Norton Internet Security 2012
Norton Internet Security 2012
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Average User Rating:
3.0 stars out of 403 votes See all user reviews
Quick Specs
- Version: 19.0
- File size: 112.95MB
- Date added: September 06, 2011
- Price: Free to try; annual subscription; 30-day opt-out trial (30-day trial); $69.99 to buy
- Operating system: Windows XP/Vista/7
- Total downloads: 1,887,131
- Downloads last week: 9,340
- Product ranking: #1 in Internet Security Software Suites
- See full specifications
- Add to my list
CNET Editors' review
The bottom line: Low-impact performance, strong security, and useful features are the hallmarks of Norton Internet Security 2012, one of the best security suites available.Review:
Editors' note: Portions of this review are based on CNET's review of Norton Internet Security 2011.
Over the past few years, Symantec has completed a course reversal for its Norton consumer Internet security suites. The massive package of security tools works better than it ever has before, with an impressive set of features, some useful new tools including remote management and download stability analysis, and third-party security efficacy benchmarks that are at the top of the heap. Meanwhile, CNET Labs' performance benchmarks indicate that though Norton doesn't leave the smallest footprint on your system, users should see a minimal impact overall.
Norton Internet Security 2012
For the third year in a row, Norton's formerly sluggish beast now offers a smooth and fast installation operation. Once you run the installer, the program is ready to operate in about a minute--impressively fast, and doubly so considering past performance. The installation process is also the first time that you will interact with Quorum, Norton's behavior-based detection engine. You'll be asked to participate by sending anonymous data to Symantec's cloud. Opting out of the data submission, according to Symantec, will not affect your security.
Running the trial of Norton also requires registering the program. Like many programs, Norton used to force open your default browser and take you to the company's registration Web site. Now you can register from within the program. Uninstalling the software left about 10 Registry entries behind, but no other traces were detectable. Overall, Norton's installation experience was fast and hassle-free, with a minimum of configuration options--but the ones that did come up appeared necessary.
Interface
Norton Internet Security 2012 contains some changes to the 2011 interface, although the design is heavily reminiscent of the previous version. It keeps the dark theme, punctuated by yellow text, and the contrast works well. Changes this year include a reorganized and streamlined Settings interface; a "pinnable" Advanced screen--so that power users can get about their business faster--which also comes with a CPU gauge; and tweaks to the System Status indicator. This year, the interface feels more balanced between the feature display and empty space.
The simplified layout offers Scans on the left, Updates in the center, and Advanced tools on the right. Clicking on one reveals controls specific to that area of protection. At the bottom of the interface is a wide, short map of the world covered with blinking yellow dots. Each one, according to Symantec, represents a threat to one of its users that has been successfully blocked. The Activity Map visual is cute, but completely irrelevant to your personal safety. More interesting is that below the map there are a series of mobile app-style buttons. From there you can access the new Norton Management, Norton Mobile, Norton Online Family, Norton Safe Web, and Norton Backup without having to jump to your browser.
Features and support
There aren't many new features in Norton Internet Security 2012, but what's new ought to appeal to the kind of person who wants the souped-up security in this robust suite.
There's now a link at the bottom of the main interface to Norton's mobile version. Next to it is a link for Norton Management, a new tool that opens in your default Web browser that allows you to use Norton remotely. This includes monitoring security status, remote add and installation, and license key renewal. However, given the growth of the mobile market, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect a stronger connection between the two in the coming year.
One of the better new features is a change to Download Insight. This community-driven tool originally evaluated files being downloaded for security, but now it looks at their stability for other Norton users, too. There are also metered bandwidth options for people on rate-limited connections, and several interface tweaks to make the program easier on the eyes and to make it easier to find things.
The port of Norton 360's startup manager was an excellent call. If you're Windows-savvy, you're probably comfortable managing that stuff by hand, but even for those in the know, the Norton version makes startup changes easier to implement. Along with pulling in community ratings, you can toggle a process on or off, or delay it.
The Identity Safe has been improved, too. It now includes LastPass-styled password handling and cloud-based syncing and vaults, features that some competitors have had for a while. Google Chrome finally gets Safe Web support from Norton, but it's surprisingly not in Norton AntiVirus. While I understand the point of value-added features, this one seems an unnecessarily restrictive hit on users of the fastest-growing browser.
