With new viruses, worms and Internet Explorer security flaws appearing almost daily, it's obvious that the Web can be a dangerous place. And Internet security researchers at the SANS Institute have now made that even more obvious, discovering that an unprotected PC lasts an average of 20 minutes online before it's infected by a worm.

Yes, only 20 minutes. So if your PC isn't secure yet, it's time to get some serious protection, and you won't find any package more thorough than BitDefender 8 Professional.

At the heart of the suite is a speedy virus detection engine. It checks files as they arrive at your PC, by attachments or downloads, and includes an "on demand" scanner you can run whenever necessary.

There's also a Registry Control option, alerting you whenever a program modifies the Registry in order to be run when Windows boots. It's a small addition, but invaluable, and should catch everything from spyware to full-blown Trojans.

Just in case it doesn't, the BitDefender firewall offers another layer of protection. This blocks unauthorised incoming attempts to reach your PC, as well as alerting you whenever programs try to go online. Again, you get helpful extras like cookie control, a script blocker, and protection against rogue dialers.

And if your Inbox always seems full of junk, then maybe BitDefender AntiSpam can help you take back control. It blocks spam using a range of techniques, from black lists to Heuristic and Bayesian filters, while a white list ensures mail from friends and colleagues will always get through.

New Internet threats appear all the time, so BitDefender updates itself automatically to ensure you stay protected. This version will only run for 90 days, though, so you'll need to renew your license to continue using the program.

The exact cost of this ranges from $19.98 (£11) for a one user, one year license, to $85.01 (£46) for a four user, three year license. Find out the cost for you, or purchase an upgrade, at the BitDefender online store www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/buy.php).