Customer Reviews

Norton Internet Security 2002

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

The best home Firewall software on the market. I've used Symantec products for 15 years plus, and this is but another of their fine packages. Be forwarned though, If you've already bought Norton AntiVirus 2002 or Norton SystemWorks 2002, you'll be getting a 2nd copy of Norton AntiVirus that is included in this package.
Symantec needs to forwarn folks about this.
As far as THIS title goes, however, I would highly recommend it. I've got a cable modem at home, and N. Internet Security has stopped EVERY hacker that attempted access to my system.
5 star software, folks!

I finally learned about trojan horses the hard way after I got my cable modem. Internet Security 2001 was the only thing that has totally safeguarded my system. Symantec stays up on internet threats and this is a product 100% worth upgrading every year. Don't mess around, because $... is nothing compared to the woes of your computer suddenly failing. Plus, the upgrade is only $11 per year after you buy the full package.
This version also includes the world standard for virus protection and, hallelujah, ad blocking for those annoying pop-up ads that just about everyone has now. As my mother might say, this product "makes your internet happy".

Norton Internet Security is an essential set of programs IF you 1.) have a PC w/internet connection, and 2.) are using Windows 98 3.) and cannot afford a hardware firewall. This review for all intents and purposes is based on compatibility with a Win 98 system. If you are using a different operating system, I recommend reading review from people using the same OS.

So why do I so highly recommed Norton Internet Security 2002 that I would give it 5 stars? I have NOT experienced any problems with stabilty and it is quite useful. It has 2 very important features for us internet users including VIRUS PROTECTION that is easy to update and Symantic is good about updating definitions nearly on a daily basis, and a FIREWALL that is highly configurable, and compatible with home networks. Yes this means you probably need to read the manual (which is on the CD by the way), but a little reading never hurt anybody (you might fall asleep though ;-)

New to the 2002 suite is the capability to scan your computer for programs that access the internet, and you can auto configure or manualy. The cookie blocking feature is not neccessary for internet explorer 6 users because of the new privacy feature, but with Norton IS 2002, you can also configure the firewall to ask if you want to block Ative X controls and Java aplets, and it also blocks script. For example: if you had windows scriping host installed and a trojan on your computer that gave the intruder the ability to automate tasks on your computer through window scripting host, it would be a problem without script blocking. It is possible to uninstall windows scripting host though. Did I mention that integrated with the firewall is the ability to track a cracker, giving you information about the intruder? While it is not perfect, you might learn a thing or two about where attacks are coming from. Admittedly this feature is not nearly as simple or informative as Black Ice Defender, but it does get the job done. If you really want to know who the haxors are (unless they are "spoofing" the IP), then use BlackIce with Norton Internet Security. I have done this and it is possible. There is also an ad blocking feature which is also not perfect, but it does filter SOME of the garbage so that THOSE pages can load quicker. About the only thing missing from this suite is a program to detect "spyware", but this is easily solved by going to Zdnet.com and downloading "Ad-aware" which is freeware and works great.

The Bottom Line is this: Norton Internet Security is stable, useful, updatable, and I Higly Recommend it. Every internet user should have VIRUS PROTECTION and a FIRWALL (hardware if you can afford it). One last bit of advice, antivirus programs are not up to date out of the box. So you should update the virus definitions at least once a week.

I had Norton Internet security and returned it after a week. It kept changing my IP address which kept me off of the internet. Kind of scary that it has a mind of it's own!

Symatec also aknowledges a problem with system resources - at times they get so low that our computer clock would even stop. We noticed mouse problems too. While Norton was working, our mouse wouldn't!

Our cable network provider says that there are many compatability issues with Norton antivirus and also said that their firewall protection is way over-rated! They recommended McAfee. I have since downloaded McAfee and have had no system failures and my surfing speed is now upto what I had expected for cable!

I did a lot of research on various virus software products and read a lot of reviews before deciding on this one. If you want to try before you buy, go to www.symantec.com and download this product as 30-day trialware from the Symantec website. You won't be dissappointed. Also, I had to go around the world to find the answer to the question as to whether the product included a paperback instruction manual. Amazon does include a manual. But, in the course of this investigation, I also found out that some software companies, including Symantec sell to discount or outlet stores, such as WalMart, BestBuy, Sam's ect., a "scaled down version" which only provides help menus on CD in the form of PDF "readme files", and the price may or may not reflect a full boxed version. This may not be an important fringe benefit to some, but if I'm paying for it anyway, why not get it! The product is worth every dime. After a few days of installation, the software alerted me that I had 4 attempts at privacy intrusion and 2 hacker attempts. Also, you can screen out all those annoying banners and advertisments that bombard you everytime you visit a webite. Don't waste your money on less expensive software titles. You get what you pay for! Why not get the best!