The reputation-based security checks where your programs were installed from and when they were installed, and compares that against data from the 58 million users participating in the crowd-sourced Norton Community Watch to see if any of your programs should be red-flagged. Norton's System Insight component has been bumped up to version 2.0; System Insight is the proprietary internal network that warns you when your programs unnecessarily hog system resources. This gives some extra heft to the system performance map, where you can click on any spike and see what caused it.
The third iteration of Download Insight applies the same reputation-based logic to new downloads, and the fourth version of Norton SONAR (Symantec Online Network for Automatic Response) looks for suspicious software behavior and automatically chooses protective actions. You can toggle how aggressive SONAR is in the Settings window.
Along with the quick scan, the full-system scan, and the custom scan for viruses and malware, you can now have Norton scan your Facebook wall for malicious links. There are also on-demand reputation-based quick scans, full scans, and custom scans for users who want Norton to immediately scan their installed programs. After completing a scan, Norton provides users with a summary report. More-detailed information, including scan duration and a deeper dive into threats discovered, can be read under the History option from the main window. There's also a link that you can follow in case you believe that Norton missed something in its scan, although as reputation-based protection matures, on-demand scanning becomes less of an issue when compared with the "always-on" protection offered here.
The bootable recovery tool isn't new, but it now comes with a feature that automatically creates a CD, DVD, or USB-based bootable device. The USB component is especially important on optical-drive-free systems such as Netbooks.
Norton continues to dabble in free security offerings, including the Norton Online Family parental controls, the "lite" version of Norton Safe Web, and the new Norton Power Eraser. Power Eraser is a new tool that will aggressively clean your computer of fake antivirus programs and other malware that prevents legitimate security tools from being installed.
As with the rest of the program, the support options have been streamlined behind a drop-down menu in the top right of the interface. Help opens local support, Tutorials leads to a Web site with extensive how-tos, and the Get Support link accesses the breadth of Norton's customer support in a new window. Here, users can chat with tech support 24-7, explore the user manual, and check out the Norton FAQ and knowledge base. Phone support is also available, although Symantec takes part in the trend to make phone support harder to access by funneling users to online resources.
Performance
Norton's fast installation and comprehensive feature set would be useless without solid performance, and Norton Internet Security 2012 delivers extremely high third-party efficacy benchmarks and strong performance benchmarks.
In a real-world test, Norton 2012 completed a Quick Scan in 2 minutes, 43 seconds; the Full Scan took 1 hour 43 minutes and 54 seconds. While the Full Scan average is comparable to last year's, the Quick Scan was approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds slower than last year's average.
CNET Labs' benchmarks found both Norton Internet Security 2012 and Norton AntiVirus 2012 to have performed well, although not as strongly as some of their competitors. Note that we can't directly compare this year's results with last year's because we upgraded our testing computer from Windows 7 x64 to Windows 7 x64 with Service Pack 1.
NIS 2012 slowed down the Labs' computer boot time by about 11.8 seconds, one of the fastest scores this year, whereas NAV 2012 added an unimpressive 21.2 seconds. This is in line with previous years, which saw NIS do better on boot than NAV.
Both had a very small impact on the computer's shutdown time, slowing it down only by about 4 seconds compared with an unprotected computer. Scan times for both were disappointingly average in the Labs; in previous years, they were aggressively competitive. However, our in-use system performance tests, the iTunes decoding, Microsoft Office, media multitasking, and Cinebench tests, showed both Norton suites having a low-level impact on our test computer. This means that, all things being equal, you're not going to notice much when Norton is running as you go about your computing business.
| Security program | Boot time | Shutdown time | Scan time | MS Office performance | iTunes decoding | Media multitasking | Cinebench |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unprotected system | 40 | 6 | n/a | 395 | 120 | 342 | 17,711 |
| Average of all tested systems (to date) | 63.0 | 15.8 | 1,136 | 416 | 125 | 348 | 17,112 |
| Norton AntiVirus 2012 | 61.2 | 9.9 | 1,154 | 403 | 125 | 344 | 17,007 |
| Norton Internet Security 2012 | 51.8 | 10.3 | 1,066 | 410 | 123 | 343 | 17,386 |
*All tests measured in seconds, except for Cinebench. On the Cinebench test, the higher number is better.
