Symantec Norton security products: easy-to-use, comprehensive protection for novice and expert alike

In “Designing your own computer security architecture for total protection”, we saw that total protection requires a combination of software (hardware), procedures, policies and common sense. Unless you’re a computer expert, however, it can be difficult and time-consuming to evaluate products from various vendors, install them, and make sure that they all work together. A far easier solution could be to purchase one of the all-in-one security suites or at least purchase all or most of your security products from a single reputable vendor. Here we profile the products from Symantec.

Norton 360 Version 2.0

“With this suite you get top notch security without getting your hands dirty.”

--- PC Magazine

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, then consider Norton 360 Version 2.0. This product is perfect for families as with a single subscription up to three PCs are protected, it’s easy to install and intuitive to use, and it protects against a wide variety of threats.

Recommended by C‌Net

In an independent review, CNet had this to say:

“For home and student use, we think Norton 360 represents the best value for ease of use, tools offered, and overall system performance. We recommend it over McAfee Total Protection and Microsoft Windows Live OneCare.”

Norton 360 has won the Editor’s Choice awards from PC Magazine, CNET, and Laptop Magazine. Its main features are:

• PC protection: virus, spyware, and firewall protection
• Identity protection: Norton 360 verifies trusted Web sites, blocks fake ones and securely manages user names and passwords so that your family can safely shop, bank, or browse online.
• Multi-layered security: Norton 360 uses several different layers of security technologies. This is a sensible strategy (see recommendation #5 in “Designing your own computer security architecture for total protection”). Norton 360 includes signature-based and behavioral based antivirus and antispyware modules, a firewall, intrusion prevention, browser protection and a vulnerability assessment tool that tells you which Windows updates your computer might be missing.
• Automatic: Norton 360 is almost completely automatic. It runs all scans and protective tasks during the computer’s idle time, halting when you start using the computer again and picking up later where it left off. It’s even smart enough to pause when the system is running on battery power.
• Performance: compared with previous editions of Norton Internet Security, which tended to be very heavy, Norton 360 feels light. In independent tests, ZDNet found only three processes running on the task manager, compared with several from McAfee and Microsoft.
• System tools: Norton 360 also helps keep your PCs running at peak performance and protects your data by making it easy to automatically back up and restore files locally or to Symantec’s secured online storage service. If you’ve ever lost data, then you know what a godsend this can be.

Norton Internet Security 2008

Norton Internet Security 2008 offers protection similar to that offered by Norton 360, but is designed for use by more sophisticated computer users. Key features are:

• Spyware protection
• Antivirus
• Antispam and Parental Controls (option)
• Two-Way Firewall
• Advanced Phishing Protection
• Intrusion Prevention
• Rootkit Detection

Improved accuracy

In testing by PC World, Norton Internet Security 2008 was the only suite that didn’t cry wolf by reporting at least one false positive. It detected an above-average 91 percent of AV-Test.org’s 674,589 malware samples. The Symantec suite also excelled at eliminating infections. It cleaned 80 percent of all files and Registry entries added by malware.

Since Symantec integrated cutting edge rootkit and behavioral monitoring features, Norton Internet Security 2008 is also a top performer at fighting rootkits – malware designed to hide other malware – and in testing by PC World was one of only two programs to detect and block unidentified malware based solely on the way it behaved.

Sheer performance

The product runs noticeably faster than previous versions. In testing by PC World, on-demand (user-initiated) scans were more than 50 percent faster with Norton than with the next-fastest suite.

Wireless security

Norton Internet Security also offers network security monitoring to protect your wireless network. A warning is displayed when the suite detects an unencrypted wireless connection

Norton AntiVirus 2008

For world-class virus detection, Norton AntiVirus is still the security suite of choice. It’s the only antivirus software with over seven years of consecutive VirusBulletin 100 detection awards. Moreover, the product now offers protection against spyware, worms and rootkits, as well as a host of new features and improved performance. Norton AntiVirus 2008 scans and cleans not only email but also instant messaging attachments from MSN, Yahoo, AIM, and Trillian.

Key features include:

• Antivirus
• Antispyware
• Internet Worm Protection
• Rootkit Detection

Improved performance

Norton AntiVirus 2008 offers much better performance than previous versions. A new, faster scanning engine minimizes the impact on your computer's resources, so you can continue using your PC and the Internet without disruption and without having to respond to confusing security alerts.

Sophisticated new features

Norton AntiBot

Norton AntiBot is an excellent complement to your existing signature-based malware and antivirus protection. It uses a behavior-based heuristic detection system that constantly analyzes the behavior of files and applications. Previously unknown and otherwise invisible malware is tracked and eradicated as soon as it exhibits harmful behavior. Like an FBI profiler, Norton AntiBot analyzes a collection of distinct behaviors and creates a composite profile to identify the bad guys (and only the bad guys). PC Magazine, tested the system against 20 malware samples, including adware, spyware, Trojan horses, rootkits, and rogue antispyware, Norton AntiBot scored 7.1 out of 10, and it got the same score in a separate test using commercial keyloggers. Moreover, the Norton AntiBot gave no false positives.

Norton Confidential

Norton Confidential is the perfect solution for protecting your identity when you’re engaged in online banking or shopping. It protects you in three ways:

• Antiphishing: Norton Confidential identifies known and suspected fraudulent websites, verifies and authenticates valid web sites and intercepts phishing email.
• Protection against crimeware: Norton Confidential prevents theft of passwords and private information that you enter at a secure site. When you connect to a secure site it scans memory to make sure no “crimeware” is actually running. If Norton Confidential finds a problem process it attempts to terminate the process and delete its executable files. Failing that it interrupts your login with a warning and asks to reboot so it can delete the nasty files. As a last line of defense, Norton Confidential also uses a technique compared by Symantec to “radar jamming”. If a program tries to log keystrokes or snap screenshots it will get nothing but garbage.
• Personal password encryption: Norton Confidential uses the InfoVault – an automated repository for usernames and passwords – to encrypt and protect your passwords. When you log in to a secure site for the first time it offers to save the username and password. Next time you visit that site it can supply those details automatically provided you supply the master password. You can make it request the master password for every automated login, ask for it just once per session, or ask again after 15, 30, or 45 minutes of inactivity.

Conclusion

While selecting and using the leading product from each category has its merits, it can be expensive to separately purchase individual products (firewall, antivirus, rootkit detection, behavioral montoring, etc.). Moreover, managing a collection of different tools from multiple vendors can be difficult, time-consuming and ultimately impractical. A better approach, for the vast majority of users, is to purchase an all-in-one security suite or several complementary products from a single, reputable vendor.