Let me quality this; this is not a review on AOL 9 itself per se.  It's more a review on the security aspects of the software and the new features in it.  Does it really secure your system?  Does it run seamlessly?  Finally, are there new things with the software itself worth mentioning security aside?

AOL 9 Security Edition is primarily a broadband AOL.  Even though it has "Top Speed," which is for modems; it's really designed for broadband, because broadband is where security issues come into play.

It'll work with dial up, but no one hacks dial up.  Why?  Who cares; it would take hours for your hacked machine to do anything the bad guys want your computer to do.  Now, with 53% of all users in the US on broadband and growing, (another prediction of mine) the security edition is made just for us!

But, even on dial up, 9 SE has enough new features to make the upgrade worth it.  This really should be AOL 10, there's that much here...

AOL is the Leading Edge

With dial up quickly going away, AOL has had to "re-adjust."  Meaning; content is king if you want broadband people to subscribe.  Why else would they buy it?  Everyone with a broadband connection already has email etc, from their providers.

Why would you pay extra for AOL?

This is the question I will answer once and for all.

For one very important thing; AOL is convertible.  Convertible?  Yes, don't like your DSL carrier?  Then switch to cable without changing your email address.  See what I mean?  It'll go anywhere you go.  That's very important when you have friends and relatives that try to maintain contact with you.

Read my article on AOL 8+ and you'll know what I mean about content.  Most other ISP's haven't even touched that issue yet, let alone, what we'll be talking about today.  Sorry MSN and Earthlink, the jokes on you.  Really!..

AOL 9 Security Edition

While many people laugh at, or "hate" AOL; AOL is the major player in the industry and did a survey on virus's/ Adware/ Spyware with their own subscribers.  I'm sure they didn't expect much because AOL is "training wheels" remember?  After everyone told them they had no such things on their systems, AOL actually went to their homes and checked their computers.

75% of all their members checked, had some sort of Adware, Spyware, or virus.  This raised many eyebrows in the industry because "conventional wisdom" said this shouldn't be the case with a "training wheels" ISP.  What's the rest of the world look like?  It's a scary thought.

Apparently, what I've always known:  AOL users are no longer "novices" and are using the Internet directly.  Anyone running broadband does; that's the "real" world folks and it's a very dirty world indeed.

I wasn't really surprised though, I've been with AOL since 2 and have seen it evolve first hand from a users perspective; it's hardly training wheels.  Hell, if you used all the features on it, it could take you a week, just to set it all up.

So, if you're trying to protect your customers and they don't stay in your system, what do you do?  You keep them happy!  Meaning, you try to keep their computers running smoothly:  That's what you do.

Obviously the Government isn't going to do anything about it anytime soon.  So, AOL decided to do it for them... (or should I say for you, if you're on AOL)

And that's exactly what they did...

Virus Protection

AOL gives you top shelf McAfee Virus protection; for free!

As you may know, AOL teamed up with McAfee quite a while ago.  It used to cost around 3 bucks a month.  Now there is no charge.

What's special about this setup is what it isn't.  It doesn't require you to do anything.  When you're connected to the Internet, McAfee checks home to see if there are any new updates to it's protection (which seems to be around once a week) and automatically updates itself.  You get a little popup after it's done, just to tell you it had an update.  It's seamless; I like seamless.

After installing McAfee through AOL, let it run a complete system scan.  It found 7 files on my computer.  But really, because of my web sites, I have 150 thousand files on my computer; (yeah, it took it a while)  7's pretty damn good!  I was pretty proud of myself considering I've never used virus protection of any sort before.

From there on, it's always on and checks everything that is happening.  I notice no slowdown in performance, but, I have a very fast computer.  I did test it on two platforms however; (XP and ME) it should work fine for you.  If you're already running anti-virus software, after uninstalling that, and installing McAfee, you should notice no difference.

Spyware Tools?

Oh yeah, it doesn't stop at McAfee.

On your desktop you'll see an icon for Spyware Protection.  After McAfee is done running your full system scan.  Click on this icon and it will run your computer through the ringer once again.  This time checking for Spyware/ Malware/ Adware.  And it works!  Imagine that!!!

Also, when on the computer, every once in a while, you'll see a popup telling you it's checking your command files for Spyware.  If it finds nothing, it tells you so and pops back off.  You do nothing.