In independent threat detection and removal tests, Norton is a top performer. In the AV-Test.org test on Windows 7 from the first quarter of 2011, Norton Internet Security 2011 scored 15 out of 18 overall, one of the better suites tested. The suite had a 5.5 rating out of 6 in Protection, a 5.0 in Repair, and a 4.5 in Usability.
The second-quarter 2011 test, on a Windows XP computer, definitely showed improvement in some areas and regression in others. It scored 13.5 out of 18 overall, a solid midrange score. The suite improved in Protection and Repair with a 5.0 rating out of 6 for both, but Usability dropped to 3.5 most likely due to false positives.
Third-quarter results aren't in yet, but results shared by AV-Test.org with CNET indicate that the suite continues to perform well. It notched a 98.94 percent malware detection rate, higher than the overall average rate of 97.31 percent in August 2011 certification testing, but not as high as some competitors, such as Bitdefender. The suite was able to remove 83.3 percent of active malware infections, only slightly higher than the industry average of 80 percent. In AV-Test.org's zero-day attacks test, Bitdefender blocked 100 percent of the attacks, compared with the average August 2011 certification results of 92.16 percent. The suite also did not find any false positives.
The most recent AV-Comparatives.org Whole Product test, which looks at on-demand scanning, retroactive tests, and "real-world" guards including cloud-based protections, puts Norton Internet Security 2011 toward the front of the class, out of 17 suites tested. Looking at Whole Product test results cumulatively from January 2011 to June 2011 found that AVG came in 13th, blocking 99.1 percent of threats.
Dennis Technology Labs, a member of the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), found in January 2011 that Norton Internet Security 2011 earned an overall protection score of 142 (PDF), tied with Trend Micro. Norton also had zero false-positive warnings during the test.
Following the path blazed by Norton 2009 through 2011, Norton continues to build a strong performance record based on excellent detection, fast scan times, and low false positives. However, it's clear that according to some tests, there's been some small slippage.
Conclusion
Symantec positions its premium security suite, Norton Internet Security 2012, as one of the best paid-license security suites available. The tight integration of behavioral threat detection, in conjunction with serious attention to download stability, makes Norton a compelling choice. The extras are worthwhile, too, especially for people looking for one security solution that includes mobile. There's no doubt that this is comprehensive, robust security that users can put their trust in.
Publisher's Description
From Symantec:
Norton Internet Security 2012 lets you email, chat and surf the Web without worrying about cybercriminals ripping you off. It delivers protection from online dangers without sacrificing performance. It guards against online identity theft so you can shop, bank and visit social networks with confidence. It updates automatically, offers easy-to-use features and includes free customer support during your subscription period.
What's new in this version:
- Customizable Control Center gives you the option to choose your preference between a simplified screen or the traditional detailed view.
- Identity Safe alerts have moved to the Norton Toolbar so there are less interruptions while you are online - but your passwords are still as secure as ever.
- Bandwidth Management limits Norton's processes and updates when you have limited bandwidth or monthly downloads.
- Download Insight 2.0 now tells you how stable a downloa... See all new features
Download
- NIS 2012 is, in fact, slower for many people. Check the Norton AV/NIS thread at the Norton Users Forum at Symantec.
http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Internet-Security-Norton/NIS-2012-VERY-Slow-Opening-GUI-and-Accessing-Settings/td-p/530862
I myself tried upgrading to NIS 2012 and it was palpably slower in all respects compared to 2011. I'm staying with 2011 until Symantec offers an update to correct this.SummarySymantec tinkered with what could be NIS's best version ever, namely, 2011. There IS a slowdown, no matter what reviewers say. Not everyone is running quad-core. Symantec stumbled here, after three successively improved versions (2009-2011). -
"Norton Internet Security 2012"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsNice interfaceConsI've been a huge fan/supporter of NIS since 2008. I tell you this 2012 has been very buggy and is making me reconsider looking elsewhere. I really like symantec especially the Password manager...but they tried to fix somethings that was not broke I think I'm gonna try some other Internet security suite this year.SummaryNorton Internet Security has treated me well it's just that this new 2012 version has made me decide it might be time to move on. Don't get me wrong they most likely will patch up the bugs so give it a try.More info; I also notice that all there versions since 2008 have improved with system performance but this one feel a little bit weighted down. Trust me it's not my computer I have a home built Windows 7 Professional/i7 950 CPU/ 12GB of Ram/ Video card, Nvidia GTX 460
Updated on Oct 25, 2011
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"100% Satisfaction"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0Prosfast..
