Simple, slim and if you want to remain anonymous

F-Secure now offers next to the traditional Internet packet to an add-on for IP masquerading. There are two independent programs (with 2 custom icons in the taskbar) I consider therefore, first the internet security package and then the Freedom additional software.

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A. F-Secure Internet Security

To evaluate an Internet security package I find difficult as a layman, are mE but the relevant aspects
a.) Security
b.) system load
c.) ease of use and
d.) Support

Namely, with importance in descending order. Straight but the security I can not comment because I do not have IT laboratory with a bunch of viruses in order to test times indicate which recognize the program. Here I trust as a layman on the subject tests, such as the Stiftung Warentest, the attribute has rated protection of the previous model with good Internet Security. In my star rating, however, the flow is not one.

Remain so the rest of the 3 aspects.

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1. System load
I can still remember the first Internet security packages. The slowed the system even during start-up, and annoyed with cryptic error messages like the xyz.dll accesses svchost to log you want to allow this ?. Fortunately, this has changed.

The F-Secure package was barely visible in the load. Prima: F-Secure works with the Windows own firewall and user administration, rather than anything to build parallel self.

5 of 5 stars
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2. ease

Initially disappointed delivery. The product picture here suggests one would obtain a box, and the significant additional cost compared with the pure download'd at least suggest any added value, such as a manual or CD. Nope! Supplied only a folded cardboard with codes, everything else has to be downloaded.

The disappointment lies down then but a little, because the installation goes pretty fast. Here, however, falls to the registration requirement. Why a software vendor needs to know what street I live, he does not explain to me.

Once the program is installed (Windows 7), it runs in the background and can be accessed from the taskbar. The virus scanner is relatively self-explanatory for the interested layman, for the additional features of Internet Security, so online banking protection and child safety, I have taken the downloaded pdf manual for help.
To make it work relatively easy. When online banking protection all other connections are easy to cut when logging in, so that no evil hackers can interpose. Does plausible as 100% secure really is but I can not vote, but it makes a good impression. When testing pops every time a bank address is typed into the browser displays a message on (see photo) that other connections are blocked (and that is so).

Good work Parental Control. The prerequisite is of course that these have their own identity, and not with Papas admin account in Windows go. For each account you can either lock namely certain types of Web pages and search results, or use a pure white list (I think most), and only allow browsing through predefined pages. There is even a time limit possible.

4 of 5 stars

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3. Support

Trying to request support, was for me initially not easy. From an F-Secure employee, I then learned (in response to a review) of the support hotline that under 069/66983131 from 9 - 19 h is offered. I've tried this and actually had a competent young man on the line who could answer my questions about the product after a very short waiting time. Unfortunately, this hotline number is not indicated on the product packaging, here is the manufacturer nor an easy-to-generating potential for improvement.

4 of 5 stars

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4. Additional Feature Freedom

Freedom comes as intrinsically small software is installed and quick after downloading. The program sets up with its own small icon in the taskbar, and starts with the operating system (Windows 7), which you also can disable, for example, because it is rarely needed.

Rudimentary knowledge of English should be present, because the program is not in German, the operation is very simple but at least for someone who has set itself a little with the matter apart.

Obviously, I can not test the extent any inquisitive intelligence can no longer monitor me with this software, and I do in this regard no illusions, but the IP unmasking works without problems. By that I gaukele before a website that I just do not surf from Germany, but from one of 17 distributed around the globe countries.

This is handy if, for example, certain contents are locked in German Youtube pages, or if I want to buy a software or a movie, which are only available in certain countries.

The locale remains to exist even if the computer is restarted. Smart Web services such as Google noted that natural and send a warning mail when the mail account is accessed suddenly from California or Singapore.

Previously I had the software Steganos Online Shield, which had the same functions, but was significantly less slim and fast for such purposes.

In this respect, the Freedom option is quite useful.

5 of 5 stars

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Conclusion:

The low system load and ease of use (both Internet Security as well as in Freedom) I like good, little potential for improvement there is in uniform documentation. With so many different F-Secure packages should also value for money in mind (I find the download variants usually makes the most sense).