Norton Internet Security 2009 Beta Impression
Back in the 90s, Norton was probably the only antivirus and system maintenance provider worthy to be used/installed on your computer. Back when I was still using my 486-DX266 (66-MhZ speed :D), I loved Norton Disk Doctor so much to keep my system healthy and optimized. Norton Antivirus was one of the best too during that time.
Only after new competitors came in, then I realized how Norton Antivirus had made my computer slow and bloated. I remember uninstalling my Norton Antivirus and how my sluggish computer suddenly got a boost of speed.
I then carried that judgmental thought up til today: “Norton is slow and bloated”. I decided that I shouldn’t be that judgmental towards Symantec anymore. Therefore when I saw a beta of Norton Internet Security 2009 that I can try for free, I decided to give Symantec a second chance.
Norton Internet Security 2009 Installation
The installation is a breeze and only took me around 1 minute!
There was not much settings needed during the installation apart from the program installation path, which made me worried (unless I missed the option somewhere).
My worry came true after looking how Norton Internet Security 2009 installed its toolbar on both my Firefox and Internet Explorer automatically!
The toolbar
Firefox Extensions
From Symantec’s official page about the toolbar:
The Norton Toolbar lets you know whether Web sites are safe or not. Green means that no phishing was detected on the site.
and
This area protects and secures your username and password. Plus, allows you to automatically fill in and save online form information for future use.
I don’t know… Unless I missed the option before the installation, I totally hate it when they force me (and you) to install their toolbars automatically like that.
And oh yeah, there was a crash after the installation on my machine. It’s a beta, so I won’t complain much here.
Click for a larger image
Some Norton Internet Security 2009 Features
- Norton Insight
It will automatically identify trusted files on your computer, so that they will not be required for any scanning. Scanning “safe” files will slow down your system for nothing, I guess. Although I’m not too sure how they justify that the so called “safe” files can never be infected from viruses.
Click for a larger image
- Network Security Map
It will let you know how secure your network is and details on the computers on your network.
You probably won't care with this feature as long as it says "Secure"
- All the standard of an Internet Security software, such as AntiVirus, AntiSpyware, Firewalls, Phishing, etc.
I don’t really understand how a phishing detection algorithm works, but I find it weird that a site that looks like this, is considered safe to surf (Notice the “green tick” sign saying that the site is safe):
That doesn't look like a legit site to me
- You can read for a complete new features on Norton Internet Security 2009 from its official page:
Other thoughts on Norton Internet Security 2009
I tried to do a scan of my computer but somehow nothing happened. I wanted to restart the application, but there is no “Exit application” option on both the main UI and the system tray icon. Ending it on my task manager gave me a “denied” error message. Restarting the computer fixed the problem though, so it may be because of the crash earlier after the installation
I also couldn’t open my blog anymore with Internet Explorer. It freezed whenever I typed in my URL It may have something to do with the toolbar installed, or may be not. Opening it on other browsers worked fine.
Norton Internet Security 2009 has a nice User Interface and Design (a change of UI again from its 2008 version). However, UI itself doesn’t justify software. Although it looks nice, Norton Internet Security 2009 Beta still has potential issues and problems here and there (hence, the tag “Beta”).
A good lookin UI
I haven’t noticed any slowdowns on my computer with Norton Internet Security 2009 Beta. Looks like Symantec has gone to the right direction, but not quite there yet. However, we can’t judge software based on its beta and I honestly haven’t done enough tests to justify this post (virus detection and removal capabilities, performance comparison, etc).
If you’d like to give it a try, head on to the beta site to download Norton Internet Security 2009 Beta.
As for now, however, I’ll safely uninstall Norton Internet Security 2009 Beta and go back to my Kaspersky Internet Security 
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Thanks for the heads-up Michael, however I don’t think I will be returning back to the Norton camp anytime soon. Bloated and resource hungry it was and not to mention conflicted with a couple of my frequently used apps. The hours of pain and suffering and dollars spent, has left a deep scar in this tender hearted geek….