high performance..
high detection rate..Consexpensive..Summaryi am satisfied ..... -
"great internet security"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0Prosfast scans, updates, nice cyber crime index, and low system resources.Conslive updates does not update frequently i have to do it manaully, detects cookies only and where are the viruses. Too many features that i dont need to use, sometimes slows the internet.Summarybut overall is a good product i recommend that at least you try it and decide if you are going to buy it or not.
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"One time star..."Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsNortons/Symantec, were great 10 yrs ago, then lost the plot and tried to be everything to everyone, Unfortunely NIS at this time decided to get into every nook and cranny of a users pc..almost impossible to remove. The latest NIS (which was recommended to me) promises to be simpler, however I find it a little daunting and convaluted.ConsAs I mentioned convaluted and daunting. No local help file (just the ones on the web which ARE indeed easy to use). The jury is out whether it can be an effective anti-spy, anti-malware, Firewall and AV program, without again going down the wrong road. For a paid app I would expected much much more, and some guarantees.SummaryUndecided about the app, and too early to tell if it can be what nortons once was.
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"Its great and new advance features no compromise!"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0Pros>fast
>reliable
>norton file insight nice job
>SONAR 3 or 4 nice detection
>Scan has decreased since the last norton IS
>cool-looking antivirus
>tough two-way firewall
>download intelligence protects you after you download and execute the fileCons>Performance Monitor is very annoying while playing games
(switched off for no disturbance)
>high-impact in scanning (it should have a limit like MSE = 50% CPU USAGE BELOWSummaryNorton is a great product I recommend this to all gamers, cpu programmers, computer engineers and on business workers to coz this doesn't compromise you (except for the buggy perfom. monitor you could choose to put it to "Log Only")
if you wondered of thinking of having an antivirus and adding more like zonealarm, sandboxie, usb disk security, and many more Norton is a great antivirus no need for you to download those to increase protection just need to be updated -
"It's good protection, it's safe, it's the BEST!"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsCompletely protects youConsHaven't found anySummaryI LOVE IT --- The ONLY way I feel safe on the web, is with Norton right besides me.
Thank you,
My Knight & Shinning Armor -
"Norton Internet Security 2012 Awesome =)"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0Pros-Good Scope Of Protection
-Good Threat Detection
-Reliable Program
-Reliable Firewall
-Nice User InterfaceConsNone that I have seen really.SummaryI have used Symantec's security products the past few years, and have realized a performance slowdown on my computer, however i decided to give Norton Internet Security 2012 a shot and bought the program. I realized, the performance of my computer hardly became slower and I was really impressed with how Symantec improved Norton Internet Security! -
"One of the best ... with the same shortcomings."Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsBeautiful design, good defense, great firewall, fast and conflict-free operation.ConsObsessive process during idle time.Not a complete uninstall (the remainder of the set of hidden files in your computer).A bit complex setup for inexperienced users.SummarySymantec does not want to abandon their obsession - performance of unnecessary processes in idle time.It slows your computer.And if we add to this confusing for novice users settings.If speak more precisely - the reluctance of many people to delve into the settings of the program, then we get the result - I uninstall Norton, the majority of my clients and install Panda, McAfee, or F-Secure Internet Security.
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"Norton is not what it used to be, and that's great!"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsVery good at catching even small, often overlooked threats.
Doesn't seem to slow down computer
Stable
Doesn't get in my way and doesn't ask for a hundred system restartsConsPrice is high, that's really about it!SummaryAnyone who is calling Norton 2012 bloatware or a resource hog has not tried Norton 2012 and are basing those statements on old versions. Norton Internet Security 2012 has really cleaned up the UI, cut WAY down on the system resources (I can't really tell I have it installed), and is very accurate in what it does. All in all, after my trial is up I will be purchasing it.
