Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus

[Tywin7]

For maximum security, I recommend you to make sure the following settings are set to the below specifications in Norton Internet Security 2011:

1. Open your Norton GUI and click on settings.
   
   
   
   







2. Computer settings: In the computer settings, set intelligent file skipping to "off". Turn on Microsoft automatic scan. Also set the boot time protection to "aggressive". Doing so will make sure that your Norton software will load before any potential malware.
   
   

[Phil_D Norton Fighter]

Although the above mentioned custom settings are not necessarily wrong, they represent the opinion of a forum member and are not official recommendations.

The default settings in NIS 2011 have been thoroughly tested by Norton to provide the ultimate balance between performance and a very high degree of security.

Changing the default settings may affect computer performance in the following ways:

• Enable Boot Time Protection - Normal:

"Provides you enhanced protection during your computer start time without compromising your computer's boot performance.

When you set this option to Normal, the drivers and plug-ins start functioning during the computer start time before their specified time delay.

This configuration is the default setting as it ensures better boot performance along with good security levels."

• Intelligent Skip Scanning - On:

"Norton Internet Security extracts and scans maximum of 2-GB data from a compressed file. This way, Intelligent Skip Scanning prevents the scan from being stuck up with a single compressed file that contains a large amount of data. Therefore, Norton Internet Security scans your computer faster."  And it should be noted that anytime you open a compressed file, it will be scanned by Norton for threats.

• SONAR Advance Mode - Aggressive:

"This setting is highly sensitive and might cause the legitimate files to be identified as threats. It is recommended for advanced users only."

Most users, including myself, find the default settings provide a very high degree of security without sacrificing performance.

Of course, the final choice is up to the individual to decide what is best for their system.

(Text quoted in blue is directly from the Help Section)

[itsme]

Thanks again for all of your replies.

I think I need to clarify something since someone posted for me to just upgrade or something to that effect...

The reason I need to have it on CD or some other method is the person whose computer this will be going to has a slow dial up connection. It took him more then 5 hours to download a file of less than 40MB and he has to even do more to finish downloading it again the next day.
So it had to be on disc or some other method.

Thank you for your recommendations for doing the basic set up of NIS 2011, but it is not needed in this case as I already use the program and know how to basically set it up (although I haven't tried to exclude anything yet or anything of that nature,)  but thanks for your advice.

Since he is just buying the key code and that will be on his new disc and someone mentioned about a massive live update afterwords ( I believe it was more than 20 Megs on mine and will be more by the time he installs it) it may be an advantage to just download the latest  NIS 2011?

If I go that route and can download and save it to disc, I have two or three questions:

1. Is the URL posted earlier the version with the latest updates

2. Is the URL posted earlier one of those that has a free trial period on it, or is it just the NIS 2011 program with the latest updates? If it is a trial version then my next question is:

3. Can I just put the new key code that he will be receiving from the new disc somewhere in the program that I downloaded from your URL and then just run it as a full subscription and leave his other key code that's about to expire alone?
In other words, he has a new NIS 2011 coming in the mail on CD, BUT, with 20 MBs or more of live updates on his slow connection, I could just download NIS2011 from a URL somewhere if it has the latest updates, putting it on a blank disc, then load the NIS2011 into his computer from my download, next I would place the key code from his new NIS2011 disc into the program and run it as a full subscription.. Assuming this isn't some trail version that won't take the new key code,etc.

[AllenM Norton Fighter · Accepted solution]

HI itsme,

The links to NIS 2011 and all links to NIS of any flavor are a full version of NIS. Whether it runs as trial or a regular subscription is entirely dependant on entering of a valid product key. If you install NIS 2011 onto a system with say NIS 2010 which already has a valid product key, then NIS 2011 will make use of the same key and your subscription will remain unchanged.

Later when you use the new key received on CD to renew the subscription, then NIS 2011 will use the new key and update your subscription to show the new expiration date consistent with the subscription period purchased. The only thing to be aware of here is that when a new product key is entered, any days remaining on the previous subscription will not be added on, instead your subscription period will reset to 366 assuming a 1 year subscription has been purchased.

The links provided earlier are for the latest available version of NIS 2011, however updates are released all the time and it does not matter if you install from CD or via downloading the latest full version from the links provided earlier, you will still need to run live update. That first live update is quite large and there is NO link we can provide which will negate the need to do that.

A couple of suggestions I can make based on the slow dial-up access issue:

In Computer Settings, set Smart Definitions to ON. From Help section:

---

Norton Internet Security provides the Smart Definitions option to choose between the Core Set virus definitions and Complete Set virus definitions for LiveUpdate sessions.