I’ll stick to Avast. Besides being the opposite of all the aforementioned negative points of Norton, it’s FREE!!!!
Still using AVG….It’s free………
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Funny you are comparing Norton and Kaspersky here, Michael. I have just been going through an ordeal with my laptop and Norton and Kaspersky. Short story…Norton sucks! I started getting a few freaky things going on a few nights ago, and after trying to enlist Norton’s help to diagnose and fix, they ended up just offering me their $99 service to fix my system. Hello???? Weren’t they supposed to keep it virus free in the first place? I uninstalled Norton and installed Kaspersky, which then proceeded to find 12 trojans on my system. It removed everything and all seems much better now. Bottom line…I will never trust Norton again!
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I’m not trying it anymore….I’ve tried for short periods of time…in 2005,06,07,08………I’m done…….always some problem… Live update especially
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Norton ???
get real dude, they take too much with their price and you’ll get nothing with their product.
Norton is ridiculous! It slows down your computer to a crawl and I doubt this version will be any better. There are free alternatives out there that are 10x faster. I am sticking with my AVG, it works perfectly fine.
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Nice review Michael, I have always used Zonelabs Zonealarm for my interenet security and swear by it for ease of use and quality.
I’m glad to hear you note that Norton did not slow down your computer. That was one of their worst problems in this now competitive market. But they lost a lot of faithful users over the years because of the system drag. It will be hard for them to get those people back. Personally, I like Kaspersky. It’s not a drag on system resources for all it does.
personally I much rather go with bit defender…I tried Norton once, i think it was 2006. I was very dissapointed.
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I stick with Antivir.
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Mike,
I stopped using norton long back right now sticking with kaspersky.
Nice review
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For a yearly subscription product, Norton has not improved its service. I may consider using Kaspersky once my subscription is up.
Symantec has done a lot of work to improve Norton and one thing I really like about Norton is it’s user interface. I still hear a lot of people complaining about the system resources it needs. i don’t use Norton myself but would prefer it over Kaspersky. I have given Kaspersky a try but I was extremely disappointed with it. I use Checkpoint Systems ZoneAlarm which to me is just the best all-in-one security suite. They offer the best firewall out of all the products you can choose from and with the release of ForceField (you have to get that extra as it is not included in the suite) they do offer the best overall security for your system, at least in my opinion. One thing they could do is improve the user interface. I do like the work Symantec has done but Norton 360 seems to be a better overall choice as compared to Norton Security Suite 2008…that could change though.
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norton 2009 seems to be best antivirus programs.
it really good as compare to previous version of security programs
Well every one will definitely has different opinions on his/her best antivirus program
I myself have tried Avast, AVG, Nod32, and Kaspersky before. Kaspersky found me 4 more trojans on my computer than the other antiviruses (although technically we can’t prove that the so-called trojans are really real trojans)
Hey, I use Kaspersky Internet Security too! And yes, I understand - it’s really annoying when programs install toolbars without your permission. Usually, there’s always supposed to be a checkbox, and you might just miss it if you click “next” and “next” and so on without really reading.
Another annoying thing I find about Norton, is that with every Vista computer I buy, it just shoves a Norton Security trial in my face every time! Of course it takes minutes to uninstall, but at first you’re actually hopeful that you might get 60 days to try it out - until it starts asking for your address, credit card, etc.
And like you Michael, I too have used Avast and AVG. Avast was running at my computer for a long time, until there were problems which it couldn’t fix. So I installed AVG and that got the problem fixed! In the end though, I found that Kaspersky works the best out of them all. Funny how each antivirus finds something different, even if they’re not more expensive!
I still remember the time though when I downloaded the “Free Antivirus” that was really a virus all along… The trouble I went through to get rid of it! I never trusted the Internet again. Well, all right, just for a few days!
But the funny thing was, when I first found the “antivirus” in Google, right below it was an article about how that “antivirus” is really a virus - but I didn’t realize it was talking about the same program!
