Norton Internet Security 2010

Last year, Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2009 stole a march on the competition by offering impressive protection in a package that was significantly leaner and meaner than its predecessors. While competing products are still playing catch-up with their 2010 editions, the latest version of Norton has hit the shelves. We're not expecting a repeat of the 2009 revolution, but it remains to be seen whether Symantec has managed to build on its lead and stay ahead of the game.

Features
The main reason you want a security suite is to protect your PC from viruses, malware and hackers. Symantec has added a new layer of security to this product - one that uses the 30 million Norton Community Watch subscribers - in an effort to pre-empt the malware writers. These users have agreed to share anonymous information with Symantec as a real-time, early-warning system and source of file-reputation information.
What this software doesn't offer is tune-up and back-up options - if you want these, you'll have to get Norton 360, which is due an update in the first quarter of 2010.

Performance
Norton remains in the top tier of security when it comes to detection rates. While its signature scanning is second to none (particularly in the speed department, thanks to the ultra-regular updates, background scanning and intelligent partial scanning introduced in the last version), it relies on viruses and malware being found, analysed and combated - a method that's known to catch around 90 per cent of the malware problems out there. However, it doesn't catch a relatively new wave of threat where one virus writer generates tens of thousands of viruses, each subtly different. These viruses are designed to bypass signatures, which essentially look for and block known malicious files. So Symantec's new technology uses Norton Community Watch members to suggest how reputable a file is. If it's brand new, Internet Security will block it, or at least ask whether you're sure you want to run it.

Ease of use
It's possible to get decent security for your PC from other places, but no-one else offers Norton's classy interface. This has been tweaked so that all the behind-the-scenes information about your PC, along with extra customisation options, are hidden from sight. They're there if you drill down, but if all you want to do is install the software and leave it to do its job, you'll still be completely protected. With such a compelling and multi-layered interface, though, you're encouraged to explore and delve deeper.

Value for money
Norton isn't the cheapest of suites but, at £49.99 for a year's worth of protection for three PCs, it's not outrageous. With Norton, you really get what you pay for and the quality of the overall package shines through. As always, you could get many of its individual features elsewhere for free but it's Norton's comprehensive cover and coherent interface that you're paying for, which is well worth the money if you're not the sort of person who wants to spend ages tweaking and configuring security software.