Norton Antivirus 2009 and Norton Internet Securithy 2009 final versons released

Read other posts as to why there is no reason for anyone to consider a Norton home product given (a) Symantec's **** record, and (b) the abundance of better products - or do you consider the fact that no Norton Firewall, for example, has *ever* reached an acceptable level of protection in *any* industry-accepted tests and challenges not relevant?

 

I have repaired more systems containing Norton products than I can be bothered to count.
I'm not saying NIS2009 isn't an improvement over 2008 but then it would *have to be* wouldn't it
After all, it's Firewall has a *warning* against it by reviewers 'DON'T USE!!!!'

My point is, there are far better products - freeware and subscription - that make Norton look like a Walmart clearance VHS machine.

 

I feel quite sad for your customers, if these exist at all.
Flexible as you are, I guess you tend to install software that's seven years old at least, to guarantee it's "tried and true"...

 

It seems to me that what you do know about Norton products would probably fit on the head of a pin. Norton AV 2008 and NIS 2008 was a good product and Norton AV 2009 and NIS 2009 are even better. I have found over the years that norton bashers usually know very little about the product they are bashing, they just jump on the band wagon so they are one of the boys.

 

They either take my advice to get rid of Norton or they keep it. It's up to them. But 99% take my advice on a choice of up to date and well reviewed security software.
Such as Comodo Professional Firewall for example. The *only* freeware Firewall (and one of only two Firewalls - freeware or subscription) that passes *every single* firewall challenge level, and gets over 90% in in every known test, and has a '10+ Excellent' rating.
Now that's an up to date product that makes Norton 2009 look like an East German 'Trabant' from the 1950s!

 

That is so true.

 

Is that why it doesn't pass more than 30% of tests for its Firewall protection and has a marker against by *all* FW specialists that says 'DON'T USE IT!'?

 

why? this is a free country, isn't it? Who give you this right to ban him?

 

There is no accounting for basic ignorance. But if you want to encourage people to live in a false sense of security - then go ahead.

 

This thread seems to have become a meaningless pissing match how pathetic.

 

One thing I've noticed over time is that when people rant (in person, in the media, or in forums) they generally just want attention and to stir things up. If you ignore their rants and continue with your own intelligent discussions/comments they will go away (because they aren't getting a response or rise from anyone).

 

I take it you are referring to Matousec's test. Well, that test evaluates the "HIPS" feature of a firewall more than the core functionality of the firewall itself. NIS 2009's firewall obviously does not have a HIPS feature, so it will not pass Matousec's test with flying colors. For basic firewall protection, however, NIS 2009 does the job, which is what most people really need.

 

...and is only as good as the donkey in front of the monitor...

I think you should know that leaktests are in fact completely worthless, but it seems you take them for real.
I guess this is the wrong thread for you.

 

All I will say is that I have used norton for decades and I just don't have any issues with it at all. It has always done what it is supposed to do.

 

You need to read that report in more detail.
HIPs is only one part of the tests. Please comment from having read it. It does *not* devalue a FW efficiency because of a feature that it doesn't contain - it assesses what it says it does and whether it achieves that. NIS 2008 FW doesn't achieve what it claims.

 

Well said infinityAZ.

 

If you don't care whether your machine has been hijacked and is being used as a bot infector - you are right they don't mean a damn thing. In that sense you have a lot in common with a city centre resident driving to the shops in a 3 litre 4x4 off road Juggernaut. If you don't feel any responsibility for anyone else in your net traffic (your friends, relatives, colleagues maybe when you email or IM them?) - then fine.

So put your thinking part back in and re-read the review:

"All the tested products have one common feature – the application based security model. In combination with their packet filtering capabilities, the tested products attempt to block attacks from other machines on the network as well as attacks performed by malicious codes that might run inside the protected machine. This is definitely not an unusual situation. People who use email clients, instant messengers, or web browsers face attacks that exploit the vulnerabilities in this kind of software very often. It happens that a malicious code gets inside the machine. And then it may try to install itself silently to the system, to steal users' data or sniff their passwords, or to join the target machine to the botnet. This is what the products we test, called personal firewalls, want to prevent. This is why they are used. The problem is that although the goal is common, not all the products implement a sufficient protection."

and

"So, what does it mean if the product fails even the most basic tests of our challenge? It means that it is unable to do what its vendor claims it can. Such a product can hardly protect you against the mentioned threats."

NIS 2008 doesn't pass those tests (actually quite badly) so "It means that it is unable to do what its vendor claims it can. Such a product can hardly protect you against the mentioned threats."

 

I am struggling to see what the last two pages of posts (at least) have to do with the original topic :|

Congrats to Norton on their release

Wonder what the UK pricing will be like...still not available here.

 

This whole statement is bullc***, and you know that!

 

True my dear little green skined man, but the 6 million dollar question today is, "What cha using right now?"

Come on folks, Norton is good, damn good. So good that in the next 2 years I see this as a 3 horse race of AV products based on resources, and that is what scares me.

 

Actually this entire thread needs a cleansing so that it can stay open for legit replies about Norton. It isnt right folks to do this. And I am sure, someone here will stomp a foot soon.

 

It's about helping NIS users to understand why they are so poorly protected.

 

If you chose to read about FW engineering you would know exactly the opposite of what you say is true and it is you attempting to spread BS.

 

Please stop.

 

Firewall engineering? HIPS features in a firewall won't help you after you're infected.