Symantec Norton 360 Software

How I (Objectively) hate thee let me count the ways!

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Aug 13, 2009

Pros: None can never tell if it is doing anything.

Cons: Virus/
trojan/
worm/
malware/
adware/
etc Removal

Decision: After putting up with Norton 360 foolishly for 3 years it is time for a change.
Interface: The interface is cumbersome and counterintuitive. Things like defining or identifying programs that have the ability to access the internet is difficult. Very little information is given back on the status of the operation of the software.
Real time protection: Feedback from the software is vague and typically you are not notified if there is a problem. Sometimes there is a message along the lines of “Norton 360 is processing threats”, however the nature of these threats is never disclosed; unless it finds a “cookie” it does seem to remove those! There have been a plethora of instances when I found an unfamiliar process running via taskmanager only to find out that it was a virus or other malicious code. Norton seems to block some viruses however once your machine is infected it does not seem capable of removing them.
Customer Service: “The straw that broke the camels back”. I was having connectivity issues with my DSL so I decided to call Norton Support (since I did not have a connection). The first technician gave me the usual case number and was unable to resolve my connectivity issue. I was then transferred to another technician where he recommended that I uninstall Norton 360 to see if Norton 360 firewall was somehow blocking connectivity. I said “well if it is not (Norton not the cause) then what do I do?” The irritated tech told me “first we remove Norton 360!!” *Alright* … Needless to say, It was not, I still could not connect. He told me “Well this is not a Norton problem… go call your ISP.” I reinstalled my DSL software from my installation disk and I was able to establish a connection. Then the connection would go out again. I repeated this a few times where my service would appear and disappear suddenly until I found a work-around by not fully completing the installation process.
Once I had connectivity, I took my Norton case number and established a chat session to see if I could get my software reinstalled (installed software via email download link). The technician said in the chat session that “I should not reinstall the software until a virus is found.” I asked how do you know that there is a virus and it is not a connectivity issue. Well he wanted me to spend 99.99 to find out. I asked him if Norton could find viruses on my machine via the free online scan. He said it could and gave me the link for the online scan. I said “tell you what, since the software is currently uninstalled I will use the Norton online scan via my web browser to see if there are any viruses.” “If there are I will pay the cash and let your tech remove them.
I was able to download the active x control onto my browser and run the online scan. The scan returned nothing. Just then my connection went down again. After jumping through a few hoops with the installation CD I was able to get my internet connection back. I decided it was time for a second opinion. I downloaded the free trial version of Kaspersky Antivirus (which has great reviews and calls for the removal of all other antivirus software). After installing and running the software kaspersky gave me a very detailed overview of all threats to my machine. All in all 4 trojans and 4 viruses.
FYI: Anything that a technician can do via mouse clicks and keyboard strokes can be emulated via software. There are logical proofs for this starting the how we rigorously define an algorithm. Alan Turing wrote proofs on the subject. The bottom line is that Norton my block some virus activity but it seems they would rather charge you for manual virus removal instead of having the software do what it is supposed to do, namely intercept and remove viruses!
The previous time this happened I lost all my files and had to install a new hard drive.

I will purchase the full version of Kaspersky.

By Steven  Jul 26, 2009

By Scott  Jul 8, 2009

norton VS. system mechanic VS. system suite 9 professional

By Jake  Jun 2, 2009

Pros: norton: none, system mechanic: registry cleaner perforamance booster virus protection, systemsuite9Professional: none

Cons: norton 360 2.0: inaccurate virus protection readings, bad optimizer,

norton 360 2.0 I thought had the best virus protection it found a couple w32 downadup viruses but normally it finds tracking cookings. I dont know if it is good or not but with all these programs saying different things its hard to choose wich one is better then the other.

system mechanic professional 8.55: after I uninstalled norton I installed this product then it found 11 viruses after scanning 57,000 items and norton would scan 300,000 and would only find cookies so unless I got that mamy viruses in acouple of hours I dont know.

system suite9 professional: sucks it is not compatible with windows vista at all when I installed the malware protection it showed in winodws as I did not have any

By John F  Sep 6, 2008

DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT

By Stuart  Sep 4, 2008

Pros: Noon

Cons: Major problem with Window XP

After purchase this product, Install is extremely slow and difficult.
After many re-boots and finally got it installed.
Then my system (HP Pavilian) keep auto shut down every 2 to 10 min.
I have to uninstall it then everything is fine again.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS JUNK!
In fact, RUN!

By Lisa  Apr 13, 2008

By suzy  Feb 4, 2008

BIG MISTAKE UPGRADING TO NORTON 360 ALL IN ONE

By Stephanie  Jan 18, 2008 | 2 out of 2 found this Symantec Norton 360 review helpful

Pros: NONE

Cons: Allowed virus to enter computer

I have used Norton for four years and had to upgrade to the new software, once I downloaded this software and the next day I got a virus on my computer. I had to pay 100.00 for them to remove it. Very bad customer service. They like to transfer calls from person to person and you have to repeat your problem over and over again. They promised two times to call me back in reference to the software and I never recieved one returned call. All customer service reps are outsourced to other countries, I wanted to speak to someone in the US and when they transfered me to the "US" call center it was actually a call center in India and the rep was using an "american" name. I wanted a refund for the product and it took four times of calling and I finally got a refund. They wouldn't give me the 100.00 back even though it was their fault I got the virus.

By mohd nor  Jan 18, 2008

Total Protection ?

By Go  Jan 10, 2008

Pros: Not consume memory / resources

Cons: when you use Internet Explorer

I try System Mechanic 7.0 Professional, their maintenance is better than Norton 360 but they consume memory so big, and SM 7.0 Pro don't have web based back up.

I also try McAfee Total Protection, they also consume memory bigger than Norton, but they don't have Web Based back up.

I think still difficult to get very satisfy total protection right now with standart: good antivirus, good firewall, good maintenance & good back up but take small resources.

By stanley  Oct 27, 2007

Norton 360

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Oct 17, 2007 | 2 out of 2 found this Symantec Norton 360 review helpful

Pros: Good all round protection suite

Cons: Drains system resources

Overall a nice effort from Norton with an easy to use interface and lots of tools to optimise your pc. However is does seem to have a huge performance hit when starting up the computer. Also seems unable to play well with other malware checkers such as Spyware Doctor

Great Security Product

By US Marine  Sep 2, 2007 | 1 out of 1 found this Symantec Norton 360 review helpful

Pros: Top of the line product

Cons: none

Norton is at the cutting edge of security products since I have bought Internet security norton no virus or other parasites that put this garbage on the computer have cost me a dime great product would not use anything else its a shame we have such low life scum out there with such personnel problems to have no life and have to share there idiot problems with us your virus and trojan crap cannot get through this security...Norton 360 or Internet Security combined with Lava soft Adware the best thank you...