Really gang!  This is unreal!  Seamless; there's that word again...  When it comes to security issues; seamless is the only way to go.  It insures you actually do the updates.  What better way to do them?  Just like using RAID for backup; you don't do anything, it does.  I like that...

Kudos to AOL!  Great job!  Your programmers must be very tired...

Firewall

AOL also offers a free firewall as part of the package.  I run Windows XP and use it's own via SP-2.

Popup Controls

Since I didn't do a review on 9, this is worth mentioning.  AOL now has separate popup controls on it's browser.  And, for the most part, it works well.

AOL System Check

This is another icon on your desktop.  I don't trust software like this, but it did flag the fact that I didn't have java installed. (XP doesn't come with it and this was a new build)  It sent me to the Sun site, installed it, and poof!  All fixed.  Now I can see my "Awesome Pictures" page once again.  I didn't even realize I couldn't.

The Spam Folder

The AOL Spam folder works very well.  I get very few false positives, but I still get them.  Like any other spam folder, you must check it before you delete everything in it.  I use mine on the standard AOL setup; you can also add your own keywords such as penis, or Viagra and it will block any email with those words in the subject line.  Buffie was having a problem with "penis."  Hey, not that kind of problem! (you have a dirty mind LOL)  When she entered it in the custom list, she never got another email with it again.  It does work.

Any other Additions with 9 SE?

Hell Yeah, indeed there are:

Auto IM windows:  This one caught me by surprise.  When on broadband, I, and many others, keep AOL in the system tray while we do other things.  If you get email, you hear the familiar "You've Got Mail" voice, so you know you have new mail.  But, what about an IM?  It used to chime and I always hated that.  I'm not an IM'er.

Are you ready for this?  Now if you get an IM while in another program, a tiny window pops up in the lower right corner with the message.  If you don't click on the open button, it just goes away.  Really nice job.  AOL, you blew me away with this one!

New AOL Spell Checker:  Finally, something's been done with the spell checker.  Now, it's more like the familiar "Windows Word" checker.  It underlines miss-spelled words as you make them.  You can correct them, or highlight them and check them in the dictionary.  Now, if AOL could only stop it from asking to check the whole page...

AOL Phone?  Yeah, you heard that right.  AOL has a USB phone you can buy as an addition. (about 44 bucks)  Once you have the phone, you can call anyone who has one, and is on AOL, through the IM box.  Their icon will show a little phone on the buddy list box.  Wow!  I haven't tested this yet, so would appreciate any input from someone who uses it.

You have to admit, that's pretty neato!  Free long distance!!

Auto Program Popup:  This one I have to explain:  I have a terrible habit of shutting down my computer with AOL still in the tray; forgetting it was connected.  The next time you fire up AOL, it appears in the tray, "uh oh, I did it again."  You can just click on the tray and it pops back up, but it's annoying.  AOL has solved this problem as well:

If AOL is on the tray, and you shut down your programs, when AOL is the last program loaded, it pops up full screen.  What a great reminder!  Very nice job AOL!!  You guys act like you actually use your own software!  LOL

Screen Resolution Solved:  AOL9 SE has the ability to run 96dpi (dots per inch) fonts, even if you don't.  I run my monitor at 1024x768 with Windows fonts set at large. (120dpi)  My eyes aren't getting any better and I like the larger type.  This always squished the AOL screens which are designed for 96.  You get a warning screen when not at 96.  Just ignore it.  AOL will run at 96 by itself.  I really like that.

New Address Book:  This is the best part for me.  Now, if you have groups like my mailing lists.  The address book lists all the entries in alphabetical order.  They can be very easily deleted from that list.  For me, this was worth the upgrade all by itself!

Problems

The only real problem I ran across is with Ad-Subtract Pro.  Don't let it load at boot up if using Windows XP.  It messes with McAfee during it's boot process.  After boot, there's no problem.  Also of note:  I had no such problem with a Windows ME machine I upgraded, so, it seems to be XP specific.

And remember:  Don't let AOL be your default media player when it asks.  Don't let it be your default browser if it asks.

Conclusion  

I must say, it's a real kick to see AOL mature the way it has.  When they say they're working for their members, it's not just talk.