Oh look, a random **** reviewed it, without actually having much technical knowledge to be a technical reviewer. Not sure why I am responding, as this review is pure ****.

Add the fact that you absolutely have to create a Norton account and you will understand why our bad feeling about this suite.

Interesting.. He had a ‘bad feeling’ before even testing it? Then he says the fact you need to register is ‘ridiculous’? A lot of security products require you to register, what’s the big deal?

Norton Security 2015 only acts when you start downloading malware on your computer.

As opposed to what? Using some neural net implant, to determine malware BEFORE it arrives? This isn’t a UTM, it’s an ENDPOINT product. Maybe someone should point out to this guy the difference between a UTM/NGFW, URL Scanner, and Anti-Malware product? The fact is, Norton ‘sandboxes’ the download, then runs a serious of diagnostics, it’s not actually ‘downloaded’ in the real sense that you can run it and infect yourself, it’s still isolated, and being evaluted.

It only scans the drive when you access it, and only the folders you open (not the entire drive). The worst part is that it only detected half of the 26 infected files we had on the memory stick. We triggered a manual scan for this drive. This time, Norton Security 2015 managed to find 2 more malware samples.

Aren’t things SUPPOSED to be scanned as they are accessed? Does everyone really want incessant ‘Do you want to scan this USB?’ or long scans everytime a drive is placed in? I sure don’t, and I am sure most people would rather not endure that annoyance. So let’s scan when it’s accessed. So it detected 15 out of 26 samples on the drive. Do you run any of the undetected ones? No – you didn’t.. I challenge you to run each and every one of them, one at a time, and let us know how it went. We know how it will go – Norton will implement ‘additional’ technologies (Insight, Sonar, Reputation), and stop every one of them. Since they aren’t ‘running’ they aren’t really a threat – but Norton decided to take care of more than half anyway – be thankful.

Then, we took a clean Windows 8.1 installation and infected it with a dozen malware samples. Then we downloaded and installed Norton Security 2015. Everything worked smoothly. Once installed, the suite should have automatically launched its protection processes. But it did not!

So you essentially ran a test that nobody in their right mind would consider a valid test.. Taking a clean machine, horrendously infecting it, then taking a PROTECTION suite, and expecting it to install, and clean the machine? Let’s not even mention the fact that you loaded it up with trojans that likely WILL prevent ‘known’ products like Norton (and every other one) from being installed. That’s why MBAM has Chameleon developed – specially for this. It’s at this point I want to call you a m***, but I will refrain.

First of all, mind your language.

Secondly:
1. There are security vendors that don’t force you to register just to use trials of their suites. That is very nice! Forcing you to give your personal details is NOT OK. What if you don’t like the suite and you won’t buy it? Why should you create an account you’ll never use?
2. The best security suites on the market don’t let you download malware on your computer. You’re blocked BEFORE it arrives on your computer. You don’t need a neural implant for that.
3. Scanning a USB memory stick before actually accessing it is a good approach. Scanning things only when you access them is a lesser approach. Say you plug in a stick and you only access one folder out of many on it. That folder is cleaned, the others are not. Than, you give that stick to a friend who doesn’t use an antivirus. Are there any chances for him to he get infected?
4. You say I’m not in my right mind if I want to test how a security suite handles an already infected computer. Just look around… many users buy an antivirus especially AFTER their computers are infected. Why? To clean the malware already found on their drives.

Thirdly, we don’t “benchmark” products, we’re testing them in real life scenarios.

This is what I would like to add to your test

1. Bitdefender, Kaspersky, ESET, GData (just to name a few) all “force” you to give them your email address when using their trial-version.

2. Kaspersky, ESET, FSecure also take their time with downloading updates. Funnily enough, Kaspersky always warned me to update the database when I was offline, but took up to 30 minutes to install updates when I went online.

3. I’m not sure what you mean by browser add-on. You don’t need to switch on the Norton toolbar for browser protection. All antivirus only guarantee full compability with IE, FF, and Chrome. Some support Opera.

4. I suppose resource drainage really varies with the setup you use. I found Kaspersky and Bitdefender slowed down my system a lot while ESET and Norton were really lightweight and unobtrusive

5. Offline documentation for Norton is in the automatically installed pdf handbook.

6. I don’t know what went wrong with your usb-stick testing. The minute I add an external drive Norton scans it. You have to set it up to do that though. However, you have to set it up with the other AVsuites as well.

7. ESET installs without any complaints in an infected OS.

8. Norton 2015 is tested by AV and Dennis Technology Labs. As for why Norton isn‘t tested by AV Comparatives anymore: “…Similarly, testing security products with just a file scan, as seen in the recent AV-Comparatives report and similar types of tests, is misleading. Such a testing approach does not accurately represent the real-world threat conditions seen today – and also does not accurately represent the level of protection provided by a security product. Putting forward conclusions from such flawed testing creates confusion and does a disservice to consumers. Symantec has long been an advocate of independent “whole product” or “real-world” tests that most closely represent the threat environment and utilize all of the proactive technologies provided with a product. Symantec consistently ranks at the top of real-world tests performed by independent testers. The Norton products have received recognition for industry-leading protection in real-world, unsponsored tests conducted by independent testing labs such as AV-TEST and Dennis Technology .These labs evaluate each product in realistic infection scenarios that typical users might experience.” By Alejandro Borgia, senior director, product management, Symantec Corporation

I am glad I read your article. I was going crazy trying to put the Norton Vault on the google chrome. I don’t sign up with Google because they are invasive, however, IE is not great for searching. I keep IE for my basics – I don’t know about the other security software which may be good for my HP running Win 7 64 bit. I’m waiting for my present equipment to die before I go for something else. I now have some idea about renewing Norton. Thanks!

Have been running Norton 360 on my XP (svc pack 3) machine without problems. Because Norton sales rep explained 360 was being phased out and Security Premium was totally compatible and included better features, I opted to renew with Security Premium. BIG MISTAKE!!!
After installing excel did not function properly, email messages would not open properly, email links would not open, internet windows kept crashing – totally locking up computer, unit would not respond to close & restart commands, had to unplug to reboot. Upon restarting, some desk top icon positions were rearranged. Just spent an entire day screwing with tech support trying to repair. Very courteous, but obviously not prepared to deal successfully with the problem. After much wasted time & ineffective communication, they removed & reinstalled program. Half hour later same problems. So, I have wasted 8 hrs of my life – and now will need more – dealing with a product that obviously is NOT compatible with XP – the techs response was to only open & use one internet tab at a time. Yes – that will be great for business productivity! There is ample memory free on this device.
As far as I am concerned, Norton Security Premium is NOT COMPATIBLE with XP.