Norton Internet Security and SystemWorks 2006
Richard Price
February 2006
 It was with some trepidation that I decided to install Norton Internet Security 2006. I had enough problems trying to upgrade to Norton SystemWorks 2005 some time ago, so I was not looking forward to it.
The installation was pretty painless, straightforward but very longlong.
Sure, my Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook, running Windows XP, is no longer top of the range, but it still does the job — and I like it.
I was surprised to see NIS installed easily enough and seemed to integrate well with the older SystemWorks 2005 already on my system.
Surprised because I remember it took three attempts before I could get Norton SystemWorks 2005 to install a year ago.
The basic default setup for NIS 2006 runs itself after a few mouse clicks. A pre-scan is recommended but I didn't bother.
Installation was slow and I found the program slow to use. I also spent a lot of time browsing the internet with NIS 2006 turned off because of the annoying alert messages.
For instance, I run virus scans daily and always scan incoming mail. I don’t scan outgoing mail, so turned that option off. Norton now insists on reminding me I have a problem that needs urgent attention just because my outward mail is not being scanned.
NIS2006 is a decent upgrade for diehard fans. It does a good job of protecting against spam, deceptive pop-up windows and other internet threats.
My browser of choice is Firefox, which has its own pop-up blocker, and I use Thunderbird for email — neither of which troubled NIS 2006.
NIS 2006 comes with quite a few features including the ubiquitous Norton AntiVirus. Security Inspector tracks down security weak points, including potential password problems. Home Page Hijacking Protection stops rogue sites from changing the default home pages of unsuspecting users.
After installing NIS 2006, I decided to upgrade my old version of Norton SystemWorks to Norton SystemWorks 2006.
SystemWorks 2006 is a comprehensive set of security and maintenance tools including CleanUp, Norton Antivirus, GoBack and Utilities.
The single control centre for the different programs is convenient, but a little on the clumsy side when it comes to navigating through the options.
Installation was painless, and again the program integrated itself with NIS 2006.
Does anyone really need to install both these programs? Certainly not, in fact installing both is probably bound to cause problems as they both include Norton AntiVirus. One or the other will do the job.
After checking that SystemWorks 2006 was functioning, I deleted NIS 2006 using the Windows Control Panel thinking it would leave SystemWorks 2006 intact. After all they show up as two separate programs.
After my system rebooted, I noticed Norton AntiVirus was now missing completely. I reinstalled it using the SystemWorks 2006 disk.
After another lengthy procedure I rebooted the system --- this time to find that Norton GoBack had gone.
I had been meaning to delete it anyway as I have never used it.
For users needing a good AntiVirus program with a number of extras thrown in Norton SystemWorks 2006 fits the bill.
Anyone installing the complete works should be prepared to spend some time fine tuning all the monitoring options to get the most out of it.
I would recommend just installing Norton AntiVirus. It’s probably all the average user needs for peace of mind. The LiveUpdate feature looks for and downloads the latest AV definitions automatically when logged onto the internet.
Most computer magazines have more technical reviews regarding security software, and a quick browse through the internet suggests the more techno savvy are using alternative programs.
I have used Norton products for years, and this is a decent upgrade. However, I am now considering the alternatives.
By Richard Price, Editor EnergyME.com
For information on getting a product reviewed email richard@energyme.com |
