The Symantec/Norton Thread.

Looks like Mortal Raptor is wearing a new pair of pants today! LOL...can't go wrong there with N.S.!

 

yes and I feel very happy with my yellow Norton pants, finally found my AV

 

Can you post some of those test results?

Here is the latest from DTL:
http://dennistechnologylabs.com/reports/s/a-m/2014/DTL_2014_Q4_Home.1.01.pdf

Here is the latest from DTL for Enterprise:
http://dennistechnologylabs.com/reports/s/a-m/2014/DTL_2014_Q4_Ent.1.0.pdf

And actually, AV-C is my preferred tester. So yeah, that's too bad they pulled out of that. The most important and relevant test to me at AV-C is the 'Real-World' Test.

This is the last Real-World test Symantec participated in at AV-C.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/avc_prot_201112_en.pdf

But... AV-C participated in this test where Norton was included.
http://www.channelobserver.de/artikel/schlechte-noten-fr-Antivirus-programme-3164/

Windows 8 at AV-T
http://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-8/


So.... I'm curious what tests you are looking at.

-Frank

 

Interesting Frank.. Norton was a solid performer at AVC..

 

Do the current Norton programs recommend Norton's ConnectSafe DNS at all? Or does Norton utilize that same infrastructure through it's URL filtration?

 

WBD,

Need Krusty or Mayahana to jump in and verify..

But as I understand it, Norton products have the ConnectSafe tech built-in.

Symantec products (like SEP) do not -- thus one would want to use Norton ConnectSafe.


-ftp

 

Norton ConnectSafe gets it's data from Norton SafeWeb, so they have the same database. You can see that in the FAQ.

https://dns.norton.com/faq.html

• Where does Norton ConnectSafe get its security information from?
  
  Norton ConnectSafe leverages the Norton Safe Web database. Safe Web contains information on millions of sites and it is queried billions of times each day. Norton ConnectSafe is updated every few minutes with the latest site rating information.
  

 

I'd use a blended solution if you already use Norton 2015, so you can leverage alternate databases.

 

ConnectSafe is good if you want to filter content though, like stopping kids from accessing pornography etc.

Also, if you configure your router to use ConnectSafe you are also giving a degree of protection to other devices, like "The Internet Of Things".

 

Thank you for your time Frank, Krusty, and Mayahana.

So just to confirm my understanding, Norton software does not change your actual DNS settings to ConnectSafe, but does utilize the same backend intelligence through Norton SafeWeb.

It's mind blowing when comparing the Norton of 5-10 years ago (heavy, difficult to remove) to the current Norton products being light, efficient and well designed. The underlying technology in general has come a long way as well.

 

Well, I've gone and done something I swore years ago I would never, ever do again. I installed a trial of Norton Security w/Backup on one of my machines (Win 7 64-bit) just to see what all the fuss was about. I've been messing with it off and on for a few hours and I have to say, it's pretty impressive so far. Seems very light. Scans aren't the fastest but maybe it's because it hasn't scanned this system before.

There are features galore and it doesn't seem bloated at all. I really like what I can tailor with the firewall. I need to study the scan options more but this thing seems pretty sweet so far. Not at all what I expected. I don't really care about the backup but whatever. I might have to shop around for a 10-device deal if I decide to keep it. I think I saw one on Amazon, as it happens. I don't care much for their regular prices. Highway robbery.

 

back in 2009 I believe, Norton did a major overhaul of their AV where it was called Gamer's Edition and from then on, it changed completely from being one of the heaviest along with McAfee to being one of the lightest, and then they just kept on improving from then on with each release. Now the fact that one license covers 5 or 10 computers depending if you went with NS or NS + Backup is a non brainer! No need to buy multiple licenses anymore, it ends up to be much cheaper this way. I went for the NS only without backup as I have 1 TB provided to me for free by my Office 2013 365 subscription and I only have 4 computers

 

I believe you are correct. Norton does not change the DNS settings... nor would it make sense to do so as it is covered with SafeWeb. So you may want a different DNS service to get different coverage.

