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Panda Internet Security is vastly improved over last year's edition--and it's free!

(Credit: Newegg)

People routinely look at me as if I'm nuts. Oh, wait, there's a second part to that sentence: People routinely look at me as if I'm nuts when I tell them I don't use any security software: no Zone Alarm, no Norton, nothing.

Instead, I rely on the security measures built into Windows and a few tricks I've learned. So far, it works fine for me.

That said, I usually advise friends and family members to install some kind of comprehensive security package. Because I consider all of you to be like family (yes, even you raving crackpots), here's a deal: Newegg has the Panda Internet Security 2009 3-user edition for free.

Well, OK, free after rebate (PDF). You have to part with $30 now, but you'll get it back in 8 to 12 weeks. (That's just my guess--the rebate form doesn't actually say.)

So, how does Panda Internet Security 2009 compare with Norton Internet Security 2009, which has been widely praised for being faster, smaller, and better than ever?

According to CNET's Robert Vamosi, Panda is "vastly improved in speed and effectiveness over last year's version." The downside: mediocre tech support.

Still, it's hard to argue with free. So if you're in the market for a security suite, but want something a little more professional than the various freebie utilities out there, this Newegg deal might be for you.

Updated 10:50 a.m. PST December 2 to correct that Apple previously recommended antivirus software to Mac users, and at 1:50 p.m. PST with call back from Apple and link to 2002 Apple anti-virus item. A follow-up blog will be posted that goes into more detail about the coverage.

Apple is recommending that Mac users install antivirus software.

But don't read this as an admission that the Mac operating system is suddenly insecure. It's more a recognition that Mac users are vulnerable to Web application exploits, which have replaced operating system vulnerabilities as the bigger threat to computer users.

On November 21 Apple updated a technical note on its Support Web site that says: "Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult."

The item offers three software suggestions: Intego VirusBarrier X5 and Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11 for Macintosh, both available from the Apple Online Store, and McAfee VirusScan for Mac.

MacDailyNews unearthed the same note posted by Apple in June 2007 and published it on Tuesday,a long with a link to a March 2002 note from Apple urging people to use an anti-virus program.

Apple representatives did not respond to e-mails seeking comment on Monday, but did return a call on Tuesday. A spokesman said he would look into the matter.

Brian Krebs, who first reported on the Apple antivirus recommendation Monday in his Security Fix blog at The Washington Post, said an Apple store employee told him he didn't need antivirus software when he purchased a MacBook three months ago.

Apple urges Mac customers to use antivirus software.

(Credit: Apple)

Quang Tu Nguyen has changed the landscape of network and computer security in Vietnam.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CBS Interactive)

Editors note: CNET editor and Crave contributor Dong Ngo is spending the next month in his homeland of Vietnam and plans to file occasional dispatches chronicling his impressions of how technology has permeated the culture there. Click here for more of Dong's stories from abroad.

HANOI, Vietnam--If you use any Internet-connected computer in Vietnam--and there are lots of them, with Internet cafes and Wi-Fi spots abounding in any city--chances are you'll find a little red plus sign at the bottom-right corner of the screen.

That's the icon of the most popular antivirus software here. It's called BKAV.

(A bit of background: if you've recently read reviews of Internet security products by our security editor Rob Vamosi, know that I am the one who designed the methodology involved in testing these applications. It's therefore natural for me to be curious about how people in various parts of the world are protected against malicious software.)

BKAV is short for Bach Khoa AntiVirus, with "Bach Khoa" being the Vietnamese name for the Hanoi University of Technology. The software was originally developed as a hobby by Quang Tu Nguyen, a student-turned-lecturer at the school. It's currently the flagship product of Bach Khoa Internetwork Security center (BKIS), of which Quang, now 33, is director.

Quang still lectures once in awhile, but he's primarily known as the man who has changed the landscape of network and computer security in Vietnam. His creation, BKAV, is in many ways just about the best security software you can find.

Thank goodness for the World Police!

(Credit: Paramount Pictures)

First up, Dong is a little concerned that Eric may be a terrorist. He soon discovers, though, that everyone is a terrorist.

Then, LED vs. CCFL LCD backlights. Which makes your eyes bleed less? Find out!

Could our love affair with the iPhone 3G be over? Possibly. Then why do we still own one? It's a complicated answer that we tackle.

Finally, we tell some stories about our early WoW days. Enjoy the fun!

To subscribe to this podcast, visit us at our main page and click the link on the right. Don't forget to leave us a voice mail at 1-800-947-6399 or e-mail us at insidecnetlabs@cnet.com.

It's true. Some security apps get more fame and recognition than others. Why is Spybot Search & Destroy cited more often than BitDefender Free Edition, or McAfee's online virus scan better known than Trend Micro HouseCall, a tool that also removes what it detects?

In a stab at fairness, we've picked out five of the more overshadowed, but still reliable, antivirus software titles and highlighted their main points. Give them a whirl and let us know in the comments why you can't live without your favorite undersung security app.

(Credit: Crave UK)

There would have to be something seriously wrong with us if we willingly discussed infections--digital or other. But virus protection is something we all need, and what better way to protect ourselves than to use the scariest-sounding anti-virus software on the planet?

BullGuard Internet Security 8 launched recently, and immediately appealed to us as it combines anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, spam filter, online backup and technical support. That's almost everything you could ever need from a digital prophylactic--for 44.95 pounds a year (about $93).

Old-school file sharers should remember BullGuard: It was built into the Kazaa P2P client to help minimise the chances of downloading and using infected files, and worked pretty well, mainly because BullGuard uses scanning technology from BitDefender.

It still suffers the same foibles as most anti-virus products--such as those annoying pop-ups asking if you want to give your applications access to the Internet--but the user interface is easy to use, and you can have instant messenger chats with BullGuard's tech-heads, who'll take remote control of your PC and fix any hassles if necessary.

Aside from the live assistance, the most interesting aspect of the software is the online backup module. You get 5GB of storage space for backing up your most precious files, and you can access that data from any Internet-enabled PC. The online drive is automatically mapped to Windows Explorer so you can drag and drop as normal, or set scheduled backups for specific files and folders. Users can upgrade the standard 5GB backup for £5 per additional GB, but we wouldn't bother--standard external hard drives are as cheap as 5GB for 1 pound.

The biggest hole in the software is the lack of a proper anti-phishing module. Yes, the spam filter can detect phishing emails in clients such as Microsoft Outlook, but it's redundant if you use Web mail. Click a Gmail link purporting to be from your bank, and BullGuard won't do a thing to warn you against divulging credit card or banking details.

Should you bother with BullGuard 8? Yes, and no. Uber-geeks needn't bother--particularly if you know how to avoid viruses in the first place, and can comfortably correct the slip-ups you get while using free anti-virus products. But for the rest of us, BullGuard provides that extra peace of mind, security and support you don't get from some of its rivals. Just be wary of phishing.

(Source: Crave UK)