Best Reviewed
Internet Security Software
- Best Internet security suite Norton Internet Security 2012 *Est. $70
- Budget Internet security software Bitdefender Internet Security 2012 *Est. $40
Get info about new reports and updates
- Full-featured
- Extremely effective anti-virus program
- User interface
- Competition handles malware better
- Installation issues
- System drag
December 2007. We found about as many complaints for Norton Internet Security as we did compliments. The most critical review, on CNET, rates it as "good" but calls the interface "ghastly" and says system slowdowns (a common complaint about any security suite) are excessive. There are much more positive reviews from two extremely credible sources, PCMag.com and PC World magazine. It's worth noting that the latter ranks Norton first even though it's slightly outperformed in malware testing. On the other hand, Norton Internet Security 2008 rates extremely well in every anti-virus test we saw.
CNET, Consumer Reports magazine, PCMag.com and PC World magazine all base their reviews on thorough testing and have solid, long-term reputations for objectivity. PC Advisor's star ratings would be more credible if one expert handled a genre -- the security suite reviews are by different authors''. User reviews at CircuitCity.com and Amazon.com can be helpful.
Our Sources
1. CNET
CNET produces professional reviews based on thorough testing. Vamosi gives Norton Internet Security 2008 three out of five stars. The protection is fine, he says, but the interface is "ghastly," the programs can slow down the computer, and there's a charge for tech support.
Review: Norton Internet Security 2008, Robert Vamosi, Nov. 28, 2007
2. ConsumerReports.org
Consumer Reports rates 11 security suites, including Norton Internet Security 2008, based on thorough testing. The review chart is behind a subscribers-only wall, however, and there's little information beyond what's presented there.
Review: Ratings: Security Suites, Editors of Consumer Reports, Sept. 2008
3. PCMag.com
PCMag.com has a broad frame of reference in testing software, and the Editors'' Choice award goes to Norton Internet Security 2008. The only knocks are the spam filter and "rudimentary" parental controls. PCMag.com readers give the suite a much lower overall ranking.
Review: Norton Internet Security 2008, Neil J. Rubenking, Sept. 7, 2007
PC World calls upon AV-Test.org for help with performance testing eight different security suites. Norton Internet Security 2008 ranks first overall, although it doesn't show the highest success rate against malware.
Review: Top All-in-One Security Suites: Tried and Tested, Erik Larkin, Dec. 2, 2007
5. Which.co.ukDetails/Subscribe
British consumer magazine Which? rates and scores security software, but ''a subscription is required to read individual reviews.
Review: Security Software, Editors of Which?
6. PC AdvisorDetails/Subscribe
Not all of PC Advisor's reviews are by the same writer, which makes the overall ratings potentially less useful. Norton gets four out of five stars here, and reviewer Roger Gann says it's "as good as it ever was…a solid choice."
Review: Norton Internet Security 2008, Roger Gann, Oct. 4, 2007
7. Amazon.com
There are more than 180 posted owner reviews at Amazon.com, and nearly half give Norton Internet Security 2008 very low scores. The rest give it medium-to-high marks. Complaints center mostly on installation issues and system slowdowns.
Review: Norton Internet Security 2008 up to 3 Users Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com
Internet Security Software Runners Up:
6 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
 |
||
|
|
 |
||
|
|
 |
||
|
|
 |
||
|
|
