Keep out internet invaders with all-in-one personal security

Life is easier with firewall, antivirus and antispam all in one.

Since Symantec integrated all the components of online security - firewall, antivirus and antispam into one package - life has become a lot easier for the average computer user trying to stay safe online.

You can probably get more effective individual components than those contained within Norton Internet Security 2006, but who wants to pay separate suppliers and maintain different software packages?

NIS 2006 is a worthy update to its predecessor. Installation takes about 20 minutes, though the final scan of the hard drive can take longer depending on how many files are stored and how infested the machine is with spyware and viruses.

The well-respected Antivirus component scans for all known viruses and spyware, but it's effective only if the newest malware definitions are continually downloaded.

The component has an AutoProtect function that scans files as they are accessed, and suspected malware is automatically quarantined.

The Schedule feature scans to run whenever the user wants, preferably at night as it can sap processing power.

Norton has increased the size of the tab in the desktop tray, which brings up a useful window summarising security status. The actual control panel looks the same except for the Norton Protection Centre, which provides a very good overview of the whole system and options to fix any outstanding issues. Keep the icons green here and you'll be protected.

A new feature protects against the annoying "Coolweb" variety of Internet Explorer browser hijacks that were common last year. The user's default homepage now cannot be changed without their permission.

The most confusing part of internet security for many users is the firewall, which is there to deflect direct attacks launched via the "ports" or communications connections of a computer. NIS used to throw up all sorts of pop-up screens after installation as it detected new software that was trying to access the internet.

The initiation is now a lot smoother - the firewall starts off in learning mode, silently watching all the programmes that regularly access the internet and creating security rules for them. Learning mode eventually switches off and new additions are queried with the traditional pop-up.

A personal protection system allows users to enter passwords, credit card numbers and important details in a secure zone, ensuring they are safe from hackers and phishers. It would be the motherlode if hackers could get in, but Symantec assures me they can't.

The firewall is the most active part of the package, as a scan of the computer's activity log will show. Our computers are constantly bombarded by automated attacks designed to place keylogging and Trojan software to take control of them. Without a robust firewall such as NIS, users are wide open to attack.

Once again, users can set security rules for different situations - at home, at the office, away or for a wireless network.

Norton Antispam won't look any different for people upgrading from NIS 2005, but it has some new features while remaining a solid and easily trainable filter for email traffic.

If you never receive legitimate messages written in Chinese, you can set Norton to block all Chinese characters, which spam is often written in. Antispam will also block suspicious emails, such as those that have invisible text or obscured URLs.

I had a problem getting NIS to allow my Woosh internet phone system to work properly. I rang the helpdesk and found my options were to have the potential answer emailed to me for free or pay a $40 fee to have an engineer talk me through it over the phone. I went for the cheap option, but the information didn't help. I resorted to an internet geek forum and managed to solve my problem.

As we're now locked into annual subscriptions with security software, free helpdesk support - say two free calls a year - should be standard.


Norton Internet Security 2006

* Pros: Good all-round protection, nice interface.
* Cons: Minimal technical support, long scan times.
* Price: $128
* Herald Rating: 7/10