Entered CNET Catalog: 07/25/2002
SKU: 10021266
Manufacturer: Symantec Corporation
Manufacturer description
Symantec's Norton AntiVirus 2003 Professional Edition combines the world's most trusted antivirus solution with additional features to protect and recover important files on two PCs. This easy-to-use program removes viruses from email messages and instant message attachments automatically, without interrupting your work. And automatic updates help defend your PC against new viruses. Norton AntiVirus 2003 Professional Edition includes license for two computers. Data recovery protects and restores important applications and files from both accidental deletion and virus damage. Data cleaning eliminates all traces of unneeded confidential files. Norton AntiVirus 2003 Professional Edition detects and blocks viruses in instant message attachments. Exclusive Worm Blocking technology detects worms such as Nimda in outgoing mail to prevent them from infecting other computers. Norton AntiVirus 2003 Professional Edition automatically removes viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. It scans and cleans both incoming and outgoing email messages. It also downloads new virus definitions automatically to protect against new viruses. Script Blocking defends against fast-moving script-based viruses such as "I LoveYou" and "Anna Kournikova". Worm Blocking and Script Blocking can detect new threats even before virus definitions are created for them. Norton AntiVirus 2003 Professional Edition includes step-by-step instructions for installation, even on a computer that has already been infected.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 09/12/2002
Installation and interface
We found only one noticeable glitch in NAVPE 2003's otherwise easy installation. Although NAVPE 2003 includes an automated installation wizard, MSN Instant Messenger users must reboot their PCs after NAVPE 2003's setup; otherwise, NAVPE won't automatically scan IM attachments. Except for that, this version's smooth setup is an improvement over last year's.
Out of the box, NAVPE's default settings provide solid protection against e-mail-borne viruses, SMTP-based worms (which bypass e-mail clients such as Outlook to send copies of themselves on the Internet directly), and Trojan horses by scanning incoming and outgoing e-mail, then automatically repairing infected files. NAVPE scans file downloads in AOL, MSN, and Yahoo IM applications. (Note: NAVPE works with only AOL's Internet IM program, not with the IM feature that comes with AOL's standard online program.)
In terms of interface, NAVPE 2003's main screen lists its primary features--Auto-Protect, E-mail Scanning, Script Blocking, and so on--and shows the date of your most recent virus definition update. On the left, a list of scanning options allows you to scan individual drives, removable or floppy disks, folders, or even individual files by simply clicking the appropriate menu item. NAVPE sets its default system scans to run weekly at 8 p.m. on Friday. Let's hope you're not online socializing then because the full system scan ties up the CPU and renders your PC useless. In fact, we wish NAV gave an estimated completion time for these lengthy system scans; on our test 1.3GHz Athlon PC with a 20GB hard drive, a full scan took 33 minutes.
Feature set
NAVPE boots with Windows and runs in the background, sniffing out rogue code while you work, and downloads current virus definitions from the Net automatically. And like version 2002, NAVPE 2003 scans both inbound and outbound e-mail in POP3 clients such as Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, and Eudora. (Sorry, AOL mail users, you're out of luck.)
NAVPE 2003 offers few notable enhancements over last year's model. In addition to scanning downloads from IM programs, it now blocks worms in outgoing e-mail. The company claims that NAVPE 2003's virus definitions are smaller and, hence, faster to download, but we haven't noticed a significant improvement in update transfer speeds.
Unfortunately, unlike its major competitor, McAfee VirusScan, NAVPE 2003 scans ZIP files during the extraction process--after you've downloaded them. We'd feel safer if NAVPE inspected ZIP files during the download.
All of the features of Norton AntiVirus 2003 are included in Norton AntiVirus Professional Edition, plus data-recovery and data-cleaning tools. The data-cleaning tool now provides confidentiality by "shredding" files that you no longer need. NAVPE 2003 also comes with a license for two computers, if you should you want to designate a second computer as a backup device.
Performance
To measure system performance with NAVPE 2003 active, CNET Labs used BAPCo's SysMark2002, an industry-standard benchmark. The Internet Content Creation portion of SysMark measures a desktop's performance running off-the-shelf applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Windows Media Encoder, and Macromedia Dreamweaver. (We did not run the Office Productivity portion of the benchmark because it incorporates McAfee VirusScan 5.13.)
