Symantec Norton 360 All-in-one Security Review

Overall Rating

Symantec provides an online instant messaging chat system to talk in real time to a technician if you have any technical issues with the product. Norton 360 comes with a dedicated protection section just for banking security to ensure that all of your online banking is as secure as possible from online predators. There is also an online storage facility that allows you to store up to 2GB of data (more can be purchased) on a norton server. As for how protected your information is while uploading it to the server and when it is actually in the hands of norton is yet to be disclosed? Norton is basically giving this product away as it can be brought at some retailers for $69 and you fill out an online rebate form when you get home and in 6 weeks, you get a $50 rebate cheque in the mail, thus only costing you under $20 for a high quality anti-virus.

Norton 360 does not scan network drives so if you have a home or small office network, you will have to ensure that norton is installed on every computer for maximum protection. Thus, each computer will install their own automatic virus protection updates which can be rather large files that over a month can quickly eat into your internet's download limit. You can not schedule a time to check for updates or scan your hard discs as it is pre-programmed to do all of its functions when your computer is left idle for an extended period of time. It takes a considerable amount of time to run a system scan if you manually order one for maximum protection (120GB = 1 Hr).

Norton 360 All-in-One security is an all round computer protection program, hence the 360. It is an anti-virus with automatic virus updates and local hard disc scanning. It protects against fraudulent and phishing websites with its real-time internet examiner and a firewall with several configurable internet protection rules. There is also an automated tuneup capability where the program removes temporary internet files, temporary windows files and then runs a disk defragmenter for you. It also has an email scanning function where incoming emails are scanned for viruses but once in your inbox, it automatically moves spam emails to a norton anti-spam folder instead of cluttering up you inbox with viagra ads.

Norton 360 has a vast array of 'protective resources' ar its disposal but in saying that, barely any of them are able to be configured by the user to get the maximum protection out of the product. Additionally, the automated virus scanning when idle feature is a real concern as you could go all day with a virus ploughing through your computer and it would not find it until you leave your computer on for the night when you go home and by then, it could be too late. Additionally, the inability of scanning network drives in today's technological age is almost unacceptable and I bought a new anti-virus on that premise but if you have only one computer in you home and you are not an internet junkie, thus vastly increasing your risk of obtaining a virus, then this is the program for you.

Members' Comments onkracker's Review

• paperman448 on 10th Apr 2009

  I agree with this review because...i have it on my pc ,very happy with it