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Previous Versions:
Norton Internet Security 2012
-
Average User Rating:
3.0 stars out of 403 votes See all user reviews
Quick Specs
- Version: 19.0
- File size: 112.95MB
- Date added: September 06, 2011
- Price: Free to try; annual subscription; 30-day opt-out trial (30-day trial); $69.99 to buy
- Operating system: Windows XP/Vista/7
- Total downloads: 1,887,131
- Downloads last week: 9,340
- Product ranking: #1 in Internet Security Software Suites
- See full specifications
- Add to my list
CNET Editors' review
The bottom line: Low-impact performance, strong security, and useful features are the hallmarks of Norton Internet Security 2012, one of the best security suites available.Review:
Editors' note: Portions of this review are based on CNET's review of Norton Internet Security 2011.
Over the past few years, Symantec has completed a course reversal for its Norton consumer Internet security suites. The massive package of security tools works better than it ever has before, with an impressive set of features, some useful new tools including remote management and download stability analysis, and third-party security efficacy benchmarks that are at the top of the heap. Meanwhile, CNET Labs' performance benchmarks indicate that though Norton doesn't leave the smallest footprint on your system, users should see a minimal impact overall.
Norton Internet Security 2012
For the third year in a row, Norton's formerly sluggish beast now offers a smooth and fast installation operation. Once you run the installer, the program is ready to operate in about a minute--impressively fast, and doubly so considering past performance. The installation process is also the first time that you will interact with Quorum, Norton's behavior-based detection engine. You'll be asked to participate by sending anonymous data to Symantec's cloud. Opting out of the data submission, according to Symantec, will not affect your security.
Running the trial of Norton also requires registering the program. Like many programs, Norton used to force open your default browser and take you to the company's registration Web site. Now you can register from within the program. Uninstalling the software left about 10 Registry entries behind, but no other traces were detectable. Overall, Norton's installation experience was fast and hassle-free, with a minimum of configuration options--but the ones that did come up appeared necessary.
Interface
Norton Internet Security 2012 contains some changes to the 2011 interface, although the design is heavily reminiscent of the previous version. It keeps the dark theme, punctuated by yellow text, and the contrast works well. Changes this year include a reorganized and streamlined Settings interface; a "pinnable" Advanced screen--so that power users can get about their business faster--which also comes with a CPU gauge; and tweaks to the System Status indicator. This year, the interface feels more balanced between the feature display and empty space.
The simplified layout offers Scans on the left, Updates in the center, and Advanced tools on the right. Clicking on one reveals controls specific to that area of protection. At the bottom of the interface is a wide, short map of the world covered with blinking yellow dots. Each one, according to Symantec, represents a threat to one of its users that has been successfully blocked. The Activity Map visual is cute, but completely irrelevant to your personal safety. More interesting is that below the map there are a series of mobile app-style buttons. From there you can access the new Norton Management, Norton Mobile, Norton Online Family, Norton Safe Web, and Norton Backup without having to jump to your browser.
Features and support
There aren't many new features in Norton Internet Security 2012, but what's new ought to appeal to the kind of person who wants the souped-up security in this robust suite.
There's now a link at the bottom of the main interface to Norton's mobile version. Next to it is a link for Norton Management, a new tool that opens in your default Web browser that allows you to use Norton remotely. This includes monitoring security status, remote add and installation, and license key renewal. However, given the growth of the mobile market, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect a stronger connection between the two in the coming year.
One of the better new features is a change to Download Insight. This community-driven tool originally evaluated files being downloaded for security, but now it looks at their stability for other Norton users, too. There are also metered bandwidth options for people on rate-limited connections, and several interface tweaks to make the program easier on the eyes and to make it easier to find things.
The port of Norton 360's startup manager was an excellent call. If you're Windows-savvy, you're probably comfortable managing that stuff by hand, but even for those in the know, the Norton version makes startup changes easier to implement. Along with pulling in community ratings, you can toggle a process on or off, or delay it.
The Identity Safe has been improved, too. It now includes LastPass-styled password handling and cloud-based syncing and vaults, features that some competitors have had for a while. Google Chrome finally gets Safe Web support from Norton, but it's surprisingly not in Norton AntiVirus. While I understand the point of value-added features, this one seems an unnecessarily restrictive hit on users of the fastest-growing browser.
