection for your Android devices.

It also includes a free VPN with up to 300 MB of traffic per day, Safe Money Browser to encrypt your online payments and transactions and Webcam Protection to stop unauthorized access to your webcam.

I was able to get my hands on one - the 3 user-device / 1 year option - and I’d like to share my installation experience as well as the full review of the Kaspersky Internet Security. So, let's start first with the installation.

Before installing

Before installing the Kaspersky Internet Security let us first check if our computer meets the system requirements. For more detailed system requirements, please visit: www.kaspersky.com/internet-security/v3

Our Test Computer - Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro

Installing the Kaspersky Internet Security

To install and activate your Kaspersky Internet Security with an activation code, first you just need to create a Kaspersky account at my.kaspersky.com. After signing up, you can install Kaspersky product either by using the Kaspersky CD or downloading it from the Kaspersky official site - kaspersky.com/download.

After downloading the file, go to the folder where you save it and double-click the downloaded file to run the setup. Once the Kaspersky window pops-up, click on the Install button.

When the User Account Control (UAC) window appears, click on the Yes button. The Kaspersky product will automatically detect the incompatible software and display it on the installation window. Kaspersky recommends to uninstall them first before installing the Kaspersky Internet Security.

Read the Kaspersky Security Network Statement carefully. If you accept it, leave the check box selected. If you do not want to participate in the Kaspersky Security Network, clear the checkbox.

Together with Kaspersky Internet Security, Kaspersky Password Manager will be installed if you leave the check box selected. Kaspersky Password Manager offers secure storage for your passwords, addresses, bank card details, private notes and images of confidential documents, like your passport and driver’s license, and syncs them across all your devices. Then click Install.

Then you are greeted with message, welcoming you to Kaspersky Internet Security. It took me around 30 minutes to install Kaspersky Internet Security with the download size at 183.9MB.

Wait for the installation to complete. Make sure the settings you want to apply are selected and click Apply.

Congratulations, the Kaspersky Internet Security has been installed successfully.

The installer then ran a quick scan of my system and made recommendations such as updating old version of software to newer version, installing Kaspersky Protection Extension to Internet Explorer and to enable the Anti-Banner.

Activating the Kaspersky Internet Security

The Activation Wizard is started at the first launch of Kaspersky Internet Security. Activation is the process of making operational a fully functional version of the application for a specified period of time. All you have to do is to enter an activation code that you have purchased and click save activation code.

If you have not yet registered an account on My Kaspersky, during the application activation, you may have to register on My Kaspersky.

If you intend to use the application on several computers, just install the Kaspersky Internet Security on all the computers and activate Kaspersky Internet Security on all the computers with the same activation code.

Design and Walk Around

Kaspersky's interface hasn't changed that much, it features a big status banner across the top and may or may not display recommendations. On the middle, there are six boxes that provide access to scans, updates, safe money, privacy settings, parental controls and My Kaspersky. Below these is a button to bring up a menu of more tools at bottom left is a gear icon to open settings and beside it the technical support. While on the bottom right is the other products, My Kaspersky again and the license with the days remaining.

The interface can be confusing and some pages may not fit your screen and will require scrolling up and down.

Kaspersky's Windows Taskbar icon, viewable at the bottom right of your screen, can run database update, open Safe Money, tools like - application activity, network monitor and on-screen keyboard, pause the real-time protection and this is also where you can find the About.

What’s inside Kaspersky Internet Security?

Aside from the usual real-time antivirus that guards you from common threats (worms and trojans) and sophisticated threats (botnets and rogues) and advanced anti-malware that blocks dangers including keyloggers, adware, spear phishing, rootkits & man-in-the-middle attacks. The Kaspersky Internet Security also incorporate several technologies and here are some below:

PC Cleaner
According to the Kaspersky, users store programs that they do not use on their device. In addition to the fact that this overloads the device memory, it also provides extra opportunities for cybercriminals to penetrate the system.

PC Cleaner scans all applications installed on the computer and marks those posing potential risk. Users sometimes do not even know about these applications being installed on their devices or are unaware of their negative effects.

PC Cleaner will inform users of a program if it has been installed without their awareness or clear consent (for example, as additional software during the installation of another application), or if it slows down the user’s device, provides incomplete/incorrect information about its functions, operates in the background mode, shows banners and messages without permission (e.g., advertising), or is rarely used. Upon receipt of a report from PC Cleaner, the user can either remove or leave the application in question.

Safe Money
Safe Money protects our online financial transactions at every stage. Safe Money blocks third-party applications from accessing the web browser clipboard, which may temporarily contain confidential data (such as copied login credentials). Safe Money also continues to offer protection from screen-capture technology, malicious browser extensions and other money-stealing tactics used by cybercriminals.

