Norton 360 Version 4 Premier Edition

Norton is a name that's synonymous with antivirus and PC security software, and the latest edition of Norton 360 offers a range of improvements and new features to keep that name at the top.

Boasting improved virus identification, always-on, intuitive online protection and security, an ultra-smooth user interface, optimization and tuning tools, faster and lighter processing and now online backup, Norton 360 Version 4.0 is one of the most advanced and user-friendly PC security suites available

Users familiar with antivirus and security suites will have no doubt heard of Norton 360. One of the most popular and highly acclaimed security suites currently battling at the top of the market, Version 4 includes all the features on offer in Norton Antivirus and Norton Internet Security. For users looking for total PC protection and security, Norton 360 Version 4.0 Premier is the application to look at.

Improving on Norton's historically bloated software installations, the installation process for Norton 360 is remarkably quick and streamlined. The software all launches through a single application, ensuring that even casual PC users will be able to easily access and control their antivirus and PC security application. The user interface is quite simple and streamlined, though with the near completely automated security processes it's unlikely that users will ever need to use it.

Boasting an almost bamboozling number of security features, from antivirus to anti-spyware, to botnet protection and firewall, the ongoing PC scanning and malware controls ensure Norton 360 is the top product on offer from Norton, and one of the top industry-wide.

What has made big headlines with the release of 360 4.0 is the sizeable 25GB of online backup (dwarfing the standard edition) and 'Quorum' scanning method. The former gives you more space than you know what to do with when storing all your most important files and data for both quarantine and safekeeping in case of a PC meltdown. It can also just be used to store excess files that are bloating your machine, lightening its load so the new optimization tools can really get to work. The latter is a super-intuitive scanning system that seeks out previously unknown malware through advanced methods like IP address scanning on threatening files.

When running as a background application, Norton 360 causes no noticeable system slowdown. Of course, performance during tests and virus scanning is slow and inefficient, but that's to be expected with a security suite of this size and depth.

Norton 360 Version 4.0 Premier includes a license for 3 PCs, and for home networks it's worth making the most of it. With significantly improved performance from Norton's previous home offerings, Norton 360 will perform effectively on every PC in the house.

Norton 360 Premier: What We Liked

• Performance is significantly improved from Norton's previous release - both faster and lighter.
• Covers all bases - antivirus, anti spyware, firewall, identity protection, tuneup and backup tools. You won't need to look anywhere else or pay for anything more.
• Major security processes are automated, allowing casual PC users to take advantage of Norton 360's protective capabilities.
• 25GB of long-time-coming online backup.
• Intuitive and advanced 'Quorum' scanning technology for even unknown malware.

Norton 360 Premier: What We Didn't Like

• As almost everything is automated by default, power users will need to invest some time into changing controls to manual.

Symantec Support

Symantec offer online support for Norton users. Online resources include a detailed FAQ, product knowledge base, and an online update and software registration base.

About Symantec

Founded in 1982, Symantec are one of the most well-known and highly regarded PC software manufacturers in the PC security field. With over 17,000 employees and locations in over 40 countries, their software is used by millions of home users, small businesses, and enterprises worldwide.

  

Norton 360 Version 4.0 Premier Edition offers proven performance, delivering today's fastest and lightest all-in-one solution for protecting your PC and all your online activities. It protects against viruses, worms, hackers, and botnets, safeguards against online identity theft, protects important files, and keeps your PC tuned and running at peak performance.

Completely automated and easy to use, Norton 360 works quietly in the background, with virtually no impact on PC performance, to provide comprehensive protection for everything computer users care about. By offering an unmatched combination of performance and protection, it helps you get the most out of your PC and your online experience. Norton 360 v. 4 Premier contains 9 integral security software technologies:

• Antivirus
• Antispyware
• Bot Protection
• Identity Protection
• Norton Safe Web
• Smart Firewall
• PC Tuneup
• Norton Browser Protection
• Pulse Updates

Norton 360 Premier Features:

PC and IDENTITY PROTECTION

Protects your PC, online activities and your identity

• Delivers industry-leading, all-in-one protection against identity theft, online fraud, phishing, viruses, Trojans, bots, rootkits, spyware, and the latest cyber-threats.

Defends against digital dangers without sacrificing performance

• Guards your PC against all kinds of cyber-threats without slowing down your computer or eating up system resources.

Improved Scans only files at risk for shorter, faster scans

• Uses our industry-leading online intelligence system to identify files at risk and quickly and accurately scans only those files for improved scanning performance.

New Provides unprecedented and unmatched threat detection

• Adds an additional layer of protection to detect viruses, Trojans, spyware, and other threats. Norton reputation service technology scrutinizes different attributes of files and applications in real-time to determine if they are safe.

New Warns you of dangerous downloads

• Proactively protects you by analyzing newly downloaded files and applications for threats before you install or run them on your PC.

Improved Makes online shopping safer

• Warns you of unsafe websites right in your search results before you provide any personal information to a potentially dangerous site.

Improved Protects your identity when you buy, bank or browse online

• Validates authentic sites and identifies fraudulent sites to protect you from "phishing."

Improved Keeps spam out of your mailbox

• Blocks unwanted and possibly dangerous emails from your inbox.

Prevents botnets from taking control of your PC

• Blocks access to your private information. Stops hackers from using your PC to launch attacks on other PCs.

Delivers up to the minute virus protection

• Provides automatic updates every 5 to 15 minutes to help ensure you're protected from new threats. Updates happen quietly in the background so you get continuous protection without sacrificing performance.

Defends your wireless network from intruders

• Prevents unauthorized users from stealing your bandwidth and accessing your files. Warns you when you connect to an unsecured wireless network.

PC TUNE UP

Improved Reduces PC start-up time

• Gets your PC up and running faster by allowing you to prioritize and stagger your start-up applications.

New Helps you improve and maintain PC and application performance

• Identifies applications that may be impacting your PC's performance, making it easier to keep your computer running at its best.

Helps make your PC run like new again

• Deletes unnecessary files, defrags your hard drive, fixes common problems, and tunes up your PC to keep it running at peak performance.

BACKUP

Improved Protects your important files from loss

• Automatically backs up files either locally (to disc or other storage device) or online when your PC is idle. Includes 25 GB of secured online storage (with option to purchase more).

New Lets you access backed up files over the Web

• Allows you to retrieve and restore files that you backed up online anytime, anywhere, from virtually any computer with Internet access.

Defends your wireless network from intruders

• Prevents unauthorized users from stealing your bandwidth and accessing your files. Warns you when you connect to an unsecured wireless network.

SUPPORT

Includes FREE 24/7 technical support

• Get free help via email, live chat, or over the phone with a single click. (Support varies per region/country. Please refer to the support matrix for country by country specifics)