Norton 2010 hits the streets

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 09 September 2009 15:12

Business IT - Security

Most of the major security software vendors have rolled out their 2010 products. Now it's Symantec's turn with Norton 2010.

The features have been discussed previously thanks an extensive beta program, but the Norton 2010 security products are finally going on sale.

A key feature of Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus 2010 is Quorum, a technology targeting polymorphic viruses through a reputation-based approach that identifies unique or almost unique code.

Quorum also means that brand-new malware is likely to be detected without having to rely on behavioural protection, though the products also include Symantec's SONAR 2 behavioural security technology.

"The expanding number and sophistication of security threats can no longer be contained through signature files and behavioural heuristics alone," said Jon Oltsik, senior analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group, referring to Quorum.

"Symantec's reputation-based security technology for 2010 represents a new and important safeguard in a multi-layer antivirus defence. I believe it's likely that the internet security industry will be building on technologies like Quorum for the next ten years," he added.

Symantec claims the Norton 2010 products have performed well in testing by AV-Test.org and PassMark Software.

Norton Internet Security 2010 also incorporates a new "enterprise-grade" antispam engine, the Safe Web search result rating service, and an optional trial of OnlineFamily.Norton, which company officials describe as "a new Web-based service that keeps parents in the loop on their kids online lives and fosters communication about what’s appropriate and inappropriate behaviour on the Internet."

One-year subscriptions for Norton Internet Security 2010 cost $A99.95 for a three-PC licence. Norton AntiVirus 2010 costs $A59.95 for one year.

Current Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus licensees will be able to update to the new versions for the remainder of their subscriptions.

"All latest versions (2009, 2010) of Norton flagship products including Norton 360, Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus will be Microsoft Windows 7 compatible as of the general availability (GA) of the new operating system. Norton users of these products with a valid subscription will receive the compatibility updates delivered automatically online at no additional cost," Symantec officials said.