Symantec's AntiVirus Makeover

CBS' Larry Magid Reviews Norton 360

(CBS)  I've been using anti-virus, anti-spyware and other security software for almost two decades but far too often, I have wondered whether the cure was worse than the disease.

Symantec is a case in point. Older versions of its Norton Anti-Virus and Norton Internet Security programs have slowed down my machine and interrupted my work flow by asking me to decide what to do with every suspicious file or email it ran across.

I'm happy to report that the company reformed its ways. Its newest product, Norton 360, has no noticeable impact on system performance and has left me blissfully almost unaware of its presence.

That doesn't mean it's not doing its job. It's just being quiet about it. The software, which costs $69.99 per year for up to 3 household PCs, is designed to protect users from viruses, spyware, phishing attacks and other security threats.

It also has a two-way firewall that blocks incoming threats and outbound threats – malicious software that "phones home" to send personal information to a rogue server. There is also a "PC Tuneup" feature that removes temporary files left behind by Windows or your browser and defragments your disks to speed up drive access.

In addition, there is now a backup feature that allows you to automatically backup to an external drive or to an online server run by Symantec (you get two gigabytes of online backup free and can purchase additional space). I'm a big fan of online and other off-premise backup strategies because they protect you even if the unspeakable happens such as fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake or worse.

Unlike some backup software, this product doesn't try to compress or otherwise alter your files. That leaves you with a backup that you can access from any PC even if it's not running Norton 360.

Because Norton 360 is so unobtrusive, I was wondering if it was even working until I discovered its view statistics option that told me that it had detected and blocked two viruses and one piece of spyware. It also informed me that it had automatically completed 53 security and program updates to make sure my protection isn't out of date.

For Internet Explorer users, the program is able to help protect you from malicious websites by checking against a database of known bad sites and analyzing sites on the fly to see if they contain code that could lead to "drive-by downloads" of malicious software that could jeopardize your security or harm your PC. Unfortunately, this feature doesn't work with Firefox, Opera and other browsers besides Internet Explorer.

I also used the program to defragment my disk drive, which puts all of your files in contiguous areas of the drive so that the drive heads can access your data more quickly. Earlier versions of Norton products used to give you feedback as they defragmented your drives but in the spirit of leaving you alone, this one doesn't tell you anything other than that it did a defrag. Personally, I wouldn't mind having a little more reassurance that it's doing its job as long as that didn't slow down my PC.

Unlike some competitive products from ZoneLabs and TrendMicro, the new Norton product doesn't have wireless network protection. It also lacks features to clean up the Windows registry (which can sometimes slow down a PC) as well as other system performance tweaks you'll find in other packages such as Iolo's System Mechanic.

Parental controls, ad-blocking and anti-spam tools are not included with the product but you can add them by downloading the Norton Add-on pack. Actually, I think this is a pretty good idea. The company kept the product leaner and faster by leaving out features that a lot of users don't need while making them available at no cost for people who do need them. Perhaps Microsoft could learn from this example.

Overall, I give Norton 360 good marks for being easy to install and configure, and knowing when to stay out of your way and not slow you down - which is exactly the kind of progress I like to see when it comes to security.

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A syndicated technology columnist for over two decades, Larry Magid serves as on air Technology Analyst for CBS Radio News. His technology reports can be heard several times a week on the CBS Radio Network. Magid is the author of several books including "The Little PC Book."

[Ed0719]

For many years I used Norton and Symantec AV products. The most recent was the Symantec Corporate AV version 10. I liked the corporate AV better than the Norton products because it did have much less system overhead and seemed to be more thorough. However, last fall my computer was attacked by a trojan that actually used the Symantec AV email proxy to attempt to send out thousands of emails from my computer. My display filled with Symantec proxy boxes saying that an email was being scanned and sent. I had to power off my cablemodem to prevent them. I shut down my email application but that didn't stop the trojan, it wasn't using that, it was directly using the Symantec product. I did complete scans of my computer, it found nothing. I finally had no choice but to uninstall the Symantec AV. I then could power on my modem, I went to the free AVG antivirus site, downloaded that product, and during the install it found the offending trojan and cleaned it off. I emailed Symantec support, including the file from the AVG, they denied any such trojan existed, continued to claim that there was no way such a trojan could use their product and that I must either be lying or mistaken.