When Smart Definitions option is turned on, Norton Internet Security activates the Core Set virus definitions which contain the most important virus definitions that are required for latest security threats as viewed by Symantec. Turning on the Smart Definitions option minimizes download time, installation time, and system start time. It also provides you free disk space of about 20-30MB. Therefore, the Core Set results in faster performance of your computer.

When Smart Definitions option is turned off, Norton Internet Security activates the Complete Set virus definitions which contain all the virus definitions for each threat that is known to Symantec.

---

In Misc. Settings set "Automatic download of new version" to OFF.

MIsc. Settings set Monthly report to OFF.

Though the change to the Smart Definition setting will reduce the amount which needs to be downloaded, Live update still needs to be run and after intiial installation will still be fairly large. Again unfortunately there is no way around this.

Hope this helps and please let us know of any more questions or concerns.

Best wishes.

Allen

[floplot Norton Fighter]

Hello itsme

Usually, we recommend entering the new key a day or two before the expiration day, but I think with such a slow connection, it might be better to enter it a little earlier than that to allow for any extra time it might take to connect to the Symantec server and have the new key accepted and synchronized to the account. Thanks.

[huwyngr Norton Fighter]

Allen,

Would itsme running intelligent updater and taking that file to the user with the slow network save any time.

Otherwise with itsme saying it took 5 hours for 40MB it's going to be anything up to twice that unless the size of the initial liveupdate has changed.

Is this perhaps a case where the Update Center would be the best source since it involves the Download Manager and interruptions are coped with?

To itsme: Those are questions not recommendations at the moment <s>

[AllenM Norton Fighter]

Hi Hugh,

The intelligent updater might help some, really can't say for sure how much though because there will still be other updates to download via live update.

I did just perform a test on my test laptop however. I uninstalled NIS 2011, rebooted and then reinstalled it. I then set Smart Update to OFF and ran live update. Instead of well over 80MB to download it was down to about 53MB.

So this is still large but I think either way the OP goes it is going to be a painful download. It is hard to say which option is truly better.

It is possible to try the Intelligent updater option first and then if larger than 53MB, uninstall and try that option.

I believe the Intelligent updater downloads the full definition sets (not just the core ones).

Best wishes.

Allen

[itsme]

Thanks again for all of your replies.

Thanks Allen for the information about the NIS2011 download.

Those answers were to my two main questions:

1. As to whether or not the NIS 2011 downloads  were the full program or would I have to download something to activate them into full subscription mode.  So, being that they are the full program with only the key code to put them into full subscription status, that is good to know!

2.  The program for download is not updated for the latest definitions, patches, etc; And might just be a bit smaller of a download in comparison to the ones out in the stores is also helpful information.

As far as the NIS2011 setup options are concerned:

I pretty much keep my streamlined as well except for the Smart Definitions option as I'm a bit paranoid and wish two keep it on "the safe side" just in case some really old virus pops up again in the form of a back door exploit, etc; ( It may never happen, but you never know,) but I'll be sure that they are set up the same way on his.

So, based on all the advice and/or opinions, what I think I'll do with this situation is this:

I'll just install it from the store disc being that at least the full program will be installed and he will just be updating the definitions,patches and other stuff of that nature. He can then just let it run and download all that he can until it kicks him off ( his internet service will kick him off after awhile if you don't press a button that says that you are still using it, even if you've been downloading for hours), then he can just get back online and continue downloading the updates,
continuing in this manner until he's finished. It will take a long time, but it will get done.

The main problem in his case is trying to download a full program update as he gets kicked off after awhile ( as well as the long download times!) I'm going to have to download to disc the new PDF reader as it's about 40Megs with the new version, as well as Windows Media Player 11 as he was kicked off and had some problems.

Then I'll just download them from my disc to his computer,etc.

Also, I'm going to check to see if all is well on his speed  by checking the phone lines for static ( the push the 1 button test and others), looking at his modem port speed to make sure that it's at least set to the "57600," etc. Also, I'm going to check his speed online via a web site or two that also is good for checking dial up speed and not just broadband types. I 'll try to get an average on the telephone numbers that he's using as well, to select the faster line. ( I"ll do this after peak hours.)    

I'm trying to convince him to buy a cheap USB flash drive, all he would need is less than 1GB and they have 4GB flash drives at wal mart for less than $20. That would save me wasting my CD's and be a much easier all around. LOL! 

Anyway, thanks again for all of your advice, information and I'll be marking this as solved.

Take Care

[Tywin7]

Hello. I'm going to chime in here a little. You may wanna update flash player as well. Plus, adobe reader is bloated and riddled with holes. I therefore recommend foxit cdmad reader. LAST i remember, the nis software once download as update session of 80 mbps.