Norton Internet Security 2010 is a security software for the Windows operating system. One could say it is an advanced version of Norton Antivirus 2010 as it contains all the antivirus protection capabilities of that software plus additional means of protection that include a two-way firewall as well as network, email and identity protection. The only element that it does not offer is a backup module which Norton reserves for its flagship product Norton 360.
Symantec’s Norton suite has seen dramatic improvements in the last two years. The two most notable changes are a concentration on lower resource usage which was already noticeable in last year’s Norton Internet Security but becomes even more apparent in this year’s. Additional improvements are the new behavioral detection engine Quorum which uses a cloud based reputation system to identify threats and offers faster response times to new or mutating malware threats and additions to Norton Insight which has now been split to the four areas Download Insight for better control of file downloads, System Insight for system diagnosis, File Insight for file analysis and Threat Insight.
Here is a quick overview of what Norton Internet Security 2010 offers:
- Anti Virus
- Anti Rootkit
- Bot Protection
- AntiSpam
- Norton™ Safe Web
- Smart Firewall
- Network Monitoring
- Spyware Protection
- Identity Protection
- Parental Controls
Installation
Installation is a breeze. The most important change to installation is that no reboot is required to complete the installation of Norton Internet Security 2010. The installation process itself has also been improved as it now takes less than a minute (a bit more if you use an installer that downloads the components from the Internet) to install the security software on the computer system.
Interface
The interface is easily accessible and gives the user an immediate overview over the protection state of the computer system. Switches are provided in the main interface to switch the state of a specific module to on or off with the interesting option to turn a feature off for a specific time only.
The protection is divided into the three groups computer, network and web each with their own associated security modules, settings, information and options.
Another indicator that Symantec takes performance serious is a cpu meter that is displayed in the main interface. This cpu meter displays the cpu usage of the computer system and that of Norton Internet Security. A click on the provided performance link will lead to a performance monitor that displays the cpu and computer memory usage of the system and Norton Internet Security over time.
Other links in the main interface lead to Norton Tasks which displays a similar performance graph and the background tasks that are configured in Norton Internet Security 2010. Here it is possible to see their impact on the computer system with an option to start any of the background tasks right away.
Application Ratings is a very interesting module that displays Norton Insight information about files and programs of the computer system. It will for instance rate all running processes, startup items, loaded modules and even all files so that it is possible to get a quick overview of the danger of certain files.
Norton Insight uses a trust level, resource usage and Norton Community Usage as indicators for a file’s rating.
The remaining subscription days and links to the Norton account, help and support and feedback are provided in the main interface as well.
Computer Protection
Computer Protection consists of the four modules Insight protection, antivirus, antispyware and SONAR protection. It contains additional links to running a live update, accessing the history and quarantine, start a scan and to open the settings.
The settings are extensive and contain several optional modules that are not activated by default. It is here for instance possible to enable Microsoft Office Automatic Scan to protect Office documents. Modules can be turned on and off in the settings but there are also advanced options available. This includes configuring exclusions (good for false positives for instance or files that should not be accessed by Norton Internet Security), real-time protection features and scan performance profiles.
- Insight Protection – The Insight Network scan uses the Cloud technology wherein a remote server on the web contains the latest virus definitions.
- Antivirus and Antispyware – Security risks, such as spyware and adware, can compromise your personal information and privacy
- SONAR Protection – Symantec Online Network for Advanced Response (SONAR) provides real-time protection against threats and proactively detects unknown security risks on your computer.
Network Protection
Network Protection consists of the Smart Firewall, Intrusion Prevention and Email protection modules. A settings link is provided here as well that leads to the options for the listed modules. Configuration options for the firewall are divided into several menus. One element that seems to be missing is an overview of all the computer or network connections.
- Smart Firewall – Smart Firewall monitors communications between your computer and the other computers on the Internet.
- Intrusion Prevention – Intrusion Prevention scans all the network traffic that enters and exits your computer and compares this information against a set of attack signatures.
- Email Protection – Email Protection protects your computer against the threats that you might receive through email attachments
Web Protection
This group contains the parental controls, identify safe, browser protection, safe surfing and download intelligence modules.
- Identity Safe – The various features of Identity Safe help you manage your identities and provide additional security while you perform online transactions
- Browser Protection – (Firefox and Internet Explorer only) When you turn on Browser Protection, Norton Internet Security proactively blocks new or unknown malware programs before they attack the computer system.
- Safe Surfing – When you install Norton Internet Security, it adds the Norton Toolbar to Internet Explorer and Firefox.
- Download Intelligence – Download Insight provides information about the reputation of any executable file that you download using the Internet Explorer 6 and Firefox 3.0 browsers or later.
Verdict
Norton Internet Security 2010 is an impressive product that has a much lower resource footprint than previous versions of the software. The new performance monitor emphasizes this to give the user hard facts about the performance usage of the security software.