A few months later, Symantec announced that there was such a trojan and that they had patched their software to prevent it. I will never trust any of their products again.

[godi70]

I had many years symantec. But I observed that were very dificulted to comunicate with them.
Self now to see if I can received my money back because I have changed to Verizon protection system have not answer from some one who should be the answered technician. The burocrathy has over roled the human solution by Symantec.
I have DSL, Internet, and Virus protection and, and........with Verizon I have immediately some one to see my problems.

[michellem99-2009]

I use McAfee. Keep it up dated. Use a fire wall. I am a home user. I have up date AnniVirus. I have alway used McAfee. I have never had a problem with my anti virus. program. With anti virus also a fire wall is a must.

[kesac4650]

I quit using Norton years back, when they decided not to keep the Operating System, that I had at the time current. They made the promise. They took my money, but along came a day, when they just quit. If they don't live up to their own promises, I will go somewhere else, with all my future money.

[hypnotoad72]

Why would anybody want a 'charm' to ward off viruses when antivirus products combined with common sense will do better? (Even with common sense, human nature is still inevitable and anyone who thinks any platform is immune is a fool.)

Also, the man who mismanaged IBM's OS/2 marketing division left to take over Symantec. Oddly enough, their products started going downhill after that point too.

When you invest lots of money in something, you don't want many failures. Needless to say, only professionals use Trend or Kaspersky antivirus suites. And I've been Norton-free since 2003.

[jimc52]

I was a Norton (Symantec) user until about 1-1/2 yrs ago when NIS 2005 conflicted with my creative soundblaster software...NIS would refer me to their tech article which told me to turn off and then on the soundblaster software. This did not work. Symantec was silent. So I wrote the the Chairman of Creative products with a real letter via snail mail to Singapore. Creative contacted me and put the heat on Symantec, but all Symantec did was play dumb...some support guy from Ireland wrote me one email asking me where their support document was for the problem!!!!!! I think I fell off my chair. These guys don'teven know where their own support documentation is...BTW this happened to all three of my computers at home, a conflict between NIS and Creative Go, as its called. The problem never went away...so I dumped Symantec. I have used Zone Alarm Internet SS instead it is a far superior product. THe problem with NIS is that it won't block root kits and does an extremel poor job of detecting trojans. Symantec, with their big corporate mentality and arrogant indifferences won't ever get my business back.

[jimc52]

I was a Norton (Symantec) user until about 1-1/2 yrs ago when NIS 2005 conflicted with my creative soundblaster software...NIS would refer me to their tech article which told me to turn off and then on the soundblaster software. This did not work. Symantec was silent. So I wrote the the Chairman of Creative products with a real letter via snail mail to Singapore. Creative contacted me and put the heat on Symantec, but all Symantec did was play dumb...some support guy from Ireland wrote me one email asking me where their support document was for the problem!!!!!! I think I fell off my chair. These guys don'teven know where their own support documentation is...BTW this happened to all three of my computers at home, a conflict between NIS and Creative Go, as its called. The problem never went away...so I dumped Symantec. I have used Zone Alarm Internet SS instead it is a far superior product. THe problem with NIS is that it won't block root kits and does an extremel poor job of detecting trojans. Symantec, with their big corporate mentality and arrogant indifferences won't ever get my business back.

