Norton Internet Security

Norton internet security is a well established brand that is available for purchase to ensure the security of your computer. Norton packages range from $39.99 to $79.99 depending on the features that you choose. There are three packages available: the Norton internet security package for $59.99, Norton 360 Version 2 for $79.99 (which has the added advantages of drive defragmentation and file repairs), and Norton Antivirus 2008 for $39.99.

Symantec recommends the $59.99 pack, which gives you access to internet security for up to three computers in your household. It offers antivirus as well as spyware detection, in addition to a two-way firewall that can prevent unauthorized access to potentially harmful websites.

The Norton internet security package also comes with Antispam and well as Parental Controls, which enable you to child lock your computer and ensure that young users at home do not have access to inappropriate online content. The Norton internet security package is compatible with both the Home and Premium Editions, as well as the Business and Ultimate versions, of Windows Vista and Windows XP (Service Pack 2 is required).

Symantec's software package also provides email scanning features as well as instant messenger scanning for AOL, Yahoo!, MSN, and Trillian instant messenger, as well as for email clients that are compatible with POP3 and SMTP support.

There is also the invaluable phishing protection offered for your online activity, although it is only compatible with two browsers at the moment, Microsoft Internet Explorer (6 or higher, 32-bit only), and Mozilla Firefox (version 2 or higher), so users familiar with Opera or Netscape as browsers or Google mail and Gtalk may not benefit from the email and instant messaging scanning features.

Norton internet security also helps you to protect yourself against online identity theft by guarding your system against phishing attacks and hackers. The anti spyware option also ensures that no malicious software can covertly install itself on your system.

Like other internet security providers, Norton has also stepped up its performance standards, and scans and other processes are much faster in the new internet security pack than they were in earlier versions. Norton internet security also monitors both email and instant messaging for viruses and spyware to give you further protection for your system.

Norton has also got its own patented technology for detecting rootkits in your system. Rootkits are devices that affect your operating system in a manner that makes malicious software (malware) and spyware undetectable in your system's processes, and help to conceal such installations so that you are unaware of their presence.

One of the flaws in the Norton Internet Security package is that it can be difficult to uninstall it from your system once you have set it up. Features such as email scanning can be temporarily deactivated, but the program itself does not come with an uninstall option, and is likely to keep giving you reminders about upgrading or renewing your account.

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