Symantec Offers So- So Spy ware Protection
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009Antivirus powerhouse Symantec takes aim at spy ware with its free public beta of Norton Internet Security 2005 Anti Spy ware Edition. The final version, due by midyear, will sell for about $80, but my initial tests show that the beta, at least may not be your best bet for spy ware protection.
Norton Internet Security, the 2005 offering is meant to be all-inclusive, containing such necessities as a firewall and antivirus protection.
To check out the utility’s anti-spy ware chops, I subjected my test PC to 12 common spy ware and adware apps: Bargain Buddy, Huntbar, Internet Optimizer, ISTbar, Perez toolbar, Total Velocity, and Xupiter, plus two variants each of the Downloader and Start page Trojan horses.
Though Norton Accurately identified and blocked the Downloader and Start Page Trojan horses, its results with the remaining spy ware and ad ware were mixed. It ignored Total Velocity and Xupiter; and when it alerted me to Hot bar’s presence, it recommended that I not only keep the program but also allow it full Internet access. And when Total Velocity and Xupiter tried to connect to a DNS sever, Norton recommended I permit full access for both.
The Beta software also lacks the ability to restore a Web browser’s hijacked start and search page settings, and it omits protection against modifications to your hosts file (essentially an Internet address book on your PC)
Still, the Norton Internet Security 2005 Anti Spy ware Edition beta showed promise, and Symantec fans will no doubt embrace its all-in-one approach to security. And you can’t beat the beta’s free price.