Norton Internet Security 2005 - AntiSpyware Edition product reviews

These days, with so many new avenues of communication for hackers and viruses to exploit, a single solution is rare, and usually best found as a series of individual components at around $80 per.

Not this time. For less than the cost of any 3 component features, you can buy a comprehensive package that covers all the bases, with 6 key systems that you can mix'n'match to suit your needs.

We have the classic and ever-effective Antivirus, covering such a huge range of threats it makes you glad to have it around. Personal Firewall has kept pace with the times, and is just as secure as it ever was.

The Privacy Control is great for keeping various personal information under wraps, out of the 'general pool' of data floating through the net, just waiting to be grabbed and abused by someone filtering for it. With site-by-site rules for each website you visit, and default behaviours to new and unknown sites, it is very easy to tailor the software to give you smooth and trouble-free browsing.

The big new feature though, is the Anti-Spyware feature. From the moment you install it, your system is cleaned of it's current infestation of spyware, and is kept this way as long as you keep it updated. However, you might be running some favoured piece of software that is adware-powered, and you're OK with paying that price to keeop the functionality running... not a problem, simply tell Anti-Spyware to ignore that one, and it will, leaving it free to do it's thing unobstructed, yet still leaving you with banner-free browsing on the web.

The Parental Control is simply a must for parents who allow their kids 'net access from the home PC. Blocking the greater majority of explicit emails, R- and X-rated tagged content, porn sites and portals, and even the worst of the newsgroups... it's peace-of-mind on a disc for us.

It even lets you know of any new outbreaks, and checks to ensure you are protected against them before they hit you. If you aren't protected, a discrete alert pops up and gives you one-click update protection.

overall, a stunning package well worth the price. Sure, there are cheaper options, even free options available for download from a thousand places, but you must remember, you get what you pay for. Symanetc have a huge investment behind the software you install, with a huge infrastructure who's sole reason for being is to keep your PC free of nasties. That is worth the extra few dollars it costs.