 |
Norton Internet Security 2010 Review |
Go to Site | View Full Comparison Chart |
Website: |
Visit Website |
Rating: |
 |
| Best overall PC security and threat analysis; exclusive 10% discount with coupon code: SYM2010NEW | |
Full Review: |
[Editor's note: Symantec is currently offering NextAdvisor visitors 10% off with coupon code "SYM2010NEW", bringing the cost down to 62.99]
Norton is one of the oldest names in Internet security software. For a long time the stalwart brand enjoyed top-of-mind awareness in the world of virus protection. Over time, new players have entered the field and Norton has had to up its game. Hoping to regain its dominance, it has launched its 2010 product. The upgrade comes with a price increase; it's now $62.99 to protect three PCs (after the 10% discount). As we mentioned above, Norton has been at this party for a long time. But looking at its user interface, you'd never know it. Far from stodgy, it's clean and modern, using a slightly transparent black window to present your options. Norton also shows you your CPU usage and Norton's own activity level. Best of all, it keeps an excellent visual record of just about everything that's happened on your computer. This may sound unnecessarily boring, but after a few minutes of exploring its brightly colored charts, you'll want to use it. Our first deep scan took just under an hour, which is par for the course. It came up with a virus which our current scanning champ, Trend Micro, had missed. It provided us with complete data on the malware, telling us when and where it had been installed as well as the last time it had been used. The amount of information is provides is really incredible. When we sent it up against known threats it performed very well, blocking a number of trojans in many forms. One thing we like is how you can tell exactly which component Norton is examining, be it html, javascript, image, etc. Norton leverages its large user-base to provide intelligence on web pages, and usually it's pretty accurate, though we wish it prevented access to particularly dangerous sites, even though it handled the threats well once we got there. The only real ding came from a YouTube-disguised phishing site which Norton claimed to be safe. Ultimately Norton felt like it displayed a good degree of intelligence about known and potential threats. The new game for Internet security software is identifying suspicious behaviors and characteristics. If you download something that Norton can't identify, it provides you with feedback on how potentially risky it is. If the danger is unknown, it's up to you whether to take the chance or not, but you'll feel like you've made an informed choice. Like other Internet security software, it includes protection against email-born threats and a smart firewall that adjusts according to threat levels. It also carries a range of configurable measures to protect against identity theft. Parental controls are now standard as well. Norton is for those who like a good deal of control and information. While it doesn't block urls the way that Trend Micro does, it is decidedly more trusting of your judgement. If you like your virus software to be more of the set-it-and-forget-it variety, this may not be the one for you. But for the more hands-on type who wants solid protection and is curious about what goes on under the hood, Norton is a great option. A 30-day free trial will give you the chance to find out if it's for you. System Requirements: Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 |
Search our blog archives and frequently asked questions for more information about Internet Security Software Reviews
| Price: | $62.99/yr for up to 3 PCs (after 10% discount: SYM2010NEW) |
| Virus Protection: | Identifies and removes viruses |
| Adware and Spyware Protection: | Identifies and removes spyware/adware |
| Identity Theft Protection: | Encrypts passwords & other sensitive data; Added protection for secure transactions |
| Spam and Phishing Protection: | Detailed analysis of potential phishing sites; Spam protection |
NextAdvisor Internet Security Software Headlines
Another day, another Facebook attack
Internet security company Symantec is warning Facebook users about a pair of malicious email attacks that claim to come from Facebook. Both use similar messages, informing users they need to change their passwords. Originally Symantec reported that the emails contained trojans that connect to a Russian botnet. Now it seems there's a phishing attack that's [...]
Don't open that email from the FDIC?
Because it isn't really from the FDIC. There has been a recent rash of phishing emails that appear to be sent by the FDIC. The emails say, "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with [...]
Internet security software and Windows 7
Windows 7 launched today to generally positive reviews. As you decide whether or not to upgrade, you might be wondering about your favorite Internet security software. The 2010 versions are all made to work with Windows 7. We've added this info to the system requirements section at the bottom of each of the reviews.
We'll continue [...]
AVG Internet Security: 27% off, or two years for the price of one?
AVG Internet Security has two competing discounts right now. They are mutually exclusive, so here's how they compare:
Offer #1: AVG is offering two years of Internet Security 9.0 for $54.99. This seems to be their standard offer, and it's the one reflected in our comparison chart. That's a cheap two-year plan, breaking down to $27.50 [...]
Twitter makes it easier to report spammers
As Twitter grows in popularity, it suffers from a corresponding increase in spammers. These days, your newest follower is more likely to be a spambot than a real person. And as spammers become increasingly sophisticated, it gets harder to tell the difference. Even the savviest Internet users can have difficulty discerning, at a glance, whether [...]
Second PayChoice breach in one month
Earlier this month, PayChoice, a payroll processing firm, was breached by hackers. Last week, PayChoice was hacked yet again. The last hack was unusually complex, involving a data breach, phishing emails, malicious websites, and a Trojan horse. The latest attack hinged on a security vulnerability in PayChoice's online portal, OnlineEmployer.com. It appears as though hackers [...]
Symantec gives students a break: 50% off Norton AntiVirus
Back when I was in school, I had Norton Antivirus installed on my laptop. It was pretty much the only choice. Now there are a dozen or so major Internet security solutions offering to protect you from online baddies. We may laugh a little at the idea of anti-virus software as a back-to-school necessity, but [...]
Symantec on shortened URLs
Internet security experts Symantec have release a video showing how shortened URLs (such as those used on Twitter) can lead to malware. We've long talked about the danger posed by shortened URLs. Here's what it looks like:
Does this mean shortened URLs are off limits? The accompanying blog post points the way to two plugins, one [...]
FBI chief falls for phishing email
Last week, FBI chief Robert Mueller spoke about the dangers of cybercrime, and admitted that he had once been fooled by a phishing email. At first, Mueller believed the email to be a "perfectly legitimate" message from his bank, requesting that he verify some personal information. He followed a link to a spoofed website, where [...]
Phishers expose email account information
A massive phishing scam resulted in the exposure of tens of thousands of email addresses and passwords. One list, containing 10,000 Hotmail, MSN, and Live.com addresses and passwords, was posted online at PasteBin, a website commonly used by developers to share code. A second list soon emerged, containing 20,000 email addresses and passwords from a [...]
About Us Blog Contact UsTerms & Privacy PolicyAffiliate ProgramSite map
Copyright© 2006 - NextAdvisor.com - All rights reserved.