Our test system was a Compaq Evo W4000 with a P4 2.4GHz processor and 512MB DDR RAM, running Windows XP Professional. An Internet-content-creation score of 100 represents the performance of our test system without any extraneous software installed or running. With NAVPE 2003 installed and running, our test system scored a 95--a 5 percent reduction in overall system speed, which is reasonable and should not be noticed by most users.
To determine whether NAVPE effectively blocks viruses, we compared the Norton AntiVirus engine's performance in a number of independent antivirus-testing laboratories. Previous versions of NAV have been certified by the independent antivirus-testing laboratories at West Coast Checkmark, ICSA Labs, and AV-Test.org. In Virus Bulletin's tests with live viruses, NAV earned the coveted VB 100 percent rating in each of the three most recent Windows tests. We plan to measure NAV against these independent sites and compare NAV's results against those of other antivirus products in the near future.
Technical support
Norton AntiVirus Professional Edition 2003 is a top-notch virus buster. Unfortunately, the extras in NAVPE 2003 just aren't worth the $40 upgrade fee--that's just $10 more than the brand-new, regular NAV 2003. And if you're looking for your first antivirus app with added security, McAfee VirusScan Professional 7.0 is a better value.
The program's built-in help provides good information on the arcane terminology of virus protection. The help menu also includes links to Symantec's support site, where you'll find a wizardlike tool that steps you through common problems, including software bugs and virus definitions. Unfortunately, Symantec's phone support is expensive at $2.95 per minute (up to $300 maximum) or $29.95 per call. And if you hit a snag at night or on weekends, forget it; the phones are staffed only Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
10/10
It is the best out on the market
Pros: I like norton for their live updates , plus you can create backup files.
Cons: None that I've seen so far and hope I never do
User Rating: 
2/10
What is this thing?
Pros: Virus Detection was OK, and spyware is so-so, and the virusscan was working great even it took 12 minutes to scan all my files.. Even though I'm 74 years old and using a damaged computer.
Cons: I've gotta tell you a story. This happened before I bought PC-cillin 2003 and followed my grandson... I bought a Norton 2003 pro, just what my oldest son says, who is 50 yrs. old. I followed him, and I told my one of my sons to buy one. It worked great af
User Rating: 
9/10
NAV 2003 Pro and Windows XP Pro
Pros: I've been a long time Norton supporter and user. Started out with the full Norton Systemworks Suite back in 2001, but eventually noticed the load it put on my older system, so I got rid of the suite product and went for the anti-virus software only. Now
Cons: Customer support could use some improvement.
User Rating: 
5/10
Always Hangs WinXP on Bootup
Pros: Full suite of useful utilities.
Cons: System hangs on bootup all the time for anywhere from 30 to 90 seconds before I can even use my PC. Loads a ton of crap into memory when run. Symantec support is minimal unless you pay for their exhorbitant fees.
User Rating: 5/10
**** LIVE-UPDATE
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User Rating: 
3/10
Ruined WinXP Pro!!!
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User Rating: 10/10
Can't see what all the fuss is about...
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User Rating: 5/10
Not happy !
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User Rating: 2/10
It immediately ruined Windows XP beyond repair
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User Rating: 9/10
Great program!!
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User Rating: 10/10
i canīt live without it.
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User Rating: 
6/10
What the...?
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User Rating: 10/10
FREE SERIAL! (REGISTER NOW)
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User Rating: 
8/10
it's all right
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User Rating: 
4/10
Well can be better
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User Rating: 4/10
Like using your computer? Then stay away!
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User Rating: 10/10
Norton Rules!!!
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User Rating: 
7/10
The review misses something
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User Rating: 10/10
El MEjor
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User Rating: 3/10
Don?t waist your money or time!
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Norton Antivirus 2003 Pro specifications
- General
- Category Security applications
- Subcategory Security - desktop antivirus
- License pricing Standard
- Software
- License Type Complete package
- License Qty 2 users
- License Pricing Standard
- Platform Windows
- Distribution Media CD-ROM
- Package Type Retail
- System Requirements
- OS Required Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition , Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional , Microsoft Windows 98 , Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition , Microsoft Windows XP Professional
- Min Processor Type Intel Pentium
- Min RAM Size 128.0 MB
- Min Hard Drive Space 70.0 MB
- Peripheral / Interface Devices CD-ROM
- System Requirements Details Microsoft Windows 98/ME - RAM 64.0 MB , Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition - RAM 32.0 MB , Microsoft Windows XP Professional - RAM 128.0 MB , Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional - RAM 128.0 MB