Just one thing I wanted to mention. Since most people dont know how Norton Insight works I just wanted to post a comment about that. The way it works is that it is monitoring files for any changes, so when the trusted files are changed by a virus or anyone else they are no longer in a trusted state. It also uses file signitures as well to find out who made the file, which are also invalidated when someone changes the files. Thus that is why the files can be skipped over during a virus scan.
I currently dont use Norton on my computer, but I am planing on giving NIS 2009 a try.
Seriously, for the detractors here…this version is insanely light for both memory usage and cpu on both my laptop and desktop. I have used nod32 smart security but as of late it is kind of lagging behind the other suites, so I have been trying out new ones like kaspersky and bit defender, and I decided “what the heck, I’ll try Norton” — and I have absolutely _hated_ Norton for exactly the reasons listed by others….it was bloated piece of crap.
However…I am amazed at how light of a footprint 2009 has! Checking my vista machine atm, it is taking up 4 mb of memory (which is almost unbelievable), where kaspersky with 2 processes took up about 28mb. Running a full scan in norton (minimized to lessen cpu usage) is imo a huge gigantic improvement over kasperky and BD (not to mention previous norton crap).
My advice would be to at least try it out…as I am really liking it so far in the performance an resource usage department it is blowing away kaspersky and BD (though I prefer the large amount of advanced user options in kasp and BD).
@Feabionsu: Well, you got what you paid for, basically lol
@ecctutor: Thanks for explaining that out. I guess I didn’t drill into that feature
@serenitynow: Hm I didn’t notice the memory usage. Did you use the Beta or the Final product? I was testing the Beta version, maybe they’ve improved it in the final?
Hey Michael, I am using the beta atm actually hehe. On my Vista laptop…checking now…I have 5.8 mb used by symanted service framework and (I forgot to include this before) 1.8 when i show processes from all users. Of course this is at idle but I remember when I was testing out Kasp it was like 26 or so just at idle. Any idea when the final version will be released?
That’s nice. As for the final version, sorry I don’t know
Looking at the Beta, probably not too long now. You’re going to buy one when it’s out?
Actually it just came out yesterday, mon 8 sep.
One thing I wasn’t aware of is that you can upgrade to the new version every year, provided your subscription is still valid. I always used to go out and buy a new version from the store, rather than renew the subscription - I thought a subscription only entitled you to definition updates and patches. But actually you can just go and download the trial version, and input your old product key to activate it as a full version.
I found a more detail description of how Norton Insight works for those of you who are interested on Symantec’s website:
http://community.norton.com/norton/blog/article?message.uid=20642#comments
@Guy: Ouch! Maybe you can sell your old ones away? As it can be upgraded to the most recent version anyway? Or you can give it to me if you don’t want them
@ecctutor: Thanks for sharing, buddy!
For those people that don’t like Norton, should give NIS 2009 a try. It is really improved a lot, no matter installation, un-installation, virus scan, live update. It uses a very small amount of system resource. Take a look those review:
http://www.geek.com/symantec-norton-internet-security-2009-is-zero-impact-security-20080526/
http://review.zdnet.com/internet-security-firewall/norton-internet-security-2009/4505-3667_16-33246586.html
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330018,00.asp
Seeing is believing.
Looks great. If only I can get the final product, I might install and do another review on it!
You can get 15 day trail version here:
http://shop.symantecstore.com/store/symnahho/en_US/ContentTheme/ThemeID.106300/pbPage.Trialware_en_US
I really wanted to like NIS 2009 after reading all the great reviews.
However, I don’t know if I can trust it.
I tested it with trojans that ZoneAlarm caught and Norton says the file is fine.
Since I had already uninstalled ZoneAlarm, I double checked the trojan-infected file with the Kaspersky online virus checker (http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus).
Anyone else notice this with trojans and Norton?
(If you want to test it, trojans can found by visiting certain pornographic sites or downloading key generators).
I’m not too sure, although last time I did notice Kaspersky detecting more trojans than NOD32.
The problem is, I’m not sure if it’s an actual trojan or just a false alarm