In our annual matchup between the latest editions of the Internet security suites from McAfee and Norton, once again, neither package really wowed me. This yearly slugfest has become somewhat problematic: Both products offer cool features, but I can't endorse either without some serious qualifications.

A few caveats this year
That said, if you really want the convenience of having one product that will cover your antivirus, firewall, and antispam needs, then this year, my nod goes to Norton Internet Security--but, yes, I have to qualify that.

I can't endorse either without some serious qualifications.

The reason: Starting this year, Symantec has imposed mandatory product activation. That means you have 15 days to activate the product with Symantec, or it will stop working. While activation requires little more than going online and providing a small amount of personal information, some object to the very idea of checking in with the vendor before using the product.

Symantec claims to be generous with its policy. Unlike Microsoft's policy, which allows you to install Microsoft software only three times, you can reinstall any Symantec product at least five times before you have to call to reinstall it a sixth time. Still, Symantec records some basic details of your hardware configuration, which to some seems like an invasion of privacy.

McAfee, on the other hand, doesn't require product activation--you don't even have to register it. But the company drops the ball on its antispam technology. While Norton and McAfee compare favorably in terms of antivirus and firewall apps, they diverge noticeably in their spam defenses. 

I've written before about how McAfee purchased Deersoft SpamAssassin, only to gut the product and abandon its simplicity in its new SpamKiller 5.0. But Norton AntiSpam, which was bundled with little fanfare inside last year's Norton Internet Security suite, really impressed us this year with its ability to stop nearly 95 percent of the spam on our test machines.

McAfee Internet Security does, however, provide more privacy control than its rival. McAfee's Privacy Service, for example, will identify and remove spyware from your PC. McAfee will also shred personal data that could be stolen by online hackers. Both Norton and McAfee offer competent parental controls as well.

Poor technical-support policies
But both of them fail when it comes to technical-support policies. If you want to pay $30 to $40, you can explain your technical problem to either company. We think that's wrong, given that so many other vendors still provide free technical support; for example, Trend Micro doesn't charge to support its PC-cillin Internet Security 2004 suite.

If you want to pay $30 to $40, you can explain your technical problem to either company.

Also, Symantec enlists the services of an applet that's supposed to search through Symantec's online knowledge base to find the best solution for you. Unfortunately in our tests, the applet wasn't always successful; we had better results searching ourselves. McAfee, on the other hand, doesn't offer a searchable technical-support database.

What about e-mail support? Symantec offers it, but you have to dig to find out how; it almost seems as if the company doesn't want you to use it. McAfee doesn't even bother with the e-mail option, directing you instead to an online chat with a live technical-support person. Last year, we raved about this feature; this year, the technicians all seem overworked, so we can't recommend the online chat as a solution to your technical woes.

Having said all that, Norton Internet Security 2004 is still a better value at $70 than McAfee Internet Security 6.0 is for the same price ($10 less online). But another qualification: If you're not running Windows XP on a newer PC, Norton will create a noticeable drag on your system. In that case, you should opt for the leaner, meaner McAfee.

Maybe next year, one of these guys will get it right and finally stand head and shoulders above the other. Maybe.

Which do you prefer? Norton? McAfee? Neither? Tell me about it--TalkBack to me!