NewsSymantec Releases Public Betas of Norton Internet Security 2009 and Norton Antivirus 2009

Ping any enthusiast forum about security software and you'll likely get conflicting recommendations. But one thing most advanced PC users seem to agree on is that there are better, faster alternatives than Symantec's Norton software. With the release of Norton Internet Security and Norton Antivirus 2009, Symantec is telling those users to take another look.

Helping them do that, Symantec today has gone live with public betas for both programs, which the company purports are "designed to set a new industry standard for speed and performance." Symantec calls it their "zero-impact" performances goal and says it has implemented more than 300 improvements running the gamut from scanning engine tweaks to a better user interface. Even the installation looks to waste no time, with Symantec touting a one-minute install time and "less than half the memory usage of the next leading competitor."

Why the sudden interest in speed? "Based on customer feedback, we viewed performance as the key feature for this release. Our goal is to create the fastest security product in the world, hands down," said Rowan Trollope, Senior VP of Consumer Products.

Find out what else is new with Norton 2009 after the jump.

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windows, Software, Security, Internet, antivirus, beta, norton, 2009, symantic
Ask the DoctorPowerful PC Protection

Ask the Doctor LogoHow much antivirus and firewall protection do I need? I just purchased a laptop that comes with Norton Security 2007. I had also planned on using Webroot AntiVirus, which includes a firewall and anti-spyware protection. I also thought about using ThreatFire after I read about it in Maximum PC (February 2008), as well as Spybot Search & Destroy. Is all this overkill? What do you recommend?

—Evan Jr. Valdez

After the jump: Our experts' answers!

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ask the doctor, norton, spybot search & destroy, threatfire
NewsHotfix Here for Vanishing Device Manager and Network Connection After XP SP3 Upgrade

Windows XP SP3

Microsoft has always recommended disabling antivirus programs before upgrading Windows. Most of us have smiled, nodded, waved, and done whatever we pleased. Unfortunately, some Windows XP SP3 installs failed because antivirus was running - and some installs "worked," but caused big problems with Device Manager and Network Connections.

To find out why it happened and how to fix your system, catch us after the break.

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2
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windows, microsoft, operating system, Software, windows xp, antivirus, Windows XP SP3, XP SP3, norton, SP3
FROM THE ARCHIVEWatchdog: March 2008

Our consumer advocate investigates the Dog's fuzzy math, KillerPings.com's disappearing act, and Norton's three-user license.

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gaming, iPod, Watchdog, norton

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