Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security 2012 Review

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n today’s digital age, security and privacy are aspects one cannot compromise on, owing to the increasing number of inexhaustible threats in the form of viruses, malware, trojans, worms, etc. Even seemingly secure sites like Gmail have phishing threats, though not as a common occurrence; but just to give an example that the threat is very much real and existent. There’s no dearth of free antivirus and Internet security software on the Internet, but they’re nowhere close to providing users with an all round protection, which emphasizes the necessity of a paid security solution. Trend Micro recently launched the latest 2012 edition of their Titanium Maximum Security protection. It’s a web protection cum antivirus software. Let’s have a look if it’s worth a buy.

The main console

Interface

Antivirus and security software generally have a bare bones simplistic interface, and the Titanium Maximum Security is no different. The software has a host of features and they’re neatly placed into various sub-sections. More often than not, security software manufacturers cram in a lot of stuff in the interface itself, which makes it a little intimidating, to amateur users at least, but we were pleased to see that the Titanium Maximum Security is an exception. The colour schemes, lists and icon styles blend well with the Windows 7 operating system. The settings mode allows users to modify and customize the minute details, according to their liking, and though it’s satisfactory, it’s not as advanced as the Norton Internet Security 2012, we reviewed earlier.

Easy setup

For new users, Trend Micro has mapped a help tool that will assist them in setting up their privacy and security settings and it does come in handy, if the user's unsure of what function a particular option provides. Overall, the interface is extremely simple and easy to use and is definitely one of the strong points of this software. 

Features

The Trend Micro Maximum Security 2012 is packed with a host of features. It’s an Antivirus cum web protection software, so it pretty much covers the needs of the average user. The software we got for review allows protection for a single PC, for one year.

The secure erase option

From the basic interface itself, users can perform, a quick, full or a custom scan and check a summary of the overall active functions in the software. Parental controls can be accessed via the main console and separate settings can be set up based on either the age groups or a custom mode. The subscription and validity is also listed along with a quick link to access users’ online Trend Micro account.

Other features include a system tuner that allows users to recover disk space, make Windows boot faster, clean up the registry and optimize the computer’s performance. The Data Theft Prevention option allows users to input a part of their passwords and credit card numbers that will prevent them from accidentally sending out the information to third party sites, whilst also preventing attacks from hackers. The secure erase basically works like a data shredder, so you can permanently erase unwanted files.

Advanced scan options

Another important feature is the Trend Micro Vault that creates a password protected Windows folder. In case the computer is lost, the Micro Vault can be shut via a remote control following, which the vault can only be opened by validating the user’s identity.

Performance

The Titanium Maximum Security 2012 uses 22 MB of memory on idle with a CPU usage of 0 percent. During a quick scan the number goes up to 62 MB with a CPU usage of roughly 25 percent, which is fairly average, because it’s not going to put a strain on your system resources.

The parental control feature

The software takes roughly ten minutes to install on a Core i3 processor with 4GB of RAM and there’s no additional loading time when the application is running. Once installed, a toolbar shows up in the native browser that displays the page ratings and allows users to select from three different protection levels. You’ll have the software running 24x7, but if for whatever reason it’s shut down, start up time is pretty quick, at around 12 seconds.

Securing your PC

Verdict

The Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security 2012 is priced at Rs.1,300, however it can be availed at a price of Rs.900 from their online website. It’s quite competitively priced amongst its competitors and is much cheaper than the Norton Internet Security 2012. If you want a simple, easy to use software to protect your data from outside threats, the Titanium Maximum Security 2012 is a good buy.