Norton AntiVirus 2013 Beta


Norton Antivirus is one of the most popular names in the antivirus market, relying on a powerful scanning system ,with regular definition updates and real-time protection.

Created by the developers over at Symantec, Norton Antivirus promises to be the perfect solution for every computer, as it delivers industry-leading protection against all types of infections, with a moderate footprint on hardware resources.

The installer is extremely efficient and takes only a few seconds after everything is dropped in the right place. And it doesn't ask for a computer restart, something that was mandatory in the past and allowed viruses to spread and sometimes disable antivirus protection.

The interface seems a bit too crowded and clunky and we wouldn't really expect such a main screen from an antivirus that's supposed to be a leader in its segment. The settings menu comprises tons of options, but as always, you should pay extra attention when browsing through them.

There are four scanning modes, 'Reputation Scan', 'Quick Scan', 'Full System Scan' and 'Custom Scan', each with its very own configuration settings. Of course, the third one takes a lot of time and uses a moderate amount of computer resources, but it checks every single file on your machine to make sure you're on the safe side.

Norton Antivirus comprises basically everything to help you stay away from malicious files and online attacks, including an antivirus, antispyware, intrusion prevention, email and browser protection, but also the so-called 'Download Intelligence' to check your file transfers on the go.

Another interesting feature is the so-called 'Facebook Scan' that automatically scans your Facebook wall to verify the published links.

A problem we experienced during our test is related to the update process which seems to take ages when running Norton Antivirus for the first time. It depends on the Internet connection indeed, but the first update needed a lot of time to download, unpack and install all the files.

A really good thing is the fast scanning process that's also quite friendly with computer resources. Plus, it is very efficient thanks to the virus definition updates that are delivered very often, sometimes even several times an hour.

All in all, Norton Antivirus remains one of the top choices when it comes to efficient antivirus solutions.
 

Norton AntiVirus description

 
Say goodbye to viruses:
· It's okay to blink, because we never do – SONAR technology and live 24x7 Threat Monitoring watch over your PC for any suspicious behavior to quickly identify threats.
· Download away - we scan the files you download and eliminate online threats that we find.
· Deep clean your PC - our powerful Threat-Removal Layer targets and scrubs out aggressive, hard-to-remove infections that less sophisticated products often miss.
· Harness global power - only Norton can bring you the ultra-fast Network Defense Layer to block a multitude of threats before they can even touch your PC.
· Protection from the future, available today - our exclusive reputation and behavior antivirus technology are so advanced that they can stop online threats that bad guys haven't even created yet.
· Keep out trespassers - Browser Protection blocks unsafe websites that secretly download software that can steal personal information or take over your PC.

Shop, surf and visit social networks without worry:
· It's easy to stumble into the wrong part of the web - we block "phishing" websites set up to trick you into leaking your passwords, credit card numbers or worse.
· Facebook links are tempting – now you don't need to worry if a Facebook News Feed contains dangerous downloads or fraudulent links.
· Protects your identity by securely storing and automatically entering your user names and passwords.

Engineered to go unnoticed - because great protection doesn't get in your way or slow you down:
· Blazingly fast performance delivers fast browsing and file scanning.
· Intelligent detection and quiet background operation block threats and won’t overload you with pop-up warnings or restart requests.
· So smart, it scans and runs updates only when you’re not using your PC - with no need to reboot after updates.

Everyone's talking cloud. And with the new Cloud-based Norton Management, it’s easy to stay in control:
· Lets you fix, update, renew or install Norton products on additional PCs without needing to track down the product key or install CD.
· Works from anywhere over the Internet with a few simple clicks.

· Norton Protection System - The 5 patented layers of protection detect and eliminate threats more quickly and accurately than other technologies.

· Browser Protection - Proactively protects you by checking for and blocking online threats as your browser loads, to stop online threats before they can do damage.

· SONAR Behavioral Protection & Live 24x7 Threat Monitoring - Stays ahead of, detects and eliminates threats that haven’t been invented yet by watching your PC for suspicious activity.

· Threat-removal Layer - Targets and eliminates hard-to-remove threats less sophisticated products often miss.

· Insight - Improves performance by identifying safe files and only scanning unknown files.

· Download Insight - Protects you from dangerous applications before you install them by telling you if they are harmful or unstable.

· Always up-to-date Product Version - Norton automatically sends you important product and feature updates throughout the year. The latest version installs without you needing to do anything.

· Norton Management - Cloud-based controls let you fix, update, renew and install Norton AntiVirus over the Internet with a few simple clicks. It brings together your available Norton protection for other devices, like your Mac® computer, smartphone or tablet, in one place.

· Bandwidth Management - Automatically adjusts Norton data usage updates when you connect to 3G networks to avoid using up your monthly data allotment or causing overage fees.

· Norton Pulse Updates - Updates your protection every 5 to 15 minutes, without disrupting you.
Requirements:

· 300 MHz or faster processor
· 256 MB of RAM (512 MB RAM required for the Recovery Tool)
· 150 MB of available hard disk space.
· CD-ROM or DVD drive (if not installing via electronic download)
Limitations:

· 60 days trial
· Nag screen
What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

NEW:
· Threat-removal Layer – Targets and eliminates hard-to-remove threats less sophisticated products often miss.
· Always up-to-date Product Version – Norton automatically sends you important product and feature updates throughout the year. The latest version installs without you needing to do anything.
· FREE 24x7 Support – Offers you expert help and answers by phone, live chat or online, whenever you need them.1

IMPROVED:
· SONAR Behavioral Protection & Live 24x7 Threat Monitoring – Stays ahead of, detects and eliminates threats that haven’t been invented yet by watching your PC for suspicious activity.
· Bandwidth Management 2.0 – Automatically adjusts Norton data usage updates when you connect to 3G networks to avoid using up your monthly data allotment or causing overage fees.

Users are advised to pay attention while installing this ad-supported application:

· Includes third-party services unrelated to the program's functionality but intended to generate income