Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security, published by Trend Micro Inc. (Tokyo, Japan), is firewall software that includes all of the features of Trend Micro’s AntiVirus+AntiSpyware product as well as many of the features in Trend Micro’s Internet Security Pro product. It uses cloud technology to stop viruses and spyware before they hit your computer, making for a light footprint.

Firewall Performance
The firewall component of Trend Micro Internet Security is not the best at defending against every type of advanced hacker technique. It protects against unauthorized attempts to change the operating system settings or registry. And it does a pretty good job against malware. But it has difficulties with sophisticated leak tests and it often stumbles if subjected to tests that simulate attacks on the processes and threads upon which Bit Defender, itself, relies.

The product’s crisp and elegant user interface makes good use of a slider to establish the firewall security level. The maximum security level blocks everything except for programs, ports or network protocols that the user determines. All attempts to send data to the internet trigger warnings. The medium and low security level settings maintain open communication with other computers except for unrecognizable or dangerous connections. The low security level offers fewer alerts to the user. The minimum security level permits greater risks and fewer restrictions.

Additional Security Features
The product is more than a firewall, so it protects against other threats such as viruses, spyware, pharming and phishing. Because hackers exploit instant messages and email in order to discover useful personal data to steal, Trend Micro Internet Security includes an option to discover and eliminate spyware, Trojan horses and worms attempting to breach the perimeter. An exception to the coverage is that it cannot scan Hotmail messages that arrive via Microsoft Outlook Express, Outlook or MSN Explorer.

Parental controls can suppress websites by category and dictate the times when access to the internet is available. The Trend Micro parental controls can stop specific information such as telephone numbers or credit card numbers from websites, email or instant messaging. The parental controls can be applied to a specific person who has log-on privileges to the computer.

Ease of Use
A number of automatic protection options contribute to ease of use. If a user suspects that a file is dangerous but the product does not flag it with a warning, Trend Micro will receive the file and analyze whether it is malicious. Users are stopped from being able to download risky file and blocked from websites known to be security threats. Every time that a user copies, moves, opens or saves a file, the product searches for any associated risks. The program automatically downloads the latest security risk signatures every three hours. For users with Internet Service Providers that charge a fee for going online or receiving data, it is possible to override the automatic update feature.

Help & Support
Trend Micro Inc. provides a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. While most security software vendors provide a free download with the option to purchase via credit card prior to the trial expiration, Trend Micro requires a credit card in order to receive a trial copy. The burden is then on the user to cancel the trial prior to expiration, otherwise Trend Micro will charge the card.

Support includes an online knowledge base and access via email or chat. Along with a user forum, the vendor uses Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to extend its reach in support of customers.