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Norton Internet Security 2010 Review: Internet Security Software |
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[Editor's note: Symantec is currently offering NextAdvisor visitors 20% off with coupon code "SYMTOP20OFF" 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. 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 |
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| Price: | $55.99/yr for up to 3 PCs (after 20% discount with coupon code SYMTOP20OFF) |
| Virus Protection: | Identifies and removes viruses |
| Adware and Spyware Protection: | Identifies and removes spyware and 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 |
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