Norton Internet Security 2009
Manufacturer: Symantec Corporation Part number: 14125628
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Norton Internet Security 2009 hits all the right security notes and its superior protection technologies might even win back some jaded anti-Symantec folks, though for some technical support may continue to frustrate
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
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| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/07/2009 |
 | | In stock | as of 12/07/2009 OEM | |
 | | In stock | as of 12/07/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Norton Internet Security 2009 price range: $37.99 - $72.60
- Reviewed by: Robert Vamosi
- Reviewed on: 09/09/2008
- Updated on:09/11/2008
- Released on: 09/09/2008
The good: Internet Security 2009 has a leaner footprint, improved speed, white listing and other technologies to mark clean files as trusted, and free technical support.
The bad: Despite its free telephone support, Norton Internet Security 2009 lacks adequate online technical support and, either intentionally or not, drives users to its paid technical support services.
The bottom line: Norton Internet Security 2009 hits all the right security notes and its superior protection technologies might even win back some jaded anti-Symantec folks, though for some technical support may continue to frustrate
Editors' note: On September 11, 2008, we changed the rating of this product after ranking it against other 2009 Internet security suites and after completing additional customer service testing.
Symantec has been listening to its users, and this year the company delivers a slimmed-down and faster Norton Internet Security 2009. The suite of tools packs in the kinds of features people want most in an Internet security suite including some forward-looking technology. Almost all the security vendors have recognized the changing threat landscape and have rethought traditional protection. We especially like the Insight feature, which identifies "trusted" files and applications and doesn't waste time rescanning and rescanning them unless there's been a change. No other product does this. The redesigned logic behind Norton Internet Security clearly shows in CNET performance testing: it is faster and considerably lighter than last year's version, and even some standalone 2009 antivirus applications. And Norton continues to win awards in third-party effectiveness testing. Lagging behind, though, is Symantec's technical support. While Norton users now have free telephone support, Symantec still doesn't provide enough of a knowledgebase, or even an adequate user's manual. Once again, this year it emphasizes its premium services a bit too much. That said, Norton Internet Security 2009 presents a remarkable transformation of a product and is worth a second look.
Installation
On our test system we downloaded the 58MB final build of Norton Internet Security 2009 and installed the product within a minute. Instead of relying upon Microsoft's installer, which Symantec has blamed for much of its past product bloat, the company started over, designing its own installer. There is the added advantage that as criminals target MSI files (say to prevent you from installing a security defense product on your already compromised machine) Symantec won't be affected--for now. The new installer process works fast, borrowing streaming technology from its Norton Ghost product. Symantec says installation takes less than a minute, and they were right. On both Windows Vista and Windows XP test machines, we were up and running in one minute and without a reboot.
Should you want to uninstall, Norton includes an uninstall option. In the past, Norton left a mess. Now, after rebooting our machine, what is left behind is licensing information.
Interface
Speaking of a mess, we didn't like last year's Halloween colors on the user interface. This year's redesign is much cleaner and more sophisticated, one befitting a major security product, and the colors used on the Interface can be changed if you want. Also gone are the tabs reminding you that you can purchase other Norton products. Specific tools can be turned on and off easily without diving into the configuration settings. The configuration settings page itself is always one click below the main page. The interface also offers a pop-up dialogs to explain specific terms, although thorough explanations of the choice users have in changing the settings is still lacking.
In the lower left-hand panel are two bar graphs representing the overall Windows resources used and one for the specific resources used by the Norton product. Compared with the resources used reported within the Task Manager in Windows, we noticed a slight synch problem between what Windows reported and what Norton reported for the overall system. Symantec confirmed that while Norton Internet Security 2009 is looking at the Windows Task Manager, it is doing so at different intervals. We like the transparency, and think the presentation here is better than the line graphs used in some other security applications. Should you want line graphs, an icon will reveal how the system and Norton CPU usage has been since the system was last rebooted.
