• Platform:   Windows Me / XP / NT / 98
• Media: CD-ROM
• Item Quantity: 1

Setting up a firewall can be complex but the Security Assistant wizard walks you through all the choices you need to make, and it automatically sets up PCs on a home network to work behind the firewall. The Program Scan looks for Internet-enabled software on your system so you can let all your Internet tools have access at once; you can add other software to the list as well. When a program you haven't specified tries to connect the Alert Assistant helps you decide whether to allow it, block it or tweak the settings; it checks both file names and checksums to make sure an application hasn't been tampered with and you get specific suggestions rather than generic tips.

Similarly it uses signatures and detects common techniques rather than just looking at file names to spot incoming attacks. If your PC is attacked, it will block the source address automatically for 30 minutes, and you can see where the attack is coming from. If you need to be completely secure you can block all traffic in and out. And you can easily see how you're protected and if there are any problems from the red and green indicators in the Status display.

If you share your PC, everyone will need anti-virus and firewall protection, but you can choose whether to turn on the ad and spam blocking tools, the privacy controls that protects private information and the parental controls for blocking particular Web sites, Usenet newsgroups and programs. Symantec categorises these so you can keep people away from gambling and job sites as well as adult sites, and you can add specific sites that you want blocked or allowed. It's no substitute for monitoring what children do on your PC but it's certainly a help. You can also configure the settings for privacy, blocking spam and pop-up and pop-under adverts.

Norton AntiVirus 2003 is one of the best anti-virus packages on the market; Norton Firewall is a powerful tool too, and Internet Security 2003 combines them with other useful tools, plus a foolproof setup that protects you without making what you do want to do online too difficult.--Mary Branscombe

Norton Utilities 2002 Another year, another upgrade. The 2002 Norton Utilities isn't radically different from the 2001 version, except for a mildly cleaned up interface and added support for Windows XP. Norton Utilities has three main tasks in life, to:--Find and fix computer problems--Improve hard-drive performance--Monitor your PC for potential problems Norton Utilities features Disk Doctor, which works like Windows Scandisk, to hunt down and if possible repair disk defects. WinDoctor fixes problems that slip into the Window's Registry, and the System Information program lays out all your computer's specs, including information on installed drivers, printers, multimedia support, input devices as well as which programs are currently running in your memory. It features Speed Disk, a defrag application that reorganizes and repositions the clusters of information on your hard drive to help programs load faster and run better. Speed Disk works in much the same way as Windows' own defragmenter tool. It uses Window's application logs to restructure your drive for quicker application loading, and it's a bit faster than the Window's version, a nice touch, since defragging your drive is a time-intensive process. One old favourite is still there, the Protected Recycle Bin. This allows you to recover deleted files no matter how they we! re deleted. Finally, monitoring is taken care of by the System Doctor which presents a dashboard-like array of status indicators.

Norton Utilities are essentially unchanged from earlier versions, bar the aforementioned Windows XP support and improved support for expunging all traces of deleted files under Windows NT and 2000. Nevertheless it remains one of the few truly 'must-have' software tools any regular PC user should keep at the ready, 'just in case'. Hopefully you'll never need it but when you do, it'll pay for itself in no time at all.--Roger Gann

Manufacturer's Description
Norton Internet Security 2003: Symantec’s Norton Internet Security 2003 provides essential protection from viruses, hackers, and privacy threats. This easy-to-use, integrated suite includes full versions of Norton AntiVirus and Norton Personal Firewall to defend your PC against the most common Internet dangers. Norton AntiVirus, the world’s most trusted antivirus solution*, removes infections automatically, without interrupting your work. Now it scans and cleans instant-message attachments as well as email messages.

Norton Personal Firewall keeps hackers out and personal data in. Its Norton Intrusion Detection feature adds an extra layer of protection by automatically intercepting suspicious connections. And Norton Privacy Control prevents confidential information from being sent out accidentally via Web forms, email messages, instant messages, and Microsoft Office attachments. Norton Internet Security also includes Norton Spam Alert, which helps you detect and filter unwanted email.

Norton Parental Control keeps your children safe online by letting you block objectionable Web sites and set up separate Internet access privileges for each member of your household. Automatic downloads keep Norton Internet Security up to date against new security threats. Don’t put yourself or your PC at risk on the Internet. When you email, bank, shop, or play online, stay protected with Norton Internet Security 2003 from Symantec.

Norton Utilities 2002: Norton Utilities 2002 optimizes your PC's performance and solves computer problems easily. Speed Disk organizes hard drive files efficiently for faster access and greater stability, while Norton Disk Doctor safeguards the integrity of your drive by detecting and repairing disk problems. Norton WinDoctor helps you get optimal performance from Windows by diagnosing and solving a wide range of Windows problems, from software errors to hardware configuration conflicts. The Norton Protected Recycle Bin provides a comprehensive recovery system for deleted and overwritten files. Wipe Info increases data security by eliminating all traces of unneeded or confidential files.

To keep your PC working smoothly every minute it's on, you can run Norton System Doctor continuously in the background to detect potential disk and system problems. In many cases, it will automatically take preventive measures to avoid serious trouble. All of the Norton Utilities tools are fully integrated for easy, efficient use. You can even run many of them directly from the CD - perfect for situations when your hard disk isn't working properly. Now Windows XP RC1 users can also enjoy the benefits of this award-winning program. Find out for yourself why Norton Utilities is the proven name for PC care.