With viruses such as Sobig and Blaster making headlines around the world, it is more important than ever to install effective anti-virus software to protect your PC.

Packages such as Norton Antivirus (NAV) are able to cope with these new threats. And, like most anti-virus programs, NAV can be updated by downloading new virus 'definitions' that allow it to combat nasties the moment they appear.

This is good news for anyone who already uses NAV to protect their computer, but it presents a problem for developers such as Symantec when they decide to upgrade their anti-virus products. Simply protecting you against viruses is no longer enough, so Symantec is forced to seek additional features that expand the scope of the software.

This latest version, Norton Antivirus 2004, is still a worthwhile investment, but it suggests that Symantec is fresh out of ideas. The program is available in both Standard and Professional versions, but the main virus and security features are the same in both versions.

The first new feature isn't going to win the package any new fans. When you install NAV, you need to activate the software by going to Symantec's website and entering the product's serial number. You're given 15 days to do this. If you don't activate it in time, however, the application will stop working altogether. If you fail to hit the deadline, you could find yourself attacked by a virus and then unable to use a product for which you've legitimately paid.

We were also disappointed with the other main addition to this upgrade, which is the ability to locate adware or spyware. Adware refers to programs, such as the pestilent Gator, which can be downloaded and installed on your PC without your knowledge. File-sharing programs such as Kazaa are key offenders here, often including adware programs as part of their installation process. These adware programs can then feed an endless number of annoying and intrusive pop-up adverts to your web browser.

To test this feature we installed Kazaa, along with its annoying Cydoor adware. Although NAV was able to locate the various Cydoor files, it wasn't able to delete them. This is because the Kazaa software has been designed not to run without Cydoor. That's not Symantec's fault, but it does mean this aspect of NAV doesn't live up to its claims.

A more effective feature is the new ability to scan compressed file archives, downloaded from peer-to-peer networks or sent via instant messaging software.However, there's still a hole in the security here. The program has had the ability to scan incoming emails for some time, but it can only scan those sent via well-known applications such as Outlook Express or Eudora. It doesn't work with AOL's email software, Lotus Notes or Hotmail, all of which must account for several million users around the world, so it would seem Symantec needs to close a pretty big loophole.

The new protection features discussed here are available in both versions of NAV 2004. However, the Professional edition boasts a few extra features as well. There's the Unerase Wizard, which can help you recover deleted files, and a utility called Wipe Info, which can permanently erase files you don't want anyone else to see. These are fairly minor additions, and they've both been borrowed from Symantec's stablemate - Norton Utilities - which again suggests that Symantec was lacking in inspiration for this upgrade. However, the fact that Professional gives you a two-user licence for only £10 more than the single-user version, which costs £39.99, is probably the one feature that will help Symantec sell copies.

Norton Antivirus 2004 does work well as your PC's first line of defence against viruses and is worth buying if you don't already own some sort of anti-virus software. The low cost of the two-user Professional version also makes it good value for small-business users. However, the new adware feature isn't a roaring success and doesn't make this a must-have upgrade for existing NAV owners.

Contact: Symantec 01628 592 222
www.symantec.co.uk

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