Features
Norton has, in the recent past, included some sophisticated technology from its enterprise products, which is good because it's cutting-edge, but it's also bad, because it doesn't necessarily integrate with the product, nor is it necessary. In Norton Internet Security 2009, they seem to have found the right balance.
Whitelisting, the buzzword of security products for 2009, is included within the new suite, and by marrying it with other technologies, Symantec makes it more suited for the user. Files on a whitelist are deemed trusted, and thus do not need to be scanned as often. Not all "safe files" make it onto the whitelist. For those, Norton uses a community process, called Insight, similar to that used by other security products such as Haute Secure. The thinking is that if thousands of other people are using this suspicious file, chances are it's not a new piece of malware but a new application. On the other hand if only a few are using it, then maybe it's worth it to take another look to see if it's malware.
Norton enhances its home network monitor, giving you a system administrator's perspective on the relative health and security of all the computers within your home.
And Norton Internet Security 2009 brings back the concept of the Recovery Disk once popular in the early 1990s, but declines to include a backup solution (you'll have to buy another Symantec product for that).
Gone is the awful LiveUpdate component of past Norton products. With 2009 products, Symantec is providing antimalware definition signatures every few minutes or so. On the interface you'll see a notice indicating how many minutes since the last update. We didn't see definitions older than four minutes in our testing.
Missing still are the various security utilities provided in other products, namely McAfee Total Protection. We would like to see, for instance, a secure file eraser or the ability to trace potentially malicious IP addresses within Norton Internet Security. Nor is there any mobile-specific security solution provided within Norton Internet Security 2009.
Performance
In CNET Labs' performance tests, Norton Internet Security 2009, as a suite, scored better than some standalone antivirus applications on our test Windows XP systems. In third-party, independent antivirus testing using live viruses, Norton products have scored in the upper ranks, although not always in the top position. On the CNET iTunes test, Norton Internet Security 2009 scored close to the test system result at 272 seconds, 3 seconds faster than the standalone version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009. On the CNET Microsoft Office test, Norton Internet Security 2009 finished at a respectable 1,443 seconds, placing near the middle. In a test scanning a single folder with compressed and media files, Norton Internet Security 2009 came in at 202 seconds, which was the upper end of middle. In terms of boot speed, once again Norton came in fast at 33 seconds.
To find out how we test antivirus (and now Internet Security suite) software, see CNET Labs' How we test: Antivirus software page.
In terms of how well Norton Internet Security 2009 will protect your PC, we cite results for Norton Antivirus from two leading independent antivirus testing organizations. In the latest test results from AV-Comparatives.org, for on-demand scans Norton Antivirus 2008 earned an Advanced + (highest) rating, catching 97 percent of all malicious software tested. However, for the Retrospective/Proactive test, Norton Antivirus 2008 earned an Advanced rating,with Norton falling behind the others, proactively blocking only 18 percent of the "new samples" in the test. From CheckVir.com, Norton Antivirus 2008 received its Standard award.
In antispyware testing on CNET, Norton Antivirus 2008 scored in the upper half of our top 10.
Support
Symantec has dropped its overinflated per-call pricing schemes of the past; all regular telephone technical support calls are finally free. That's good. But its online manual and knowledgebase could be more robust, and an in program link to its community forums would be wise.
To take advantage of the free offerings, Symantec encourages users to use its One Click Solutions self-diagnosis tools first; that's understandable since common problems can be self-remedied. In our tests, however, after answering no to "Does this resolve your problem?" we still didn't get a telephone number, but an online form. Only after supplying a first name, last name, e-mail address, and phone (information you previously gave when setting up your Norton Account; why the two can't be linked is unclear) are you offered a help ticket along with an option for a free online chat, free technical support phone, or an e-mail address. Once contacted, a technician may remotely control your PC while you watch them solve your given problem.
Our first encounter with Symantec's technical support ended in frustration. Prominent on the technical support page and competing for prime eyeball space are Symantec's premium technical support services: Spyware and Virus Removal (prices range), PC Checkup Service ($29.99), Green PC Service ($14.99), and PC TuneUp ($69.99). These premium services are also mentioned when you call for technical support. But in subsequent testing, we found neither the call nor the chat technician tried to steer us toward these premium solutions. Of course that depends on what specific problem you have and which technician you get.