Remarkable, isn't it. Not that long ago, there was a time where I was offered Norton at no cost by three different entities... my ISP, my bank, and my employer. And I still didn't use it.

Norton was a bloated product that came bundled with many new computers and needed to be stripped off in order to put something decent on there..

Times have changed.. haven't they. Norton is finally making good on their significant resources and analytical capability.

And it's about time.

 

In that test, they crushed it. Norton was the single unequivocal winner. Best detection/protection with being in the lowest third of false positives.

It's too bad they got in a **possibly offensive word removed** contest with AV-C about a less important test..

 

Has anyone tried it on yheir smart phone yet? I have it on two machines but have not tried installing on my Iphone.

 

Apple doesn't allow antivirus scanning on iPhone (probably because the whole phone is a virus LOL).

But I feel Norton is second only to Trend for Mobile devices. I prefer Trend because of the fantastic mobile tracker/locker/signal/recovery type of stuff. But Norton is easily my second choice on Mobile.

 

But in their sys requirements thye list Apple iOS 6 or later?

System Requirements
Operating Systems Supported

• Microsoft® Windows® XP (32-bit) Home/Professional/Tablet PC/Media Center (32-bit) with Service Pack 3 (SP 3) or later
• Microsoft Windows Vista® (32-bit and 64-bit) Starter/Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Ultimate with Service Pack 1 (SP 1) or later
• Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) Starter/Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Ultimate with Service Pack 1 (SP 1) or later
• Microsoft Windows 8/8 Pro (32-bit and 64-bit)
• Microsoft Windows 8.1/8.1 Pro (32-bit and 64-bit)
• Current and previous two versions of Mac OS® X
• Android™ 2.3 or later (must have the Google™ Play app installed)
• iOS® 6 or later

 

That's probably because it's just a lost phone finder, and backup solution. Same with others. Fortinet for example on iPhone is just a VPN, nothing more. Apple won't approve them unless the firewalls, call blockers, antivirus are all stripped out from the product. Apple won't allow 'real' security on their iCrap.

Sad really.

 

For what it's worth, the AV-Comparatives issue goes back to 2012 and was over the methodology AV-Comparatives uses. From a Norton forums post at that time:

Tony_Weiss wrote:
Symantec has long been an advocate of independent “whole product” or “real-world” tests that most closely represent the interests of consumers and utilize all of the proactive technologies provided with a product, as opposed to “static” tests that only test an individual component. Currently AV-Comparatives does not offer a subscription focused solely on these “whole product” or “real-world” types of tests. At this time, Symantec has chosen not to subscribe to AV-Comparatives’ testing program for 2012. Our philosophy is to participate in tests that have high relevance and meaning for consumers, and most accurately align with their real-world need for comprehensive protection and machine cleanup from evolving online threats. We will continue to seek out and participate in a range of tests that meet these standards to measure our products’ efficacy and performance.

Put in basic terms, NIS works as an integrated component to detect malware. All components need to be fully functional to achieve 100% efficiency with the product.

 

Seems valid, and I agree. What's the point of testing a product in a synthetic situation without the whole component topography factored in? Kool Aid Kids will claim XYZ product scores 100% on those tests, but we all know better by now, don't we? It's tougher to test newer, more relevant technologies, and if you aren't factoring the 'package' then I consider the test pretty useless.

 

Ok so iOS is a targeted OS? According to Kaspersky a year ago , Apple was 10 years behind Windows but The pervs were not concentrating on the Apple OS aT the time and so Apple did not need any other protection. I don't klnow thta holds true a year later .
e

 

Apple OS's had the most exploits in 2014 of any OS..

 

I'm too lazy to go back through the entire thread so I hope this hasn't been asked and answered - if one purchases Norton Security for, say, a year and then finds a good deal for another year in four months, does the new subscription append to the end of the old one or does the new year begin upon use of the new code?

 

They will append if you open a WebChat, and explain. (usually) They are quite helpful in web chat! Several people here have had their licenses appended.

 

Thanks. How's the mobile security app for Android? Is it sufficient or are there better choices?