Norton Internet Security 2004

If you have IS 2003 I strongly suggest keeping it and subscibing for updates. Stay away from IS 2004. I downloaded it hoping for a more secure firewall and security package. I always upgrade. What I got was a program full of bugs and crashes and what's worse - no support.

I have 2 PCs that I loaded it on so it cannot be said that it's my other software. One PC is for media and the other for simple tasks. I never had issues with IS 2003 on either system. Since downloading IS 2004 I've had to reinstall it no less than 5 times! The program disables itself when it encounters a problem even when I'm not home. I've come home to find myself having been without firewall protection for hours. The error message that the program provides directs me to their knowledge base site. Each time this has happened the end solution is to reinstall. What's worse is the first two times I realized the issue was that IS 2003 left traces of itself behind. So basically Norton's own program is the problem. The knowledge base directs you through a complicated uninstall process involving the registry. This is okay for me but what about the average user? Why do they have to go through this when all they are looking for is a sense of security.

I've experienced problems with using LiveUpdate for updates because of the same issue. The knowledge base instructs the user to reinstall the program or go through the process of making sure IS 2003 has completely vacated the building as if it was a competitor.

Needless to say - emails to Symantec's support have gone either unanswered (I'm sure they are busy) or replied to with links to the same old knowledge base articles.

I honestly never thought I'd be writing a scathing review of a product I've been loyal to, and recommended, for years but I feel it's necessary. Please stay with IS 2003 if you are considering the upgrade. Your peace of mind will thank you for it.


To catch a falling star.   October 26, 2003
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

I rated this product 3 stars but that's just to put something in the box. A week ago it would have been no stars. Or a minus 5 stars. Today I am more generous.

This is my third virus protection program and the second from Norton. It is my first firewall program. My Norton 2000 Virus software is: #1. outdated and #2. about ready for its annual subscription payment of $25. After finally leaving a dial up connection for the real world of broadband it was time for some serious protection.

I'll get to the criticisms in a second but let me say that the installation goes quickly and smoothly. The accompaning reference manual is huge compared to the typical tacky flyers that so many programs now have. Or else they tell you to visit their Internet site which doesn't help much when your computer won't even start. The program itself is very well organized in its setup once you begin to get a feel for it. The help manual within the program is as good as the hard copy. All of this gets a 5 star rating.

OK, now for the not so nice stuff. The first two days were absolute hell. Maybe 8 hours a day online, or trying to get online, with everything going wrong. Repeated system crashes, failures to shut down correctly, failures to start up correctly, continual competing software conflicts, warning windows everywhere. Get the picture? Help!!!!!

After several days of use things settled down and today, our one week anniversary, I guess we will stay together. Maybe I have managed to twik the program enough so that it does whatever it is doing and leaves me alone to surf and download. Maybe the program really does "learn" from its environment.

The obnoixous warning windows concerning retards trying to get into my computer have now been replaced by a simple little flashing red arrow in a corner to let me know that Norton is kicking butt and has the scalps for my inspection if so needed. They provide a nice record of how many intrusions were foiled and that alone proves the value of the program. I have the parameters set for how cookies, ads, personal information, and the like are to be handled. Sites that I repeatedly visit and "exchange" data with are now veted with Norton and allowed to proceed without having to continually stop and deal with the latest warning window. And as I open all the folders and click on all the links within the program I begin to appreciate its thoroughness. The user can ad or subtract any number of things to configure the program so that it best works for them. The morally correct crowd will have a ball with all the different boxes of "sin" that you can check off under the section of Parent Control.

The virus section does its part in silence. So far anyway. I get little tiny popup windows in the corner of the screen to inform me that auto updates have been done. That's nice. My old program made me stop everything, connect to the Internet, and wait forever to download the latest files. I know how well Norton Virus software works because they have saved my butt several times in the past from ugly viruses that were attempting to take over my computer.

