Norton Internet Security
Norton Internet Security is one of the biggest names in the Internet security market, and has an excellent reputation for providing effective and reliable protection for computers against the threats of viruses, malware, spyware, intruders and fraudsters. In the past Norton has been criticized for intrusive scanning and updating features which took up a huge amount of CPU and could cripple older computers. In the latest releases though Norton has tackled these issues and now provides ‘Pulse’ method updates which are much less intrusive and generally occur overnight when most people are not using their computers, and do not interfere with overall system performance as much.
Installation and Specifications
You can use the same license to install Norton Internet Security software on up to three different PCs (Windows 2000, XP and Vista), which is ideal for busy households that have more than one computer/laptop. The installation procedure is very straightforward and the default settings are adequate for most users needs so you will not have to spend hours tweaking the software to get a high level of computer protection. Once you have downloaded the installation program or inserted the installation CD then you simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete the software set up, and then reboot the computer to begin the initial computer security scan (this can take 20 minutes or more depending on your system).
Main Features
Norton offers a comprehensive security package that includes award winning anti-virus and anti-spyware measures and has a number of other great security features as well to ensure you are safe as you surf online:
Anti-Virus – Norton anti-virus software is one of the best on market and has obtained all of the industry’s highest certificates: ISCA, VB 100% and W.C.L Level 1 and 2. In depth scanning features are very effective at identifying and isolating suspicious programs
Anti-Spyware – the anti-spyware features can scan for existing spyware and also detect and block new spyware programs from installing on your computer, and the phishing filters are also impressive and are compatible with both FireFox and Internet Explorer.
Firewall – the firewall is fully customizable, so you can set it to your personal preferences (the default setting is fine for most users though),
Identify Safe – this secure feature will encrypt and protect all your sensitive passwords and log in information, whilst still making it easy for you to access them when you need to. This feature will also include a list of safe online shopping and banking websites, and if you are trying to log into a website that is not on the list Identity Safe will alert you, and this can help to prevent you putting personal details into counterfeit websites.
Conclusion
Norton is one of the leading names in the computer security market because it provides such effective and robust anti-virus, anti-spyware and intruder protection, but users with older systems may find the scanning and updating features still a little too demanding on CPU usage. There is a good level of support available with the Norton Internet Security package, including free online self help and live chat, but as with many security suites telephone support will cost you more money and this can add up if you are having a serious problem using the software.