Software Review of:
Norton AntiVirus 
2001 

The opening screen for installation has a number of options and I decided to explore some of them before performing the installation. There were the usual special offers but what really got my attention were the videos. The first one was about viruses and played like a short science fiction movie with, of course, a plug for Symantec. There was also a movie about the SARC (Symantec AntiVirus Research Center) and a Norton Antivirus Guided Tour. After viewing all the movies, I clicked on install and the installation was very smooth. After installation my “job” was to sign on to the Internet and run Live Update. The program went out to check for updates, told me what I needed and proceeded to download and install – all without a hitch. I am puzzled though because I had set the program for automatic updates that I understood would occur every time I was on the Internet. Apparently though the automatic update did not check when I was on the Internet previously. After the updates were completed, I did a full system scan as recommended and while Norton was scanning my system I was writing this review. Norton also reminded me to make my Rescue Disks. One thing that I really like about this program is that the installation CD will function as an emergency disk if needed and if your PC will boot from the CD-ROM drive.

Norton’s Antivirus window has two sides. On the left side is a list of areas including system status, e-mail status, scan for viruses, reports, and scheduling. The right side lists the items in each area. The system status shows when you last did an update, how many days of free updates are left, how many viruses found if any, viruses in quarantine if any, and any items that need yet to be done. The reports are thorough and interesting. It shows every instance of system scan and the final results of the scan. It also has a list of 51,820 viruses that Norton protects against. While most of the names are numbers or combinations of letters or letters and numbers, some have interesting names. Names like Acid Rain, Fisher Price, Zyrtec, and a long list of others.

If Norton finds a virus while scanning your system, it will post a virus alert. Your first option should be to click on repair. Norton will then eliminate the virus and repair the infected item(s). If the virus cannot be eliminated and the file or program repaired then Norton allows you to quarantine the virus so that you can submit the virus to Symantec. Your third option would be to stop the current operation and lastly if you are sure that the detection is not actually a virus, you can click on continue and finish what you are doing. There is also an “exclude” option but that is reserved for system administrators. An example of when you can safely continue is software that I recently installed. The installation instructions indicated that if Norton said it had a virus, it actually was a specific file and should not raise a concern. Interestingly enough I installed that software before Norton and have not had a problem — apparently Norton did not see the file in question.

The comprehensive User’s Guide provides a compilation of “What’s new in Norton AntiVirus 2001”. 

1. Automatic Live Update checks for new virus definitions while you are connected to the Internet without interrupting your work. 
2. SmartScan improves file scanning and reduces problems encountered from constant background virus monitoring. 
3. SmartScan represents a significant security enhancement. 
4. Comprehensive e-mail scanning protection detects viruses lurking in e-mail attachments before you ever open the attachment and scans all of your e-mail accounts. 
5. The bootable CD provides AntiVirus protection that lets you easily recover from virus emergencies. 

Norton AntiVirus has consistently won top awards from PC World, PC Magazine, and Windows Magazine. In addition, Norton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee that I know, from experience with another package, will be honored promptly. Norton AntiVirus is readily available at CompUSA, Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart and most office supply stores. The retail price is $39.95 but every week during the month I was writing this review someone was running a special. One retailer offered a $20.00 rebate one week, while the next week two or more retailers offered it for a rebate equal to the purchase price if you also bought the Microsoft Money/Money Deluxe program. Norton Antivirus is also available on the Web  or from Symantec Customer Sales and Service, 10201 Torre Ave., Cupertino, CA 95014.