The Norton in-program Help is better than in past years. Within the Help file, more terms are explained and less jargon is used this year, but it's still not as thorough as other Help documents we've seen in competing products. And user options when changing configuration settings, long the bane of this reviewer, are once again not adequately presented to the end user: you still have to trust Symantec's opinion on many things.
And the 38-page online manual, although indexed, is not very comprehensive, and leans heavily toward installation and the creation of the Recovery Disk. Only by accessing the Symantec Web site do you see the free community forums. That's a mistake. Despite the company response that the Norton community forum is still in beta, these open communities provide more technical support than the canned responses offered through Symantec's One Click Solutions process.
Conclusion
Norton Internet Security 2009 hits all the right security notes and its award-winning protection technologies should start to win back even jaded anti-Symantec folks. We love its sleek build, performance speed, and array of quality security tools. Our only fault remains with the products lackluster online consumer technical support.
User reviews
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It just plain works.
by s-micheaux on September 10, 2008
Pros: Very quick to install. Very good price from the Norton site. PC runs very fast. Looks great. Caught and removed umpteen bugs missed by my last product recommended by CNET.
Cons: It's so automatic, and can't find anything I dislike so far.
Summary: This new version of Norton Internet Security is nothing like the one that came with my HP laptop (2007 version). It is very fast, never intrudes, and looks great with ...
Summary: This new version of Norton Internet Security is nothing like the one that came with my HP laptop (2007 version). It is very fast, never intrudes, and looks great with the new styling. It found 17 bugs sitting on my PC that a well known Russian product missed and could not remove. My system seems much quicker and more responsive now as well.
I emailed Symantec about a Firewall question, and they answered in two hours with advice - for free. Perhaps the CNET reviewer should reconsider his stingy score. Still, it is the readers and users of this excellent product that really matter, and not CNET staff.13 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Norton have a winner with this one. Congratulations.
by Peter Duminy on September 9, 2008
Pros: Superb graphical interface. Extremely fast surfing and scanning speeds. Great Firewall protection. Seems to catch every bug out there so far. Very light footprint and RAM usage.
Cons: Windows Mail on Vista won't integrate with the Antispam module. Updating can be a little slow at certain times.
Summary: We have been looking for a serious Internet Security program for our R&D facility here for months now. Many promised excellent performance and features. However, we found spyyare ...
Summary: We have been looking for a serious Internet Security program for our R&D facility here for months now. Many promised excellent performance and features. However, we found spyyare and slow website browsing to occur on many we tried. I was quite hesitant trying the new Norton 2009 application as previous versions were huge in size, and slowed even the fastest PCs down.
However, I am more than happy with this version. Norton have really hit the jackpot this time. It is remarkably fast at scanning and web surfing. The footprint is very small, and takes up little RAM. Protection against viruses and malware appears to be superb. Ram. I can only suggest to readers to give it a try. You may well end up purchasing it online. I sure did, and we couldn't be happier.10 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Greeeeaaaattttt buy!
by davidzimmern on September 9, 2008
Pros: Install was a breeze.
The UI is neat. Navigation is simplified
Scan and live update run so much faster than the previous versions.
Awesome protection against threats and viruses. ICons: I did not see any so far. And I agee with JGWentworth -- Vamosi has criticized Norton for something that is of not much relevance. This product is stellar.
Summary: Read the PC Magazine review for the specifics.
Summary: Read the PC Magazine review for the specifics.
9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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solid, stable and lightweight...very good i/s package
by thesplintercell on September 14, 2008
Pros: minimally invasive, very thorough protection, fastest of i/s suites
Cons: nothing.....yet
Summary: i have some sour memories from back in the day using symantec's products. i really don't know if it was a combination of badly written ms software, symantec ...