Norton Internet Security 2002 is one of the best solutions for Internet protection available. Besides getting a top-notch virus checker, you also get a firewall, privacy setting and a parental control to block out sites from children.

The firewall is quite powerful. After installing, I went out to a web site which tests your firewall by trying to hack (without intention to damage) your PC. It passed with flying colors and none of the hacking methods made it through.

Sure, someday someone will find a way around but, but NIS also comes with LIVEUPDATE. This will download the latest updates for all aspects of NIS automatically or by your request.

This version works with all CURRENT Windows versions except 95 and earlier. If you are going to upgrade to XP, this is an excellent add on. A+.

Internet Security does everything you could possibly need (all of it in the background)to keep your data safe. My only complaints are the irritating messages that pop up on the screen when my outbound mail is scanned for viruses (the message blocks whatever I am doing for about 5 seconds, interrupting my work) and the lack of detail on attacks on my computer.

If you don't own any firewall or anti-virus protection, get something. This product works great and is XP compatible. I especially like being able to enter "private" data such as my e-mail address or SSN. IS will let you know if a web site you are visiting is actually getting this data from your computer. I discovered that DELL Computer was getting my e-mail address from my computer without permission when I visited their site.

I feel very comfortable leaving my computer connected to the internet 24/7 with this application running.

Installed it. It installed easily and completely configured itself. Tested it from symantec and grc.com web sites. It performed flawlessly. The system was completely invisible... Until the next morning.
The next morning, the firewall was shut down and could not be restarted. ALL options in the entire system were disabled. The message on screen states it is NOT protecting the system. I was locked out because I was not a 'supervisor'.I attempted to uninstall it but was not allowed to do so. I downloaded the uninstall program from symantec and uninstalled then reinstalled it. I was very careful this time to create three administrator accounts.
It lasted about 12 hours then shut down again. I could not restart it. None of the supervisor accounts I created were accessable. I repeated this episode three more times. The only phone number available on the web site was the number to request a refund. I did. They didn't even ask why. There was NO help availble on the web site. I could have paid 29.95 for a phone call but didn't want to pay 30 bucks for them to tell me how to install a 70 buck program.

I'm running XP Home on a Dell Optiplex GX240 with a P4 1.6ghz, cable internet access thru a Linksys cable modem and wireless router. My setup is all new and works fine. Bought NIS2002 yesterday and installed it. Installed fine, and LiveUpdate worked great. Got all updates, no problem. Set up personal firewall for 'Automatic', which is supposed to ask me when an application opens whether I want to allow that app to access the internet or not. Launched Outlook Express 6, Norton worked OK, everything fine. Launched Netscape 6 and IE6, and the fun begins. Bottom line: I can't get page downloads using any browser as long as any component of NIS personal firewall is enabled. If I disable ALL components of NIS personal firewall, but leave Norton Antivirus running, it works OK. I've tried to make this thing for 4 hours, using their website and 'knowledge base' (not a lot of knowledge there) extensively. Even tried to call their FOR FEE tech support, but they're closed on weekends(what's up with THAT)!

OK, so I just disable personal firewall, right? Problem is - when I do that, NIS crashes about every 3rd time. Why? Who knows?

This is just bad software. Even if it COULD eventually be made to work correctly, the fact that an experienced user with a brand new system can't make it work out of the box means it's bad software by default. Maybe it'll work for you, maybe not. I certainly won't be buying anything from Norton again. McAfee, here I come.

I have long been a McAfee advocate, often shunning Norton because it once interfered with the sound on my machine - but Internet Security 2002 has made me a believer. I bought the download and within 20 minutes, I was installing it on my machine. The set-up was step-by-step and very comprehensive - although for those who don't know a lot about what sort of preferences to set up on a firewall, I suggest getting some reference material. The firewall is incredibly detailed, allowing me to totally configure my machine to work within my home network while preventing outsiders from getting in. The Symantec site also has a place to check the security of your system and tells you how to fix your vulnerabilities. I had a copy of McAfee firewall/virus scan and am currently throwing it out - Norton Internet Security is a MUCH better tool - even the user interface is very friendly and useful.