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115 of 121 found the following review helpful:
 Slows down Windows, BUT... Oct 28, 2006
By sedonaman
I received this product on Oct. 26,2006 and have been using it for only three days, so my observations are a little limited.
I successfully installed the program and created an account with Symantec -- no problems there. It ran a full system scan and found and removed some problem files. However, as another rater posted, it slowed down Windows to an agonizing crawl (it took over a minute just to launch an application). Every click of the mouse key meant at least 20 seconds for Windows to respond.
Disappointed and wondering if I was going to have to invoke Symantec's warranty of a 60-day refund if not satisfied, I uninstalled the program. With Norton gone, Windows ran FASTER than before I had installed Norton! It must have cleaned up something.
So, I went to Symantec's site and found their "FAQs" (had to use their search engine to find them) and looked for a problem similar. There was one, and it said that my system might not have enough memory. I checked the system requirements on the box, and it said 256M required, and I have 2G. I re-installed Norton (no problems), let it run a full system scan, and began experimenting by disabling all except the basic feature. Windows ran normally. I then added features back (by checking the appropriate box) one at a time and discovered the most resource-consuming routine is the Automatic Updates. I'm not sure, but it seems that the speed of your internet connection would affect this also (I have a high-speed connection).
With the automatic update disabled, I ran a full system scan again, and it found one virus. Windows now runs normally, and I'm satisfied. Will just have to remember to run the updates periodically.
Update: No need to remember to run updates periodically. It has a feature that reminds you when Symantec has an update ready.
Update #2: Some virus must have gotten by this program because only about four months into the subscription, I got the "blue screen of death." The computer would not load Windows, but it would let me run it in Safe Mode. I could not solve this problem and called in an expert. He was not able to solve it either. I ended up builting a new computer, but this time I installed AVG (free) anti-virus, the one the expert recommended. It seems to work better than Norton.
139 of 152 found the following review helpful:
 Gulping the Kool Aid on this one Nov 03, 2006
By Hal
Gotta admit I am one of those who think the only 100% secure computer is unplugged. But even then somebody can break into your home or business and steal it...so I guess I should make that 99.9%. Therefore I am not in the habit of giving 5 stars to any security program, but I am taken by this one.
Though everyone needs security, it's easy to go overboard and make the cure far worse than the potential disease.Have heard horror stories about past Norton interfaces and programs. If true, they sure have changed.
I am always happy when a suite installs easily and remains conflict free. In fact I move to the security suite approach years ago, due to conflicts I experienced with separates.
Folks I symathize with any and all sorts of installation problems...they happen...but everybody should know to uninstall all their security programs ...then restart the computer...before they install a new security suite.
I use spysweeper. Uninstalled. Restarted. Loaded the suite. Reinstalled spysweeper. No conflicts. Have since dropped spysweeper because I don't think I need it (never finds anything but cookies on my system..and there are better ways to get rid of those)
Anyway, I was a Trend Micro PC Cillin user for many years. Had problems...many problems...with their 2007 version. Think they pushed it to market too soon.
Tried Kaspersky's internet suite. And liked it very much, though it tugs on your sleeve often with shield popups ( at the more secure settings). My only small problem with K was a sharp reduction in my broadband upload times...most probably due to their excellent http buffering scans. That problem might vanish in the new build which will be free to suscribers. I was going to hang on to K, and then I read a rave review in PC Magazine for the new 2007 Norton security suite build. Symantec has almost always tested well, but been far from user friendly. At least that was the rep. But I decided to give the 2007 suite a spin.
One factor was their "intelligent" shields. Perhaps due to their work with Sygate (Symantec had purchased them). You do have the option of having the program inform you about programs seeking outbound traffic...and then making the decisions yourself...but they recommend delegating that responsibility to the resident expert (Symantec). Allowing them to decide. And if the PC Magazine's test are any guide, they decide very skillfully. Allowing the legit to pass...but smothering the malicious. The program protects itself and the rest of your computer very well.
There was a big green Norton antiphishing bar on IE7 once I installed...but that was easy to remove from the Explorer tools..and the phishing protection still runs in the background.( and accoridng to PC Magazine is best of breed. Just as this suite was the first to identify and remove every one of their test keyloggers).
The primary program module is elegant in its simplicty and very easy to navigate. Stays out of your face. But has a complete array of information and settings
I set up an automatic full system scan each day, and it opens a large window when it begins. But you can minimize and the program adjusts to your other computer activities while it scans in the background. My computer does slow down during a scan but the effect lessens as the scan continues. Then it just informs you of the results later. The average full system scan on my computer usually lasts about 25 minutes. Quick scans of critical areas are much faster.
I use autoupdates. Haven't experienced the severe slowdowns another poster mentioned. I'll sometimes do a manual update at the end of the day.
I don't even know the autoupdates are happening, but the uneccessary manual ones do take a little longer than the other two suites...and sometimes require a restart.
In my opinion, all internet security suites will slow you down at least a little. None have what I would call a feather light touch. But again, this suite does not slow down my system much at all. Can still do all I want to do.
You have to manually set the antispyware system to go after low risk items (soemtimes a cookie or two). It doesn't do that by default.( which me, I applaud)
Antispam, Ad and popup blocking, ( none of which I use); and privacy controls (which I do use) are free add ons...available for download on the Symantec site....kinda hard to find though.
In summary, I like the interface. I am confident in the protection. And I really like that I don't usually even notice the program is there.
I run this suite behind a hardware firewall (just an extra levee...belt and suspenders); and I feel about 99% secure.Doubt if I will ever make it to that last 1%...but I feel that way in the bathtub too. VBG
Of all the suites I have used over the years, this is my favorite. Just thought I would share my opinion...FWIW. Best of Luck to All.
