Norton Internet Security 2002 Professional Edition

The package contains four key components: managed settings, productivity control, a personal firewall, and virus protection for both desktop and handheld computers. Our main interest was in the firewall security. We found that the default settings were a good middle-of-the-road approach, although your usage may vary. Accordingly, you can customize your firewall preferences to increase your security level (three grades, from minimal protection to block all until you give permission). You can also manage the applications allowed to access the Internet and how, as well as limit the use of Java applets and ActiveX controls that are prevalent on the Web today. Automatic Internet Access Control works in tandem with these options, maintaining a list of programs that are recognized safe applications (such as Netscape, Microsoft Outlook, or instant messaging software).

The firewall also protects you from port scans, in which attackers scan the ports of your computer to see what they might be able to find. Following such an attack, the AutoBlock feature will stop all inbound communication from this attacker for a half-hour. Norton Internet Security does have a flaw in this area: some users (including us) experience a complete or partial blocking of Internet access due of AutoBlock. Norton is aware of this potential and provides a handy document to troubleshoot this problem. (Our problem was resolved after rebooting our computer a second time after install.)

Other features that make this package shine include Productivity Control and the administrative settings and capabilities. If you are in charge of several computers, you'll be able to manage and monitor your group's usage of the Internet. With Productivity Control enabled, any incoming information from restricted Web sites or outgoing information from Internet applications can be blocked. The settings are linked to user accounts, allowing protection while that user is logged on. The list of blocked Web sites is managed directly by Symantec, so you won't even have to think about it (although you can block additional sites or allow for exceptions, and customize it to the application or by topic).

Bringing all of the package's resources together is Security Assistant, available only to administrators. From here, administrators can change any aspect or preference of Norton Internet Security, including Internet "zone control," intrusion-detection options, and productivity controls. Our favorite feature of the entire package is also managed here: Ad Blocking. Norton Internet Security can scan for ads and remove them from Web pages, speeding up download times and helping you maintain your sanity while surfing. And if Norton Internet Security misses an ad, simply drag the ad to the trash can icon and the ad will be remembered, and will never appear in your browser again.

Overall, the Norton Internet Security package is a good all-in-one solution to potential Internet woes. --Emilie Herbst