Secure Connection
Secure Connection allows users to connect to the Internet safely, by encrypting all data sent and received through the network . This is especially important when performing financial operations, authorization on sites, or transferring confidential information, as in these cases traffic interception by a stranger could cause users serious (for example, financial) losses.

This function is especially useful while traveling, when many people are increasingly connecting to insecure Wi-Fi networks to stay in touch.

The Secure Connection, can be launched from the main window of Kaspersky Internet Security in more tools. It can also be activated automatically when the device is connected to public Wi-Fi or the user is inputting confidential information online, such as on banking websites, online stores, payment systems, e-mail, social networks, etc.

Within the security product’s license, users have 300 MB of encrypted traffic at their daily disposal, and for an additional monthly or annual fee they can get an unlimited volume of traffic.

Software Updater
One of the common methods of malware penetrating the computer is the use of errors (so-called vulnerabilities) in the programs installed on it. Developers regularly update their products, however not all users regularly update these on their devices.

Software Updater can automatically find the applications that need to be updated and, if the user agrees, install the latest versions from vendor sites on their computer. The user can also request the update of an application manually or add any of them to the list of applications that should not be updated (for example, if the older version is required).

System Watcher
One of the most serious threats to our documents, pictures, and music comes from so-called cryptomalware, or malware that encrypts files and demands a ransom before restoring access to the information.

Once the data is encrypted, not even removing the malware itself can restore access to the encrypted files, so Kaspersky has built a way to regain access to data without paying any ransom. Kaspersky’s System Watcher module analyzes all processes running on the operating system, and now features new data backup functionality.

When System Watcher detects a suspicious program attempting to modify a user file, it instantly creates a local backup copy of that file, free from any external changes. If further observation indicates that the program that changed the file was malicious, then the changes will be rolled back.

Webcam Protection
Webcam hacking, or intercepting images from the webcam, is one way of using malware for online espionage. Many users pay little attention to what might be recorded on their webcams – even though the camera could capture images of documents containing bank details, credit cards, or simply personal activities that people prefer not to expose to strangers.

Kaspersky's Webcam Protection feature helps monitor which applications attempt to connect to the webcam, warns the user of access attempts, and, if necessary, blocks webcam access.

Protection, Performance and Usability

According to AV-TEST GmbH, an independent research institute for IT security from Germany Kaspersky's Internet Security is one of the top product with 6 out 6 score for protection, performance and usability.

Kaspersky's malware scanner continues to provide excellent protection against malware infections such as viruses, worms or Trojan horses. During July and August 2020 round of testing, Kaspersky detected 100 percent of both new "zero-day" malware attacks, inclusive of web and e-mail threats and well-known "widespread" and prevalent malware.

Kaspersky software has full and quick scans, a customizable selective scan, an external-drive scan and a vulnerability scan to find system weaknesses.

In our testing using our Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro test computer, Rootkit Scan with 3,254 files took around 24 minutes and 16 seconds to finished, Quick Scan with 3,618 files took 3 minutes and 53 seconds and Full Scan with 415,809 files at 1 hour and 7 minutes.

Here's AV-TEST's average influence of the product on computer speed in daily usage

It also had just one "false positive" detection of legitimate software as malware during a system scan.

Overall, Kaspersky's track record in AV-TEST's monthly evaluations is very good it has failed to detect 100% of zero-day malware only twice and has never missed any widespread malware.

Technical Support

Kaspersky Internet Security software includes a technical support via online live chat (Monday to Friday from 9:00AM to 6:00PM UTC +8) and an online self-help materials that include articles and decryption tools for several ransomware strains.

Price and Availability

The Kaspersky Internet Security is available online (www.kaspersky.com/internet-security) and in their partner IT retail stores and are priced accordingly below:

• 1 Device / 1 Year - Php1,480.00
• 1 Device / 2 Years - Php2,212.20
• 3 Devices / 1 Year - Php1,974.00
• 3 Devices / 2 Years - Php2,843.20
• 5 Devices / 1 Year - Php2,566.00
• 5 Devices / 2 Years - Php3,465.54

If you want to try out Kaspersky Internet Security it is available for free for 30-day trial and you can download it here: www.kaspersky.com/downloads/thank-you/internet-security-free-trial#download

Verdict

For only Php1,480 for the 1 Device / 1 Year option and can select from 1, 3 or 5 device / 1 or 2 years license options to get the all-round protection you need, the Kaspersky Internet Security comes with everything you'd expect in an advanced consumer security software, fast local scans with online malware analysis while not consuming too many system resources along with plenty of extra technologies and it also gets top scores from the antivirus testing lab - AV-TEST GmbH.

If you’re thinking of getting a paid antivirus software in this budget and for the whole family, we highly recommend that you get this one!