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"Wrecked my computer. I hate it!" on by Barker C
Pros: Uses less system resources
Cons: Uninstall locked me out of my administrator account and left me with a $200 mess.
Summary: For many years, I have used CNET reviews as one of my resources before making a software upgrade or a major hardware buying decision. I relied on the CNET reviews of Norton Internet Security 2010 and made the decision to purchase the product. I feel the editors were way off base on the recommendation of this product. True, it uses fewer system resources as stated in the review. However, this Norton product wants to take over your entire PC life. It wants to control web surfing, passwords, web site selection, searching tools, and just about everything else on your computer. To further complicate matters, Norton 2010 does not give you an option of High, Medium, or Low security. You have the option to turn on or off the security features of each component, but the feature leaves you with very little control over the sub-sets of those components. After trying Norton Internet Security 2010 for one month, I hated it and tried an uninstall. Instead of Using Norton?s Uninstall feature, I used Perfect Uninstaller, because I did not want to have to deal with all the ?junk? Norton leaves behind, after an uninstall. After I rebooted, I found that Norton had removed or ?reset? my administrator account in Win XP, and I could only log on as a guest. As a guest, I could not do a system restore, access the files on my admin account, nor do a Norton Ghost recovery. I tried the Windows recovery CD, but it is looking for the admin account and a password. I had never set a password on the admin account, so Norton fixed that for me too. I took my notebook to a computer repair shop and $200 later, even they cannot recover my system. I would not recommend this product to my worst enemy, and I am truly sorry I followed CNET?s recommendation.
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"Works fast, but expired subscription=no protection!" on by EdEllks
Pros: Works very fast, detects viruses well. Low memory footprint. Great if you keep up on your subscription.
Cons: The #1 thing wrong with this product is intentionally done by Symantec. They now exort you to get you to resubscribe. How? With prior versions, when your subscription expired, you couldn't get new virus signatures. Now, it COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN.
Summary: I've been a loyal Norton Antivirus customer for over a decade, and have dozens of clients running this. Imagine how much grief I'm in if they don't renew their subscription before this thing expires.
It's a great product, don't get me wrong. But Symantec, you're telling your loyal customers to find another product, especially with good, free alternatives. Who in their right mind would make the entire product intentionally disable itself? That's intentionally causing your paying customers harm if they don't renew their subscription on time.
They've very effectively turned this into a one year software rental.
With so much good competition, I would recommend going to practically anything other than Norton now. -
"It won't leave me alone!!!" on by pooky4
Pros: Does a good job of recognizing safe programs; even after a fresh install, doesn't bug you EVERYTIME a program wants to access the internet. Software is pretty much "set it and go."
Cons: Even on my new quad-core, 6 GB of RAM laptop, the fact that it is CONSTANTLY "performing background tasks" is really hogging my computer.
Summary: I upgraded my PC to Win 7 (with a clean install). While the 2009 version is supposed to be compatible, it would not even install for me. I contacted Symantec, and they responded by saying that they transferred my license key from the 2009 version to the 2010 so I could install it. Unlike the old version, it seems to CONSTANTLY notify me that it is "performing background tasks" (i.e. system scans). I am a web designer and an frequently using my computer for demanding tasks. Even still, the Norton software seems to feel that this is an appropriate time to perform system scans, all because Symantec insists that it is much lighter on PC resources. I'm sorry, but if I am using resource intensive programs, this is NOT the appropriate time for a system scan unless I initiate it! I admit that the demand from the Norton software is not as extreme as it could be for this type of activity (it seems to run in a "light" mode for the background tasks), but Symantec really dropped the ball on the 2010 version for determining what is meant by "idol". I appreciate Symantec's customer service in resolving my situation with the installation on Win 7, but I think I will be looking for a different software when my subscription runs out.
P.S. Sorry about the "Molly rant", but as a previously loyal Norton IS user, I felt it "rant-worthy"! -
"Just a software RENTAL - price is for one year only!" on by mwaluk
Pros: The software itself is great. Works well and have never been affected by a virus.
Cons: After 1 year it TURNS OFF! It's not software, just a service that happens to have a box and disc to install the client. This is not the old "subscription" - it completely turns off and leaves your computer unprotected once it has expired.
Summary: They're "renewal screen" should provide one quick button to uninstall it and take you to they're competitor's sites. They're forum is filled with angry users because NOWHERE do they explain this. The same is true of CNET. They have dropped the ball not putting this out front. I have a feeling they don't really use it for a year so maybe they are unaware as well. I don't know of any other software sold this way but others may be in the future if we don't avoid it.
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"Product ok, BEWARE of suscription renewal!" on by kelmo11
Pros: Have also been a loyal Symantec customer using Norton Internet Secutury for 10 years. Currently running on 6 pc's. IS 2010 is relatively fast with little impact on pc resources. (a big improvement vs. previous versions)
Cons: Did not immediately enter the renewal key and was shocked that ALL PROTECTION IMMEDIATELY STOPPED, basically leaving the PC's naked and exposed!
Summary: The surprise change in product behaviour around subscription renewal, means that this will be the last year I use Norton! If I hadn't had the new keys in the house or was traveling on business, then the family PC's would have been very vulnerable with no protection. A very poor product management decision, resulting in the loss of a loyal customer.
Norton AntiVirus 2010 user reviews (1 User, 1 PC)
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