Summary: i have some sour memories from back in the day using symantec's products. i really don't know if it was a combination of badly written ms software, symantec software, or both. since the release of vista (primarily x64) i found my most stable OS of choice. it's also been a while that symantec's been making software for the windows platforms, and i recently have been using NIS 2008. i liked it a lot, didn't have any issues with it at all, so since it was time to renew, i found it to be a better deal to upgrade to NIS 2009 (for 2 years coverage) rather than just renew my subscription. based on the review i saw on pcmag about this suite, i decided to go for it.
after running for 1 week now: it is fast (faster running than any other i/s package i've used) and it's a very thorough i/s package. you'll find all the tools you need for a/v, firewall, antiphishing, antispyware, etc.
i used to use bitdefender (ironically, based on a cnet review)....what a pile of garbage that was (even the 2008 version, it slows things down a lot in xp and vista). also used mcafee, but not long enough to make a judgement call.
overall, i haven't seen any issues with this 2009 version and no issues is better than the opposite....so i'll stick with it.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Is this Norton Internet Security from Symantec ?!!?!?
by er.Ankur on September 12, 2008
Pros: Smooth superfast installation. No slowdown. Easy on resources.
Cons: None so far
Summary: This is the first time I'm writing online review for a Software product ?rather I'm forced to write this review for 2 reasons:
1. NIS 2009 deserves good ...Summary: This is the first time I'm writing online review for a Software product ?rather I'm forced to write this review for 2 reasons:
1. NIS 2009 deserves good rating.
2. I see few people are rating 2009 badly without even installing it just because their earlier experience with Symantec product was bad.
Just like many other people I had given up using NAV/NIS after having horrible experience with 2005 version. Later on my friends recommendation I had bought NIS 2008 version which worked quite well for me. I could see lots of improvements in 2008 itself so I decided to give another chance with 2009 versions. I downloaded it and straight away upgraded my current 2008 version. Installation was unbelievable and superfast. I just could not believe!!
Immediate thought that came to my mind was ?Is this Norton from Symantec?!?!?.
UNBELIEVABLE
User interface of this product is nice. It is easy to manage for an average computer user like me. The best part is .. It is working as company has promised!
So cutting long story short, I would recommend this product to all who are looking for a perfect internet security software.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Works well, light on resources
by davisdoc on September 11, 2008
Pros: WOrks well, stable, and appears to be effective.
Cons: None so far.
Summary: After using versions of Zone Alarm ISS for a few years, I dumped Zone Alarm one year ago after several months of watching version 7.0 slow down my computer ...
Summary: After using versions of Zone Alarm ISS for a few years, I dumped Zone Alarm one year ago after several months of watching version 7.0 slow down my computer and corrupt itself while tech support told me there was no problem. Norton IS from version 2007 on has been working just fine without slowing down my computer. The latest version works well, uses even less resources, and appears to be a great program. I use it in combination with threat fire and webroot spy sweeper and have been very happy thus far.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A great product for anyone
by Lerianis on September 10, 2008
Pros: Very quick scanning speeds, even on my drive full of zipped archives of pictures; extremely low memory usage for an 'all-in-one' security product; the addition of the 'trusted application' list is also a welcome addition
Cons: Nothing thus far.
Summary: This is an extremely good product for anyone who wants a 'set and forget' kind of Internet Security product. Sure, it doesn't use the 'minimalistic' memory and CPU power ...
Summary: This is an extremely good product for anyone who wants a 'set and forget' kind of Internet Security product. Sure, it doesn't use the 'minimalistic' memory and CPU power of some other products when scanning.... but then again, those products that do that usually are not very good themselves.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Sleazy "automatic renewal" policy
by andy2840 on January 27, 2009
Pros: Faster than previous version. Intelligently avoids rescanning files that haven't changed.
Cons: Deceptive charge and billing practices.
Summary: If you order your software directly from Symantec and choose the "download" option (and probably the package option also) you will be automatically enrolled in the "automatical renewal program" by ...
