A recent test by China-based PC Security Labs showed that some products are much more effective than others at blocking exploit kits.

The research team focused on vulnerabilities in a number of widely-used applications and tools, among them Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Flash, and Java. They set up test systems running Windows XP SP3 and selected known exploits that could penetrate the security of an unprotected system.

This test measures how well the products defend against one extremely particular hack attack. Top security suites include many, many layers of protection. But if you very specifically need to protect against exploits, perhaps because circumstances prevent upgrading from the officially defunct Windows XP, you might consider these results when making a selection.