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Norton Internet Security
Norton AntiVirus offers protection against spyware and viruses and is recommended for protection for basic email and web browsing. Norton Internet Security is a security suite that contains Norton AntiVirus, as well as other important security components including a smart firewall and online transaction security. Norton Internet Security is appropriate for households or small businesses with high speed Internet connections and for protection when making purchases. There are numerous versions of this product, the best known being Norton Internet Security 2007, 2009, 2010 and Norton 360.
Key Features
- Automatically detects and blocks viruses, spyware, and worms.
- Advanced phishing protection identifies and blocks fraudulent websites.
- Rootkit Protection finds and removes hidden threats in the operating system.
- Smart firewall blocks hackers and stops spyware transmitting unauthorized information.
- Intrusion Prevention automatically shields newly discovered security vulnerabilities.
- Network protection configures security settings when logged on at home, or on public networks.
- Full System Scan performs a deep scan to remove existing viruses, spyware and other threats.
- Norton Protection Center provides a central place to easily check overall security settings.
- Includes protection updates and new product features as available throughout the renewable service period.
| The screenshot below shows Norton 2007 in action. Depicted here is the list of available tasks when you click on the top 'Norton Internet Security' tab. |
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| This screenshot is taken from 'Norton 360', which differs from earlier versions by having more facilities such as back up and restore, should your PC ever need restoring to factory settings, you can easily restore certain programmes and documents. In addition there is a simple defragmentation tool (PC Tune UP), and so on. On the down-side, Norton 360 seems to need more 'hands-on' attention by the user than its predecessors. |
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By default, Norton (whichever variety), likes to integrate itself into your e.mail facility, and the day-to-day running of your computer. Later versions install an 'anti-phishing' facility into Internet Explorer to highlight potentially rouge websites. The favourite targets for this practice is banks and popular sites like eBay, where you may click on a link from an unsolicited e.mail purportedly from (for example) eBay and go through to a website that looks and behaves like eBay, but in fact isn't.
The answer is simple, don't click on any link from an e.mail where they are supposedly 'checking your account details - click this link' or asking your to 'verify your password and username' - eBay, banks and other registered companies will never ask you to do this, so please don't do it. If in doubt, send a copy of the e.mail to us or the institution that supposedly sent it to you for verification.
Installation
Installing Norton is simplicity itself. Like all modern software it has an 'auto-run' facility, which means that as soon as you put the disc in the drive, the software starts to run. Click on the mini-window that says 'Install Norton Internet Security...' and follow the on-screen instruction. You will have to register the product with Symantec, as well as download the latest anti-virus definitions.
You will be asked during the set-up if you want to perform an initial scan of your computer. If you have not been online since removing previous anti-virus software, it is fairly safe to proceed without scanning. However, if you have (a) been online without anti-virus software installed, or (b) had a 'lesser mortal' bit of software installed, I would recommend doing a quick scan before you fully install the software.
Downloading Updates
Be warned! Downloading initial updates can take a long time with dial-up, and quite a few minutes with broadband! Please be patient as you won't be fully covered until this is complete.
Once you have fully installed the software and updated it, it is best to do a full scan of your computer. In fact, Norton will not feel totally happy until you have done this. Aim to get the 'green tick' rather than an 'amber exclamation mark', or worse the 'red X' from Norton - once installed you will see what this means.
Updates are totally free from Symantec once you have paid the initial cost of the software. In other words, once you have bought the software from your local PC shop or online, you have 366 days of free updates, there is nothing else to pay until your annual subscription comes up for renewal.
More Information
To learn more about the extensive range of products from Symantec / Norton, please click here (opens in a new window).