Summary: If you order your software directly from Symantec and choose the "download" option (and probably the package option also) you will be automatically enrolled in the "automatical renewal program" by which your credit card will be automatically charged again when your subscription expires. If this is explained before the purchase, it is done so in fine print that you will overlook (I didn't see any mention of it, and if I had I would've declined to purchase). Even after you've purchased, you have to look HARD to find the fine print that explains what you've agreed to.
If you want to opt out, there is an online form you must fill out, including your order number, serial number etc. But when you submit the form...GUESS WHAT? Symantec is "unable to process the form at this time".
Now THAT is SLEAZY. In my opinion, it's as malicious as a virus.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Charge extra to remove AntiVirus2008
by PapaBurns on January 11, 2009
Pros: Simple to install and easy to use. Does not slow system down as much as previous editions
Cons: It allowed AntiVirus2008 to infect computer. It would block AntiVirus2008 but not remove it. System scans did not show it. Contacted Norton and their "experts" would remove for a charge.
Summary: I have been using Norton's for years and have recommended to others. I thought this was one of their better products i.e. faster, easy install, east setup.
However, ...Summary: I have been using Norton's for years and have recommended to others. I thought this was one of their better products i.e. faster, easy install, east setup.
However, I learned do not trust a name or even past experience. Even though the subscription was maintained, liveupdate was run weekly, and a full system scan was run weekly AntiVirus2008 infected computer. Norton's did block it upon bootup burt it would not identify it on a system scan nor remove it. I contacted Norton's live chat and after some time they told me their experts could remove it for a CHARGE. I declinded and will remove it with something else.
New way to make money off us. Charge us for a program, and charge us for an annual subscription than design the program not to do what it was advertised to do and than charge us to fix the problem thyeir program allowed to happen.
Bottom line - why buy a internet security/antivirus program that does not do what is claimed.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Norton's Best Product To Date
by maurice--2008 on September 22, 2008
Pros: Easy To Install & Set Up.
Light On Resources
Easy To Use Interface.
I Used The Free Support & Found It Excellent.
Excellent Value For Money.Cons: Finding The Upgrade Link From 2008 Was a Challenge. Technical Support Sent A Link By Email After Contacting Them.
There Is No Advice To Warn Customers That They Must Uninstall Norton Anti Bot Before The Programme Will Install.Summary: I Like 2009 Because It Concentrates On Security Protection & Excludes Cleaners,Backup Facilities Etc Which Many Do Not Want (A Major Downfall Of Norton 360)
The Programme Works Seamlessly ...Summary: I Like 2009 Because It Concentrates On Security Protection & Excludes Cleaners,Backup Facilities Etc Which Many Do Not Want (A Major Downfall Of Norton 360)
The Programme Works Seamlessly With Ad Aware 2008 Pro Which Provides My Second Line Of Defence.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Symantec Corporation
- Part number: 14125628
- Bottom Line: Norton Internet Security 2009 hits all the right security notes and its superior protection technologies might even win back some jaded anti-Symantec folks, though for some technical support may continue to frustrate
General
- Category Security applications
- Subcategory Security - security suite
- License pricing Standard
Software
- License Type Complete package
- License Qty 3 PC in one household
- License Pricing Standard
- Platform Windows
- Distribution Media CD-ROM
- Package Type Retail
System Requirements
- OS Required Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2
- Min Processor Type 300 MHz, 300 MHz, 300 MHz
- Peripheral / Interface Devices CD-ROM
- System Requirements Details Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic - HD 200 MB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium - HD 200 MB, Microsoft Windows Vista Business - HD 200 MB, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate - HD 200 MB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 - RAM 256 MB - HD 200 MB, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 - RAM 256 MB - HD 200 MB, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2 - RAM 256 MB - HD 200 MB
Service & Support
- Service & Support New releases update
- Service & Support Details Virus definitions update - 1 year - availability: 24 hours a day / Monday-Sunday
Manufacturer info
- Symantec Corporation
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Symantec Corporation products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.symantec.com/
- Address:
20330 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-517-8000
