Norton Internet Security 2004

Unfortunately, Symantec has since chosen to follow McAfee's lead in selling unbundled programs (It's better to sell 10 programs at $30 each than one integrated suite at $100), with conflicts between the programs, lots of bugs, no customer service, and a $30/year per program charge for updates.

The only way we can show our dissatisfaction with this sort of foolishness is to vote with our feet. So I'm offering the following alternative, hoping that other reviewers will suggest others.

Trend Micro has just come out with "PC-cillin Internet Security 2004," an upgrade of "PC-cillin 2003" (a top-rated anti-virus program---see Amazon user reviews), which offers a personal firewall providing protection from network viruses, spam email, inappropriate web content, and Spyware programs.

If you do decide to move away from Symantec, you should be aware that the normal uninstall process will not remove all Symantec files from your computer (this has been a serious problem with Symantec from the beginning). In the case of Norton Anti-Virus and Norton Internet Security, the remaining files are likely to conflict with replacement software (they definitely do conflict with Trend Micro's products). To remove them, go to Symantec's website and download a file named "RnisUPG.exe". Run it, and it will remove the offending files.


To catch a falling star, part 2.   November 12, 2003
149 out of 159 found this review helpful

In late Oct. I wrote a review of this product based on my intitial impressions from around 2 weeks of use. I gave the product 3 stars after a number of hassles that seemed to be ending. Well, this weekend I uninstalled this piece of crap for the 4th and last time. And like virutally everything else about the product, even the uninstall didn't work correctly and I am still suffering from Norton's mess that they loaded onto my computer. Here's the lowdown on a worthless software program that will stay in memory as the single most destructive thing I have ever had around.

It hogs memory. I went out and bought another 128mb which Norton instantly grabbed. 374mb and you would have thought I had an orignal antique computer from the 50s. Both the boot and shut down times lasted so long I could take a bathroom break and still get back before anything had finished. While the computer was on I continually heard my hard drives doing something almost nonstop.

The program often misdownloads during startup. You are suppose to see icons for the virus and firewall in your bottom tray. No icons means you can't open the program. It is runing in the background but will not open a window regardless of what you do. The only solution is to completely shut down and then restart your computer. Do this 2 or 3 times a day and things get tiring real fast. Norton's excellent online help site mentions that changing the order in which it is loaded may solve this problem. Part way into a major rewrite of my set up, and I'm not a computer geek, convinced me that I didn't buy a program to learn how to write software.

The program often refuses to let you on the Internet. This is what did it for me in the end. I got so sick of being unable to connect. It would take a complete uninstall, and I mean complete, to solve the problem. Just using your start/settings/control panel/uninstall was not enough. You had to also do a start/find/norton&symantec and delete every darn thing before whatever mess they created was finally removed. The last and final time I did this Norton must have realized I was dumping them forever because the Uninstall refused to start. :) Haha. I kid you not. 4, count them, 4 complete shutdowns and startups on the computer were needed before the Uninstall would finally begin to work. And then I had to manually delete anything I could find with their name on it. I have a sneaking hunch there is still stuff on the hard drive but several hidden files I tried to change are somehow producted by Windows so I decided to leave them as they are.

I am running a free version of ZoneAlarm at the moment and shopping for a new virus program. I had Norton AntiVirus before and was happy with it but I'm frankly scared to install anything with their name on it after what happened. I don't like buggy software and I hate stuff that digs into your system and hides itself everywhere and then refuses to leave.


Full featured but heavy running   September 23, 2003
MoonHowler (Claremont, CA USA)
141 out of 155 found this review helpful

This is a very full featured product. It checks every 5 minutes for virus and spam definition updates. Also, with one click you can help train your spam killer. And the firewall came with a wizard which made it effortless to configure it to my LAN.

So it is with deep regrets that I uninstalled this program. I think I would have loved it if it did not slow down my machine so much. Relatedly, the burden on Windows 98 resources is huge. Unfortunately, one of my older programs necessary to my business would not even run. (It requires a high percent of windows resources to operate.)

I'm going back to just running Norton Antivirus, and using my router software for a firewall, google to block pop-ups, and dealing with spam the best I can with my ISP.

Maybe at some time in the future I will be able to run this program, but Windows 98 resource limitations, my computer, and my existing software make doing so now impossible.


Minus 10 stars! Ourageous Activation Scheme!!!!!   September 27, 2003
A. E. (NY United States)
66 out of 86 found this review helpful

I purchased this product a couple of days ago and lucky me I did not open the box yet. Browsing Symantec website I realized that they added product activation to their 2004 software like Norton Antivirus, System Works, and Internet Security. I'm a legitimate System Works and Internet Security user. Every year in September I upgrade to the new version. This would have been the fourth upgrade since I already own Norton Internet Security and System Works for 2001, 2002, and 2003. This new activation scheme is outrageous!!! I did not use any pirated software and I don't intend to start now but I change my hardware a lot and reinstall applications and I find that by requiring product activation Symantec hits me as a legitimate user since the product allows only 5 activations. In 4 months I will be unable to use it if I reinstall the OS 5 times, and here I am, a legitimate user and a loyal customer who paid Symantec for 4 years unable to use software I paid for. I find it outrageous and unacceptable. This is not what I deserve as a loyal customer ! There must be better ways to stop piracy.
That said, this Norton Internet Security 2004 goes back to the store and this is the last time I buy Symantec Products. I will use my older software for a time and then find some other application suite from some other software vendor, that does not reduce me a legitimate customer to the level of a software thief. Stay away from these activation schemes if you want to be able to control what you own ! They do not protect us, they protect ONLY their revenue. I'm very disappointed in Symantec and they can bet I'm no longer a Symantec user and customer. Like the guy before me said: Avoid like the plague! We have to stand for our rights as legitimate users and the only thing I can do is to stop using these programs. They invested money in developing activation schemes instead of making the program better !!!!! Shame !


Stick With Norton 2003...Ugh   October 14, 2003
Steve Sprunger (Cincinnati, OH United States)
30 out of 31 found this review helpful

Okay, how can I say this nicely? This product is absolutely not ready for release. It is buggy, slow and basically frustrates the heck out of the user. I am an IT professional and have used Norton for years, but this product is a complete and utter dud.

I just bought a new computer so I figured I would install the new Norton with the new system. Bad idea. My new computer which clocks at twice the rate of my old system is SLOWER than my old system when using Norton 2004. Also, I despise software activation. Microsoft already treats us like criminals, but we have little choice there. With Norton we can fight back because we have many alternatives.

Bottom line? Save your money. Look for copys of Norton 2003 or simply buy an alternative. This product signals the decline of Symantec and the Norton line.