The reputation-based security checks where your programs were installed from and when they were installed, and compares that against data from the 58 million users participating in the crowd-sourced Norton Community Watch to see if any of your programs should be red-flagged. Norton's System Insight component has been bumped up to version 2.0; System Insight is the proprietary internal network that warns you when your programs unnecessarily hog system resources. This gives some extra heft to the system performance map, where you can click on any spike and see what caused it.
The third iteration of Download Insight applies the same reputation-based logic to new downloads, and the fourth version of Norton SONAR (Symantec Online Network for Automatic Response) looks for suspicious software behavior and automatically chooses protective actions. You can toggle how aggressive SONAR is in the Settings window.
Along with the quick scan, the full-system scan, and the custom scan for viruses and malware, you can now have Norton scan your Facebook wall for malicious links. There are also on-demand reputation-based quick scans, full scans, and custom scans for users who want Norton to immediately scan their installed programs. After completing a scan, Norton provides users with a summary report. More-detailed information, including scan duration and a deeper dive into threats discovered, can be read under the History option from the main window. There's also a link that you can follow in case you believe that Norton missed something in its scan, although as reputation-based protection matures, on-demand scanning becomes less of an issue when compared with the "always-on" protection offered here.
The bootable recovery tool isn't new, but it now comes with a feature that automatically creates a CD, DVD, or USB-based bootable device. The USB component is especially important on optical-drive-free systems such as Netbooks.
Norton continues to dabble in free security offerings, including the Norton Online Family parental controls, the "lite" version of Norton Safe Web, and the new Norton Power Eraser. Power Eraser is a new tool that will aggressively clean your computer of fake antivirus programs and other malware that prevents legitimate security tools from being installed.
As with the rest of the program, the support options have been streamlined behind a drop-down menu in the top right of the interface. Help opens local support, Tutorials leads to a Web site with extensive how-tos, and the Get Support link accesses the breadth of Norton's customer support in a new window. Here, users can chat with tech support 24-7, explore the user manual, and check out the Norton FAQ and knowledge base. Phone support is also available, although Symantec takes part in the trend to make phone support harder to access by funneling users to online resources.
Performance
Norton's fast installation and comprehensive feature set would be useless without solid performance, and Norton Internet Security 2012 delivers extremely high third-party efficacy benchmarks and strong performance benchmarks.
In a real-world test, Norton 2012 completed a Quick Scan in 2 minutes, 43 seconds; the Full Scan took 1 hour 43 minutes and 54 seconds. While the Full Scan average is comparable to last year's, the Quick Scan was approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds slower than last year's average.
CNET Labs' benchmarks found both Norton Internet Security 2012 and Norton AntiVirus 2012 to have performed well, although not as strongly as some of their competitors. Note that we can't directly compare this year's results with last year's because we upgraded our testing computer from Windows 7 x64 to Windows 7 x64 with Service Pack 1.
NIS 2012 slowed down the Labs' computer boot time by about 11.8 seconds, one of the fastest scores this year, whereas NAV 2012 added an unimpressive 21.2 seconds. This is in line with previous years, which saw NIS do better on boot than NAV.
Both had a very small impact on the computer's shutdown time, slowing it down only by about 4 seconds compared with an unprotected computer. Scan times for both were disappointingly average in the Labs; in previous years, they were aggressively competitive. However, our in-use system performance tests, the iTunes decoding, Microsoft Office, media multitasking, and Cinebench tests, showed both Norton suites having a low-level impact on our test computer. This means that, all things being equal, you're not going to notice much when Norton is running as you go about your computing business.
| Security program | Boot time | Shutdown time | Scan time | MS Office performance | iTunes decoding | Media multitasking | Cinebench |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unprotected system | 40 | 6 | n/a | 395 | 120 | 342 | 17,711 |
| Average of all tested systems (to date) | 63.0 | 15.8 | 1,136 | 416 | 125 | 348 | 17,112 |
| Norton AntiVirus 2012 | 61.2 | 9.9 | 1,154 | 403 | 125 | 344 | 17,007 |
| Norton Internet Security 2012 | 51.8 | 10.3 | 1,066 | 410 | 123 | 343 | 17,386 |
*All tests measured in seconds, except for Cinebench. On the Cinebench test, the higher number is better.
