Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I originally bought Norton Systemworks 3.0 and somewhere between Pather and Tiger I started getting more errors than help from it. Last April I thought I'd fix it by buying NIS. Oh have I been sorry. No more protection and three times the error messages everytime I start up. Not to mention I couldn't use the Mac's built-in firewall because regardless of whether the Norton Personal Firewall was enabled it was still telling the system there was another firewall running.
As others have commented, the Uninstall app on the CD from Symantec does nothing but produce a long string of 'Unknown Error' messages (this seems to be the company's specialty). So I restarted my powerbook in target mode and, using my wife's iBook I systematically trashed every app, extension, shortcut and even web page that spotlighted 'symantec', 'norton', 'npf'.
Then I restarted and for the first time in 8 months I got to turn on the native firewall on my Mac. I feel so much better. I'm not even going to try to get money back from Symantec. Just please don't ever give them any of yours.
Oh, and I used to use a great firewall product in OS 9 called Doorstop. I hear they're still good so I'm going to check them out.
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
The parental control ceased working with Panther (10.3.9). I am not sure which version update or security update started the problem, but Symantec is still not able to find a solution. I have been working with them support since June and it is now almost December. Anyone find a fix?
Summary
...Mac...
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Does not wk w/Panther nor w/Tiger and good luck getting it off ur Mac since Symantecs own uninstaller does not work, which they tell you to use on their own web site. I've used their products for 15yrs, but their quality has continued to diminish year after year. What an absolute waste of time and money, I had to remove every piece of the software manually...grrr
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I depend on this app to filter internet sites for my young teenager. I looked on the Symantec website before installing Tiger, and there was nothing about it being incompatible with Tiger. But, it is incompatible. I am very disappointed and I have a big mess trying to uninstall Tiger and re-install Panther on his computer. Symantec obviously does not care enough about its customers to provide them with important information.
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Had major problems with this. After install, worked for a couple of days. After that however.... kernel panics on startup, couldn't alter any preferences & trying to clear the log in Firewall caused a system crash & kernel panic - so had to reset pmu etc...
As well as all this - when I contacted Symantec, I was told that they don't support NIS for Mac!!! (Why are you selling it then?)
Couldn't uninstal - so ended up reformating & install from scratch...
Needless to say - didn't re-install NIS & returned it for a refund.
All in all - NOT recomended.
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Two of the products in this suite are fantastic: Norton Antivirus and Personal Firewall. The firewall gives you SO much information. It not only tracks almost every type of hit, but you can also click on it and actually get an idea of WHAT IT IS. You can even trace it back to its source, VISUALLY and by address lookup. NPF even suggests action you can take if you don't like the hit. It has stealth mode, a link to the Norton security test, and a few quick setup configuration options. You can check connected users. Norton Antivirus is the best product of its kind for Mac right now. The fact that it now detects Windows-based viruses makes it even more appealing. Our Mac mentality has us so used to bashing big companies that we're overlooking at least one company (Symantec) that is doing things right. Only complaint -- Panther update took too long.
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
First, I've been using this product since 1.0 and it has finally met up to my expectations with having about 80% functionality of the PC counterpart NIS 2003. Better logging and spam filtering being two of the spots where the Mac version is behind, HOWEVER, I can live without the spam filtering as it tends to be more of a headache and not worth the trouble. Better logging is a must though. One feature I would like existed on Desktop Firewall 2.0, the enterprise version of NIS. Whenever a specific app opened a specific internet connection, you were presented with options: allow a one time connection, allow all future connection or all of the same type. Pretty cool. Privacy Control has always worked well. And NAVM9, I can only say great things for (aside from a clunky new LU interface). I use Earthlink, and somebody sent me a bugs MSN Security alert with an attached .exe file. I knew it was bogus as MS never sends an attached file. Anyways, selected to "save" the attached file to see what NAVM9 would say and sure enough, AutoProtect flagged it as the W32.Gibe.B@MM virus. Just wish there was on-demand scanning (I know, AP is supposed to scan anything that is written to the drive, but I feel more secure when I can click and scan an item that is located on a shared drive (like my .Mac account files).
Overall, a great product suite for the money!
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Installed and a real bust. Could not upload adobe file attachments and corrupted internet explorer. They have a real bug and not adequately beta tested. I spent hours installing, uninstalling, installing... Cost me another $30 to try to get technical support and more hours. Tried on a second computer, same mess. In the end after hours of my time wasted, they said they would look into it. I have to say support was nice while working on the problem. Interface nice but I need access to the internet. Would strongly suggest waiting until fixes are addressed. I am finally back to my older symatec products hours wasted!!!!! Once they fix this mess, it looks promissing.
MikePRS
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Works like a charm!
Ran it through its paces on 733-mhz G4 and beige-generation 267-mhz G3, both with OS 10.2.6. Significantly improved from Internet Security 2.x. I'm particularly pleased with Norton AntiVirus and Personal Firewall options and effectiveness. I run Stealth mode on internet cable without Microsoft programs having to time-out after quitting. It's cool to watch NAV zip through its checks whenever I download and unstuff big files. I was initially confused after running LiveUpdate during installation to see virus definitions were dated May 7, while my older version of NAV had May 28 definitions. Research found that the May 7 definitions are up-to-date and, of course, include Windows defs as well as those for Macs. Don't use virtual Windows, but this keeps email from ever passing on a klez or other Windows virus that won't hurt my Mac to friends whose systems are vulnerable. I like the 150-page printed manual in addition to the comprehensive user's guide file and help program that came with the CD. NR Nager, Retired communications professor.
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I've had it for a week now (been out longer than just today) and it works great. NAV found a few PC viruses in my email, prompted me about it, and then helped get rid of them (the klez virus). The firewall works well, and I'm really impressed with the log it generates, since I had no clue before hand how many attempts to access my computer were going on (and yes, I had Apple's firewall on by default). So all in all, its a nifty update from Symantec.
Please Wait