Modules like the application ratings and the new Norton Insight modules make it easier than ever to stay on the safe side.
The settings for each individual module are on the other hand somewhat hidden in the program. It would be more comfortable if links to individual settings would be provided in the main interface.
Christmas Giveaway
We have ten licenses for Norton Internet Security 2010. Please leave a comment for a chance to win one of the licenses. Let us know why you would like to get a license for Norton Internet Security 2010
Raju is giving away DAEMON Tools Pro Advanced, check it out as well.
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Thanks for offering this great software!
NIS 2010 is verry good. I need Key?
I never used any Norton Antivirus because of it’s resource demands.
It is also the most targeted AV software by viruses and malware.
So I don’t trust this AV suite too much.
But it might worth a try.. :)
I am evaluating replacements for my current anti-virus combo and would very much like to try Norton’s latest. I was a Norton customer for a long time but became disenchanted with them around the time XP was released. I’d like to try their new release with its smaller footprint. Thanks.
Hope I’m lucky with this.
Norton is best. I hope i win
Great giveaway ! I have used almost all the products of Norton and the latest one i.e 2010 edition is, in my opinion, the best one. Thank god, this norton product is not a bloatware as others used to be.
Great security suite, thanks…
This would be definitely be a great Christmas gift. Thank you, beforehand.
Happy holidays to everyone!!!
I’m rather glad to see that Symantec has although not lightened the bloat of installation size, the working size and memory footprint seem far more manageable compared to say…4-5 years ago.
Having most tools integrated within an easy to understand interface is what put the Norton brand on top as compared to the others.
can,i’ve a lisence plz…i like the norton insight technology a lot…NIS2010 prevents me from phisjing sites….
My Macafee subscription is expiring in two months.
NAV scored second highest in av protection, despite the amazingly bad telesupport. Don’t EVER let them remote control into your system.
I can share a license with a woman who has absolutely no av on her machine and can’t understand why it works like any product made in China.
Please give me one
Well.. Well.. Well.. after using everything on the earth, still my system houses viruses and trojans. Let me grab this to wipe out all of them and sleep peacefully.
Hey there count me in too
Basically i want norton bcoz i hve hrd abt its light speed installation n high detecting capacity besides it also does not nag d user once installed its jus quite until d subscripton ends….also its quite straight frward n user frndly
i wud b glad if i win…
nyway thnx…
Great giveaway. I would like to win this time.
I really think norton is crap because of my pass experience and comment i heard.
But i would give it another try if you give me one licence.
thanks
Norton is what everyone wants., so do I ……….
My subs are nearly run out, so may I have a free licence?
Thanks Lee
Norton is the best antivirus on market, very light and easy use
When i first got my PC some years back, Norton antivirus was protecting my PC and it did a very good job. But the problem was it really slow and a system hog.
Lately I have been hearing lot of good things about Norton that they have overcome most of little niggles and retained the good things they do best- Catching Virus/Malware. In the screenshots it looks like the NIS layout is very neat and tidy indeed.
I would really love to lay my hands on a Norton Internet Security 2010 this Christmas.
What a pointless give away!
What is the purpose on those comment, is it about what people think on Norton? Of course they all say “Norton is the best” to get it free so that is so pointless.
Also when this give away ends? Will Norton tell us who will win this software?
I had it installed twice on different computers and always had troubles like power drainer, not efficient virus detection, nearly impossible to uninstall it even by using Norton’s utility, yet some rubbish plus internet dialers were still working without my knowledge.
I would never install again even if I get it for free, this is my comment!
I want one
Well, I would love to get one, but not for me, I’m already using Norton AV 2010. But my brother can’t afford it, and he’s left with free options like Avira, which while not terrible, are nowhere near the security level Norton provides (or any good paid product).
So this could be my christmas gift to him :]
Anyway, thanks for the opportunity!
I used to use Norton AV until it became too bloated and slowed my system to a crawl.
As your review says the last two versions are major improvements – with very good detection rates, too.
I’d like to replace Avira free on my PC or MSE on my laptop with this, please
Hi, I got the chance to beta test Norton Internet Security 2010 earlier this year. Unfortunately, my family and I can’t afford something like Norton for anti-virus. I really liked this year’s edition of Norton and really hope to get a licence through this giveaway.
Though the previous few Norton softwares really sucked to be honest, Norton has really bucked up this few years and I really would love to use their software.
It’ll be my first Christmas present through my 15 years of life as well as we don’t celebrate Christmas here.
Really hope to receive one.
It would be nice to win NIS 2010, though I have no problems with free Avira still security suite is much better, imho.
Well done for giveaway.I would like to have that full internet security from norton.
i would like to get one mate .. :)
NIS is the best antivirus i have tried :)
A Great antivirus NIS
Thanks for this chance