I have been using Norton AV CE for several years and never ever had any problems with it and you can't even tell its running in the background. It will catch every virus that enters my system and I pretty much live worry free except for the adware/spyware that I run across and in those cases I use Adaware, my system also runs HiJackthis daily checking for startup info either in the registry or a global startup (XP)I am very pleased with it

I have been using Norton AV CE for several years and never ever had any problems with it and you can't even tell its running in the background. It will catch every virus that enters my system and I pretty much live worry free except for the adware/spyware that I run across and in those cases I use Adaware, my system also runs HiJackthis daily checking for startup info either in the registry or a global startup (XP)I am very pleased with it

[matisyahu3]

When will people stop with the whole, "Get a Mac" junk. The only reason viruses don't work for Mac's is because nobody in the world owns a mac so a hacker isn't going to waste his/her time with them. Once more people use mac's then viruses will follow after, so just keep an ibm based computer and deal with the viruses because the law of life will follow. Dam.ned if you do, Dam.ned if you don't

[inventagod2]

My recent experience with Symantec was a notice that I had too many licensed copies on my computer, and they shut off my protection and service.
I had ONE copy, and this happened three months after I purchased that copy directly from Symantec. All previous purchases had been from stores like Circuit City.
All emails, with copies of my receipts, to the company showed no care from customer service, absolutely NONE.
I uninstalled the software following their corporate circle-jerk.

[oleander8]

This isn't news or even commentary - this is an advertisement. I hope CBS charged the author.

[rikedoid]

I would not buy it personally - I've worked on enough of their stuff to know that much. How much "consideration" did the writer receive?

Previous commenters are correct.

[saransk]

I have resisted the adds to upgrade to "360" after the disaster that "Internet Security" was. I'm glad to see that Parental controls are optional because even disabled, "Internet Security" would slow down start up for minutes at a time downloading new files. While the "Anti-Virus" package still works well, and is relatively small, much of Symantec's packages are "Bloatware."
We use the corporate package at work and I have to agree that "Tech Support" is an oxymoron at Symantec.

[spredbury]

I was a avid Norton user for many, many years both in the home and corporate domain but just got tired of the endless problems created by their products. It seemed like I was spending more and more time fixing problems created Norton and tech support was not what I would call adequate. In fact I would say it was pretty bad. I dreaded the installation of an update because something would usually be hosed up after installation of the update. These updates became an exercise in frustration. Norton may have created a safe environment but the cost was too high for me and I am an experienced IT user. I can only imagine was the novice user was going through. I removed a newly purchased copy of Norton and installed McAfee which has performed very well, cost less, and has more features.

[spredbury]

I was a avid Norton user for many, many years both in the home and corporate domain but just got tired of the endless problems created by their products. It seemed like I was spending more and more time fixing problems created Norton and tech support was not what I would call adequate. In fact I would say it was pretty bad. I dreaded the installation of an update because something would usually be hosed up after installation of the update. These updates became an exercise in frustration. Norton may have created a safe environment but the cost was too high for me and I am an experienced IT user. I can only imagine was the novice user was going through. I removed a newly purchased copy of Norton and installed McAfee which has performed very well, cost less, and has more features.

[alphaa10-2009]

This review is the kind OEMs love-- few comparisons to other programs, just a quick, self-satisfied recitation of attractive features. Magid's review tells us quite little, in comparative terms.

And what Magid never mentions is the horror of the Symantec corporate website, a trackless wilderness never intended for technical support-- or any other support, for that matter. Searching with likely key terms brings few hits, making this site almost as bad as Microsoft's. The last time I checked, there was no obvious means of reaching an intelligent human being via the website.

This is normal behavior for Symantec. The merchanising monolith began with purchase of a database program called "Q&A" back in the 1990's, and has remained largely a front end ever since, developing little or no technology of its own. Symantec believes the best model for its business is not close customer support, but a faceless vending machine.

Symantec may not develop much, but is a past master at buying up other companies-- especially competitors. Worthy rival PowerQuest software, out of Orem, UT, was a bit too successful for its own good. Symantec bought the company outright, fired almost everybody, and tried to bolt the PowerQuest technology to its own, with quite unsatisfactory results.

Symantec products look attractive, make all the right claims-- but beware if you encounter a malfunction. And you will...