Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 16 January 2009 09:43
Opinion and Analysis
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The public beta of Norton 360 version 3.0, the “simplified” Internet
security package from Symantec has launched. It also includes backup
and tune-up services in addition to traditional AV and firewall
protection, while also including some of the features of Norton
Internet Security 2009’s including “super fast” installation and
performance characteristics.
With most of the world still not ready to move to Linux or Mac OS X, Windows PCs need Internet security software to stay protected from the vast multitude of threats that target it.
Symantec is still the most popular Windows security providers out there, and while it does offer “Norton Internet Security 2009” software for more advanced users, it has positioned Norton 360 as its “all-in-one” solution for Internet security, PC tune-ups and backups.
The latest version 3.0 of the software includes the “security and performance improvements” that were part of NIS 2009, adding to N360’s appeal and dramatically lowering the performance impact that Internet security software is traditionally known for imposing on PCs.
Part of the performance improvement includes a “one minute installation” which leverages imaging technology for super-fast installation, something that all software manufacturers should consider using.
Symantec is promoting its “Safe Web Shopping Safety” ratings, designed to help consumers “judge whether vendors are reputable before making a purchase by indicating whether sites are legitimate businesses, comply with good business practices, keep transactions secure and protect consumer privacy.”
Symantec says that “Norton Safe Web also offers accurate, up-to-date ratings that enable users to easily differentiate safe Web sites from malicious ones. Currently, Norton Safe Web is already providing site rating information for over 13 million search results per day to more than 100,000 registered beta testers.”
Whether Safe Web’s security checks are “live” as with those from AVG’s “LinkScanner” technology is not known as I write this article, and while Symantec do say its ratings are “up-to-date”, LinkScanner’s ability to check sites on-the-fly is something I hope Symantec will copy, if N360 V3.0 doesn’t already do so, given how quickly sites can be targeted and hacked by online criminals.
Rowan Trollope, senior vice president, Consumer Business Unit, Symantec said: “Our goal for this version of Norton 360 is to deliver comprehensive protection with zero impact on performance, so consumers can be productive online, backup their valuable data, and keep their computer running at peak performance. With Norton Safe Web, we are extending that protection to make shopping and other everyday online activities safer.”
Continued on page 2, please read on.