The entire program is a memory hog and then some. However, that negative aspect seems to have lessened in the last few days. Maybe Norton killed everyone else on my hard drive that was competing for RAM usage. :) I wouldn't put it past them. Extra memory has been found by closing down some individual programs which are available withing the System 2004 package. Their pop up ad killer is working perfectly as is the program which eliminates most of the extensive graphic rich ads which pollute so many web pages and slow the downloads.

So, one week later I feel comfortable enough with my software to walk away with the computer running, go do some shopping, and come home fully expecting to find everything running perfectly. And it is. 3 stars today and it will probably be more after the first month. Good software works in silence except when absolutely necessary to get your attention. Norton may get there.

One last thing. Others have seriously bitched about the annual renewal fee. I'm sorry but I just don't feel that I am owed a lifeterm support from anything. And definitely not for $60. I have to renew my magazines once a year, see the doctor for a physical, pay for a car registration, and so on. Norton has an ongoing product support and I have no problem paying my part of the rent. Few things are as cheap as software and yet can allow us so much freedom.


Avoid like the plague.   September 25, 2003
Bobby R. Treat (Pflugerville, TX United States)
15 out of 31 found this review helpful

I already knew something was wrong, because much of the Spam I've seen in the past six months was from resellers of Norton products. For Norton to encourage Spammers by letting them sell their products is a very bad sign.

But I have been using Norton Antivirus for several years, and McAfee's online ratings aren't much better, so -- I purchased this product online. There was a lot of confusion and I ended up with a sales basket that included the product I wanted (Norton Internet Security Professional) and also the standard (non-Pro) version I didn't want. The website also had added automatically, without asking me, the "download warranty" that lets you download again for up to one year ($6.99) for both products. I zeroed out the quantities for the three things I didn't want and went to the next page, where I expected to see only what I wanted, and a chance to confirm it before making the sale final. But no, I was charged for all four products, including the two that aren't products at all.

The run-around they put me through to request a refund was MONUMENTAL, and apparently the download warranties CAN'T be refunded. I will complain to the credit card company and get my refunds, but all this run-around is another bad sign. Is Norton in some kind of melt-down, that they have to treat customers this way? If so, what about all that support they're promising, if they go down?

Next issue: within a few minutes of installing the software, Norton blocked and reported an attempted access from the Internet, called "Default Block NetBus Trojan Horse". Great, that's what I was hoping to prevent. BUT: what was that all about? How do I know who was doing it and who do I tell, in order to get somebody put in jail? And was it real, or did Norton make it up to justify the money I spent? Based on the other issues mentioned above, I can't really trust them.

My advice: avoid Norton like the plague.


NIS 2004 is an improvement over NIS 2003   August 22, 2004
Albatross (USA)
15 out of 20 found this review helpful

PIII 1Ghz
512MB RDRAM
Windows XP Pro
80GB HD

I was able to Uninstall NIS 2003 and Install NIS 2004 with no trouble.

First, I turned off my cable modem. Then I disabled both Norton Antivirus and Norton Internet Security.
I used "Add/Remove Programs" to unistall NIS 2003. In "Add/Remove, you must selecting the program's Change button. After that was complete, I deleted the Norton Antivirus and Norton Internet Security folders left in the "Programs" section of Windows XP.

Next I de-fragged my hard drive.

I did not use the Rnis.exe, since I have WinFax Pro on my system. I did not touch the Windows Registry, for the same reason.

I installed, activated and registered NIS 2004 without issue.

So far, the Anti-Spam feature seems to be very good.


Worked for me.   November 7, 2003
ZRRIFLE (Washington, D.C.)
14 out of 17 found this review helpful

Well, I must be one of the few fortunate ones on here. Mine installed no problem (but I DID uninstall my Norton Anti-Virus 2002 & Personal Firewall 2002 first). Seems to work great. Sorry to hear about all the other folk's problems....makes me wonder why I'm NOT having any (I'm running Win XP as well).