Considering upgrading from Norton Antivirus 2008 or renewing your subscription?
Symantec's Norton Antivirus 2008 edition lacks some of the new technologies added in 2009. Without Norton Antivirus 2009 you're not only missing out on viruses created recently but your computer will feel sluggish.
But in the world of antivirus software there are not too many products that are easy to use nor to understand due to their tendency to rely on industry terminology (like "threats", "detection", "in the wild", "quarantined", "malware" etc). Antivirus 2008 was however given some praise because it didn't resort to overkill (i.e. detect just about everything, alert and scare you about what it has detected - without a plain English explanation of it - then quarantine it to a place that you can't find again). At the other extreme some products find hardly anything. Similarly, some antivirus software runs fast and some runs slow, some is interfering and some works in the background.
Another big leap forward for Antivirus 2009 was the inclusion of free support across all three products. Rather than spruiking paid support as was attempted in Antivirus 2008, Norton focused on streamlining the product and improving ease of use and language, with the intention of reducing their customer support costs.
The much reviled "LiveUpdate" part of pre-2008 versions of the software also disappeared as it was made redundant by the silent live-updating that now goes on in the background. This and other changes helped Norton reduce the initial download time for Antivirus 2009 to only one minute or less. It also has an uninstall button that removes the whole program which was not possible in Antivirus 2008.
Another great addition in 2009 is the Insight feature which learns which files and folders and programs are "trusted" and used regularly by other people - it quickly realises this and leaves them alone forever (aka puts it on a "whitelist"). This is a feature lacking from any other antivirus software and it cuts down on a common compliant of antivirus which is that it keeps trying to block things that are perfectly fine!
It had removed features that previously annoyed users and in doing so had allowed it to improve speed, customer service and performance.
Why update, upgrade or renew my antivirus software? What is the difference?
To stay protected from new threats after your Norton subscription expires, you need to renew your subscription or upgrade to the newest version. Norton comes with a free subscription for a year. Renewing the subscription (you will be prompted) means you are extending the period of usage for a year or more. Upgrading means you can buy the latest version of your product (in full and usually at a discount), in which case your new version will include all new features (see below). Upgrades (as with new product purchases) include a year or more subscription.How does Norton Antivirus 2008 compare to Antivirus 2009?
Norton Antivirus 2008 was the beginning of Norton's resurrection to the top of the antivirus field. With that in mind the Norton software engineers concentrated on speeding up the product. However this was at the cost of usability (i.e. how easy the program is to use without any training or manuals) and consequently not every reviewer of Antivirus 2008 loved it.But in the world of antivirus software there are not too many products that are easy to use nor to understand due to their tendency to rely on industry terminology (like "threats", "detection", "in the wild", "quarantined", "malware" etc). Antivirus 2008 was however given some praise because it didn't resort to overkill (i.e. detect just about everything, alert and scare you about what it has detected - without a plain English explanation of it - then quarantine it to a place that you can't find again). At the other extreme some products find hardly anything. Similarly, some antivirus software runs fast and some runs slow, some is interfering and some works in the background.
What key new features exist in 2009?
Probably the single biggest revolution in antivirus in 2009 was Norton's "pulse technology". When Norton updates its own database of viruses and questionable files detected those updates are sent to all Norton Antivirus 2009 users. On a user's machine, Norton downloads the latest Pulse data every five minutes. Importantly, the updates and two way communication goes on silently in the background, meaning zero interference or slowing down of your PC. All that is needed is an internet connection.Another big leap forward for Antivirus 2009 was the inclusion of free support across all three products. Rather than spruiking paid support as was attempted in Antivirus 2008, Norton focused on streamlining the product and improving ease of use and language, with the intention of reducing their customer support costs.
The much reviled "LiveUpdate" part of pre-2008 versions of the software also disappeared as it was made redundant by the silent live-updating that now goes on in the background. This and other changes helped Norton reduce the initial download time for Antivirus 2009 to only one minute or less. It also has an uninstall button that removes the whole program which was not possible in Antivirus 2008.
Another great addition in 2009 is the Insight feature which learns which files and folders and programs are "trusted" and used regularly by other people - it quickly realises this and leaves them alone forever (aka puts it on a "whitelist"). This is a feature lacking from any other antivirus software and it cuts down on a common compliant of antivirus which is that it keeps trying to block things that are perfectly fine!
The editor's views on Norton Antivirus 2009
Everyone in the antivirus industry was impressed when Norton Antivirus 2009 came out. Finally Norton had achieved the impossible - an unobtrusive antivirus software that can be up to date to within a minute, does not slow down your computer, detects and removes viruses and keeps it all in plain language.It had removed features that previously annoyed users and in doing so had allowed it to improve speed, customer service and performance.
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Norton Antivirus 2009 |
Norton Internet Security 2009 |
Norton 360 |