24 of 25 found the following review helpful:
 Lies, Lies and more lies! Apr 13, 2007
By Victor
"Are you absolutely sure there are no absolutes?"
This review is more of a warning then a review. I just want those of you who are thinking of buying this product to know a few truths before you take the dive.
Lie number 1: This edition say that you have the right to use it on three different computers for a year. This is a lie! I have spent hours on the phone with Symantec's "Tech Support"(LOL!)and I have been told repeatedly by customer service reps of all levels that the term "3 USER" as stated on the box, actually means "3 Activations". What this means is that if your Windows OS crashes and you have to reinstall Windows and NIS 2007, or if you have to reinstall NIS 2007 for any reason what so ever, you have to reactivate the installation and Symantec counts that as a different computer. To give you an example, I will tell you what happened to me. I have a desktop and my daughter has a laptop. I bought NIS 2007 and installed it on both. 2 weeks after I installed NIS 2007 on my desktop, my hard drive went out and I had to buy a new one and install Windows and NIS 2007 (reactivation required) on it. About a month later I bought a laptop for my self and when I tried to install NIS 2007 on it, it would not let me activate it. I spent two days arguing with symantec about it, but they would not back down. When I explained to them that I had to reinstall the program because of a hard drive failure, they just kept saying that I needed to buy an new copy. So they are lying when they say you can use this program on 3 computer for 1 year, because as any PC technician will tell you, PCs and Windows are riddled with errors and require repair all the time, sometimes multiple times a year. Symantec does not have the right to arbitrarily redefine commonly used terms to their own liking, so what they are doing is not only lying, it is false advertising, and that is illegal. Anyone want to join me in a law suit?
Lie number 2: According to a statement from a Symantec CEO published in the PC World Magazine. NIS 2007 has been rebuilt from the ground up and is 30% faster than previous versions and it uses 30% less systems resources. I have been a NIS user ever since the 2002 version. I am a A+ certified PC technician and I routinely measure the system resources consumption of major programs that load on Windows start up. I would have to say that NIS 2007 uses about double the system resources as NIS 2006. It adds 30 seconds to 1 minute (sometimes much more) to your system start up time depending on the speed of you system. I have noticed very little change in it's scanning speed, but I can say that it not any faster then 2006. My daughter's laptop is an older Celeron laptop. It ran fine with NIS 2006 installed. After installing NIS 2007, it has slowed to a crawl. There is even typing lag when typing in WORD. It now takes her laptop over 6 minutes to just start up. My brand new Core 2 Duo laptop with 2 gigs of DDR2 ram takes over 4 minutes start up with NIS 2007 installed. Another problem with this program is that it does not know how to share. Every time you start your system up, it checks for updates and installs them. During this process which can take several minutes, NIS will consume almost 100% of you CPU's resources. Most people are oblivious to what's going on because it's being done in the background. What they do notice though, is that it takes 2 minutes to start up Internet Explorer from the time they click on the big blue "e" icon. Your system will be basically locked down during this update process and you had best sit back and relax and let it finish. Trying to do anything else during the (Daily) NIS 2007 update process will just prolong the process and possible lead to a system crash.
Just know that you had better have a really fast computer to run this program.
My last warning to you is that Symantec has no Tech support to speak of. Most companies at least have a user based help forum where their product users can get together and help each other, but not Symantec. I guess NIS 2007 protects your computer alright, but you had better pray that you don't have any problems with it, and God forbid you should have to reinstall it.
The bottom line is that Symantec does not back up what they say or the product they produce. You have been warned!
17 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Parents who use the parental control please read this Dec 05, 2006
By J. P.
I read all the reviews and decided to purchase Norton 2007 Internet Security anyway. I have used Norton products for more than 10 years and thought "It will be just as good or better than the 2006 version. I was wrong.
I will focus on 1 item only: Parental Control
I installed Norton 2007 and went to the Symantec website to download the parental control module (Having to go to the website instead of it being an option on the install disk was one of those negative changes between 2006 and 2007 versions).
I used the set-up function and immediately began to see the more significant changes that dramatically lowered my opinion of the 2007 version.
1. Web activity log is no longer there. I use the web activity log as a cross reference to the restrictions log to see what my teenage children were looking at when they "hit" a restriction. Often restrictions are simply undesired advertising for dating websites that are on the innocent web-pages. By eliminating the web activity log I also do not have every website visited because the converse is also true concerning not so innocent websites that are not restricted. I surely hope that Norton brings this back in 2008 or I will simply drop them altogether.
2. Instead of individual levels for each child there is only one general setting level. You can set everyone to child or teenager or adult. Stupid move. I have a 13 year old, older teenagers and my wife each having several accounts. I want to set up individual accounts for each like in the 2006 version. Norton really screwed up.
I consider both of these issues to be "killer" issues and uninstalled the 2007 version, reinstalled the 2006 version and re-subscribed for another year. I will use this year to investigate other internet security products so that I am not relying on Norton as my preferred software. Unless Norton fixes these issues I will not purchase Norton again.
PS. Besides all the above I had many installation issues that are well reported below in other customers reviews.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
It isn't worth 0.02 cents! May 23, 2007
By J. Hill
I own a computer repair business, and I get a kick out of scanning virus-infected computers that have this worthless software on it. If you think the program is doing its job, and catching all of the bad stuff, think again! It doesn't catch a tenth of the stuff out there, and is also a resource hog that slows down some computers to the brink of crashing. Not to mention it has an acute knack for killing internet connections from time to time even after you've supposedly disabled the program firewalls. Don't waste your money!
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