In independent threat detection and removal tests, Norton is a top performer. In the AV-Test.org test on Windows 7 from the first quarter of 2011, Norton Internet Security 2011 scored 15 out of 18 overall, one of the better suites tested. The suite had a 5.5 rating out of 6 in Protection, a 5.0 in Repair, and a 4.5 in Usability.
The second-quarter 2011 test, on a Windows XP computer, definitely showed improvement in some areas and regression in others. It scored 13.5 out of 18 overall, a solid midrange score. The suite improved in Protection and Repair with a 5.0 rating out of 6 for both, but Usability dropped to 3.5 most likely due to false positives.
Third-quarter results aren't in yet, but results shared by AV-Test.org with CNET indicate that the suite continues to perform well. It notched a 98.94 percent malware detection rate, higher than the overall average rate of 97.31 percent in August 2011 certification testing, but not as high as some competitors, such as Bitdefender. The suite was able to remove 83.3 percent of active malware infections, only slightly higher than the industry average of 80 percent. In AV-Test.org's zero-day attacks test, Bitdefender blocked 100 percent of the attacks, compared with the average August 2011 certification results of 92.16 percent. The suite also did not find any false positives.
The most recent AV-Comparatives.org Whole Product test, which looks at on-demand scanning, retroactive tests, and "real-world" guards including cloud-based protections, puts Norton Internet Security 2011 toward the front of the class, out of 17 suites tested. Looking at Whole Product test results cumulatively from January 2011 to June 2011 found that AVG came in 13th, blocking 99.1 percent of threats.
Dennis Technology Labs, a member of the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), found in January 2011 that Norton Internet Security 2011 earned an overall protection score of 142 (PDF), tied with Trend Micro. Norton also had zero false-positive warnings during the test.
Following the path blazed by Norton 2009 through 2011, Norton continues to build a strong performance record based on excellent detection, fast scan times, and low false positives. However, it's clear that according to some tests, there's been some small slippage.
Conclusion
Symantec positions its premium security suite, Norton Internet Security 2012, as one of the best paid-license security suites available. The tight integration of behavioral threat detection, in conjunction with serious attention to download stability, makes Norton a compelling choice. The extras are worthwhile, too, especially for people looking for one security solution that includes mobile. There's no doubt that this is comprehensive, robust security that users can put their trust in.
Publisher's Description
From Symantec:
Norton Internet Security 2012 lets you email, chat and surf the Web without worrying about cybercriminals ripping you off. It delivers protection from online dangers without sacrificing performance. It guards against online identity theft so you can shop, bank and visit social networks with confidence. It updates automatically, offers easy-to-use features and includes free customer support during your subscription period.
What's new in this version:
- Customizable Control Center gives you the option to choose your preference between a simplified screen or the traditional detailed view.
- Identity Safe alerts have moved to the Norton Toolbar so there are less interruptions while you are online - but your passwords are still as secure as ever.
- Bandwidth Management limits Norton's processes and updates when you have limited bandwidth or monthly downloads.
- Download Insight 2.0 now tells you how stable a downloa... See all new features
Download
- NIS 2012 is, in fact, slower for many people. Check the Norton AV/NIS thread at the Norton Users Forum at Symantec.
http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Internet-Security-Norton/NIS-2012-VERY-Slow-Opening-GUI-and-Accessing-Settings/td-p/530862
I myself tried upgrading to NIS 2012 and it was palpably slower in all respects compared to 2011. I'm staying with 2011 until Symantec offers an update to correct this.SummarySymantec tinkered with what could be NIS's best version ever, namely, 2011. There IS a slowdown, no matter what reviewers say. Not everyone is running quad-core. Symantec stumbled here, after three successively improved versions (2009-2011). -
"Norton Internet Security 2012"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsNice interfaceConsI've been a huge fan/supporter of NIS since 2008. I tell you this 2012 has been very buggy and is making me reconsider looking elsewhere. I really like symantec especially the Password manager...but they tried to fix somethings that was not broke I think I'm gonna try some other Internet security suite this year.SummaryNorton Internet Security has treated me well it's just that this new 2012 version has made me decide it might be time to move on. Don't get me wrong they most likely will patch up the bugs so give it a try.More info; I also notice that all there versions since 2008 have improved with system performance but this one feel a little bit weighted down. Trust me it's not my computer I have a home built Windows 7 Professional/i7 950 CPU/ 12GB of Ram/ Video card, Nvidia GTX 460
Updated on Oct 25, 2011
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"100% Satisfaction"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0Prosfast..
