Rating Summary
“Symantec should consider name change to SNAFU”
- a PC User, Every day computer user, always online
- Pros
- easy to understand, easy to install, reputable Symantec name, simple controls for computer illiterate
- Cons
- faulty email protection, does not recognize chat programs, un-installation causes system failure, does not protect system completely, does not intigrate with other programs
Symantec Internet Security Suite 2008 —
In late July, 2008, I was notified by Symantec to update my version of Norton Internet Security from the 2007 version to 2008. Being I trust Symantec and have used their products ever since I purchased my first PC in 1994, I upgraded without hesitation. Shortly after upgrading, I started to receive approximately 5 SPAM mails per hour. Even though I use Outlook Express which blocks senders from identifying a PC and I have a virtual firewall within my router as well as the Norton firewall, I still received SPAM. The end result was setting all my email controls to maximum and attempting to block email addresses, servers, setting Spam rules and SUPPOSEDLY blocking all emails except from senders on my "allowed" list. Even with the email controls at "maximum security", I still received approximately 5 SPAM mails per-hour. With in a three day period, I had received more SPAM than I received in the year and a half I had Norton Internet Security 2007 installed on my PC. I attempted to contact Symantec and they were about as useless as mammary glands on a male bovine. Symantec quoted fixes that were already in place or fixes I had already informed them were already initiated.
After several hours and several days of useless advice, I attempted to un-install Internet Security 2008 so I could re-install Internet Security 2007 which I knew worked and worked EXTREMELY well! I also noted with Norton Internet Security 2008, a lot of SPAM and ad blocking protection had been removed as well as several other key safety components that were available in Norton Internet Security 2007.
I am not sure of the Internet Security Symantec I was informed to upgrade to was a watered down version of the full version, but, I was under the impression it was the full and complete version of Norton Internet Security 2008 when it was downloaded and installed into my computer. Norton Internet Security also did not recognize or protect Yahoo Messenger despite being version 8.1, the latest version Yahoo has out. even after trying to get Internet Security 2008 to recognize Yahoo Messenger, I was informed "No chat programs were recognized".
After fully un-installing Norton Internet Security 2008, my computer started to error out and would not allow Norton Internet Security 2007 to be re-installed due to missing registry files. The end result was entering Windows under "safe mode" due to all the system errors and windows not booting up properly due to missing system files, backing up all the files and information possible and re-formatting the hard drive. After re-formatting the hard drive and several attempts of installing Windows XP properly with all system updates downloading properly, I attempted to re-install Norton Internet Security. After three days more and several calls to Microsoft to re-verify authenticity of my version of XP due to all the re-installs because of failed updates or XP not installing properly, my computer was in a semi-operating state where I could use it without worrying about XP going into complete system failure.
Before upgrading Norton Internet Security 2007 to Norton Internet Security 2008, my computer was running like a Swiss Watch. After fixing the system from Norton's crappy upgrade, the system runs more like a Timex. I fully trust Norton Internet Security 2007 and the 2007 version has done a remarkable job of protecting my computer. HOWEVER, I would not install or use Norton Internet Security 2008 if it was given to me and was the LAST and ONLY Internet Security program on the market. If anyone is familiar with the term; "SNAFU", this is an accurate description of Norton's 2008 version of Internet Security.
Symantec Internet Security Suite 2008
