![]() ![]() This may sound like a minor point, but for beginners, it’s reassuring to know that the software has already taken care of the job. Unlike earlier editions, which alerted you that a virus was present, then asked you what you wanted to do with it, NAV 2002 automatically repairs an infected file (or, if it can’t, quarantines the file), and alerts you only after it’s both found and fixed the problem, as shown in Figure B. We’re just as impressed by how deftly NAV squashes bugs. Norton AntiVirus 2002 finds and automatically fixes problems before it alerts you. According to the site, NAV has a 16-month winning streak-the best of any program. ![]() One of the best spots to keep an eye on NAV’s track record against viruses is Virus Bulletin’s 100% Award, a site that salutes programs that detect 100 percent of in-the-wild viruses. ![]() There are tens of thousands of viruses out there, and hundreds active “in the wild” at any one time. We threw more than 50 viruses at it, including script-based and e-mail viruses, and NAV nailed all but two.īut our tests are far from exhaustive. You get a nice summary after NAV has worked its magic, but during the process, NAV doesn’t tell you how many files it’s scanning or how much time it will take, unlike its major competitor, McAfee VirusScan.Įven though it doesn’t have a ton of new features, NAV 2002 still gets our vote as the best virus checker. Want to scan a specific file on your PC? No problem: NAV 2002 integrates with Windows Explorer so that when you right-click any file, one of the options in the pop-up menu lets you scan for viruses.ĭespite these improvements, NAV still doesn’t keep you informed as it scans. You can then decide whether to run the script or stop it in its tracks from a pop-up dialog. The program also scans your e-mail for embedded VBScript and JavaScript worms and alerts you if it finds any suspicious scripts. In three separate tests, NAV 2002 successfully detected the I Love You virus. We also love NAV 2002’s new Script Blocking feature, which promises to block script-based viruses, such as the I Love You worm, before they do damage, even if Symantec hasn’t identified them yet. Since some of the most noxious worms, such as SirCam, replicate via e-mail without the sender’s knowledge, we particularly appreciate this improvement. As in 2001, NAV 2002’s e-mail protection integrates with any POP3 e-mail client, such as Eudora, Outlook Express, and Outlook.Īnd NAV 2002 has some new tricks up its sleeve: It still sniffs out viruses in incoming e-mail attachments (as NAV 2001 did), and now it checks outgoing attachments, too, so you can rest assured that you’re not infecting others. It scans for bugs on Windows start-up, scans in the background whenever a file is created or opened, watches for downloaded viruses, checks out e-mail attachments, and quarantines infected (or just suspicious) files. The scheduling feature has lost its prominent position on the first screen of NAV and sits at the bottom of the scanning page instead.īut despite its interface woes, NAV 2002 includes the same powerful set of antivirus, anti-Trojan horse tools as its predecessor. Also, NAV 2002 has made it tougher to schedule a virus scan for a later time and date. For example, NAV still automatically scans e-mail attachments, but you can no longer select which e-mail accounts it scans it scans all of them or none. Norton AntiVirus veterans, however, may want more control over the program. You don’t have to configure NAV 2002 much at all-a fact that beginners will appreciate. Norton AntiVirus 2002 received a CNET rating of 8 out of 10. For example, a green indicator displays the time of your last scan. Norton AntiVirus 2002 trades in all this text for a panel of self-explanatory indicators that clue you in to what’s going on with your system (think car dashboard). In previous versions, the main program window contained eight lines of text that described every detail of the program’s functions-whether the autoprotect feature was on and when your last virus update took place, for example. Norton AntiVirus 2002 ( Figure A) has aggressively streamlined its look. But if you already have Norton AntiVirus 2001, pass on this upgrade, unless you’re migrating to XP, and pay $10 for another year’s worth of virus definitions. If you’re new to the antivirus game, purchase NAV 2002 ASAP. Version 2002 showcases a new, simple interface and provides some additional protection against e-mail and script-based nasties. Norton AntiVirus (NAV) can seek out and destroy bugs better than an Orkin man, identify viruses faster than the CDC, and stomp worms harder than the cruelest kid. Lock IT Down: There’s no better antivirus solution for Windows XP than Norton 2002
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