high performance..
high detection rate..Consexpensive..Summaryi am satisfied ..... -
"great internet security"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0Prosfast scans, updates, nice cyber crime index, and low system resources.Conslive updates does not update frequently i have to do it manaully, detects cookies only and where are the viruses. Too many features that i dont need to use, sometimes slows the internet.Summarybut overall is a good product i recommend that at least you try it and decide if you are going to buy it or not.
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"One time star..."Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsNortons/Symantec, were great 10 yrs ago, then lost the plot and tried to be everything to everyone, Unfortunely NIS at this time decided to get into every nook and cranny of a users pc..almost impossible to remove. The latest NIS (which was recommended to me) promises to be simpler, however I find it a little daunting and convaluted.ConsAs I mentioned convaluted and daunting. No local help file (just the ones on the web which ARE indeed easy to use). The jury is out whether it can be an effective anti-spy, anti-malware, Firewall and AV program, without again going down the wrong road. For a paid app I would expected much much more, and some guarantees.SummaryUndecided about the app, and too early to tell if it can be what nortons once was.
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"Its great and new advance features no compromise!"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0Pros>fast
>reliable
>norton file insight nice job
>SONAR 3 or 4 nice detection
>Scan has decreased since the last norton IS
>cool-looking antivirus
>tough two-way firewall
>download intelligence protects you after you download and execute the fileCons>Performance Monitor is very annoying while playing games
(switched off for no disturbance)
>high-impact in scanning (it should have a limit like MSE = 50% CPU USAGE BELOWSummaryNorton is a great product I recommend this to all gamers, cpu programmers, computer engineers and on business workers to coz this doesn't compromise you (except for the buggy perfom. monitor you could choose to put it to "Log Only")
if you wondered of thinking of having an antivirus and adding more like zonealarm, sandboxie, usb disk security, and many more Norton is a great antivirus no need for you to download those to increase protection just need to be updated -
"It's good protection, it's safe, it's the BEST!"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsCompletely protects youConsHaven't found anySummaryI LOVE IT --- The ONLY way I feel safe on the web, is with Norton right besides me.
Thank you,
My Knight & Shinning Armor -
"Norton Internet Security 2012 Awesome =)"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0Pros-Good Scope Of Protection
-Good Threat Detection
-Reliable Program
-Reliable Firewall
-Nice User InterfaceConsNone that I have seen really.SummaryI have used Symantec's security products the past few years, and have realized a performance slowdown on my computer, however i decided to give Norton Internet Security 2012 a shot and bought the program. I realized, the performance of my computer hardly became slower and I was really impressed with how Symantec improved Norton Internet Security! -
"One of the best ... with the same shortcomings."Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsBeautiful design, good defense, great firewall, fast and conflict-free operation.ConsObsessive process during idle time.Not a complete uninstall (the remainder of the set of hidden files in your computer).A bit complex setup for inexperienced users.SummarySymantec does not want to abandon their obsession - performance of unnecessary processes in idle time.It slows your computer.And if we add to this confusing for novice users settings.If speak more precisely - the reluctance of many people to delve into the settings of the program, then we get the result - I uninstall Norton, the majority of my clients and install Panda, McAfee, or F-Secure Internet Security.
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"Norton is not what it used to be, and that's great!"Version: Norton Internet Security 2012 19.0ProsVery good at catching even small, often overlooked threats.
Doesn't seem to slow down computer
Stable
Doesn't get in my way and doesn't ask for a hundred system restartsConsPrice is high, that's really about it!SummaryAnyone who is calling Norton 2012 bloatware or a resource hog has not tried Norton 2012 and are basing those statements on old versions. Norton Internet Security 2012 has really cleaned up the UI, cut WAY down on the system resources (I can't really tell I have it installed), and is very accurate in what it does. All in all, after my trial is up I will be purchasing it.
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