Symantec's Norton AntiVirus 2003 Adds Automatic Protection Worm Blocking, IM Scanning, and More Convenient Updates Eric Grevstad
Mon 8/26/02 -- It's a jungle out there -- one with the PC equivalent of everything from venomous snakes to rabid rhinos and West Nile mosquitoes. So this year's update to Symantec Corp.'s Norton AntiVirus promises even more protection from malicious code, with even less intervention or effort required on your part.
Norton AntiVirus 2003 ($50, or $30 upgrade) not only keeps its virus-fighting definitions up to date automatically via Symantec's LiveUpdate service (a one-year subscription is included), but now removes Trojan horses and worms as well as viruses without interrupting work. Exclusive, heuristics-based Worm Blocking technology has been added to the program's Script Blocking, for more powerful, proactive protection against threats even before new virus definitions are created.
In addition, Norton AntiVirus 2003 scans incoming Instant Message attachments (supporting Yahoo and AOL's Instant Messengers, Windows Messenger, and MSN Messenger), as well as both inbound and outbound e-mail.
The Professional Edition ($70, or $50 upgrade) adds data-recovery and -cleaning features designed for small businesses and professionals, including the ability to protect and recover critical files and digitally shred files no longer needed. It also includes a license for two computers instead of just one.