Norton Internet Security 2012

Keep your computer safe from the slings and arrows of outrageous, uh...malware with this best of breed security suite.

You're gonna hear me say this a lot here. Soft32 is serious about security software, and keeping your computer safe from malware. All of our downloads are certified malware free, and you're going to hear us talk up anti-malware and Internet suites quite a bit. Case in point – Norton and Symantec are synonymous with security and safe computing. This is why we love it for both on Windows and Mac machines.

Norton Internet Security for Windows runs on Windows XP SP 2 or later, Windows Vista SP 1 or later and Windows 7. The Mac versions runs on OS X 10.4.11 to 10.7; and it includes versions 4.x and 5.x so it runs on both Intel and PPC based Macs. Version 5.x is for Intel multi-core processors only. If you have an early Intel based Mac or a PowerPC based Mac, then Version 4 is for you. However, both will provide you with advanced security options and will protect your home network and your data from malware.

NIS protects you while you surf with Norton Safe Web. It proactively protects you while you surf by identifying and blocking unsafe and fake websites right in your search results. However, this feature requires Mac OS X 10.7 if you're a Mac user. Its anti-phishing technology blocks fraudulent phishing websites trying to steal your identity and your money. Its Smart Two-Way Firewall prevents cybercriminals from hacking into your machine, and from stealing your personal information and messing with your data.

The best thing about NIS is that its location aware. It lets you adjust your level of protection depending upon where you’re using your Mac.  It has settings for at home, the office, the local coffee shop, on the road, etc.

Pros: Platform/processor independent.

Cons: Norton Save Web requires Lion, requires a subscription fee for anti-malware definitions and protection.

Conclusion: NIS' most venerated features are its Vulnerability Protection. NIS updates itself daily to stop cybercriminals from exploiting vulnerabilities in applications and other software to sneak threats onto your computer.  NIS includes Norton Anti-Virus, and with it, you get protection for your data agains viruses, spyware and other threats without huge performance impact. Best of all, NIS also scans your email for suspicious attachments and other malware.

As much as Symantec says that NIS doesn't slow your computer down, you should expect some dip in performance, especially if scans happen during the day, while you're using the computer.