Symantec is beta testing a new product called Safe Web, built on top Norton Internet Security 2009, which performs many of the same functions as competitor McAffee's SiteAdvisor.

Symantec is beta testing a new product called Safe Web, built on top Norton Internet Security 2009, which performs many of the same functions as competitor McAffee's SiteAdvisor.

Symantec is beta testing a new product called Safe Web, built on top Norton Internet Security 2009, which performs many of the same functions as competitor McAffee's SiteAdvisor.

Symantec is beta testing a new product called Safe Web, built on top Norton Internet Security 2009, which performs many of the same functions as competitor McAffee's SiteAdvisor.

Symantec is beta testing a new product called Safe Web, built on top Norton Internet Security 2009, which performs many of the same functions as competitor McAffee's SiteAdvisor.

An errant update for Norton Antivirus has caused the computers of at least 1,000 users in a China city to crash, several Chinese news sources reported on Monday. According to authorities, the problem was caused by an update on May 18 that accidentally flagged and deleted two essential Windows XP files, causing the system to lock up -- showing the "blue screen of death" -- and fail to reboot.

Symantec has released a public beta of Norton AntiVirus 2006, an updated version of its popular PC protection software. NAV 2006 includes improvements and new features to block Internet worms and protect e-mail. Symantec is also expected to begin testing SystemWorks and Internet Security 2006 in the coming weeks.

With Microsoft quietly slipping into their backyard, security vendors may be caught in a prisoner's dilemma: making rational decisions in anticipation of Microsoft's next move. Symantec has released a beta of its upcoming consumer antivirus solution, Norton AntiVirus 2005 (NAV), that incorporates what Symantec has dubbed "Internet Worm Protection". While worms are a growing menace, there is a catch; Norton's Internet Worm Protection component suggests that users disable Windows XP's Windows Firewall.

The latest freeware tool from Norton Labs offers to do Vista users a favor by turning off many of those annoying User Access Control prompts. If you're wondering what Symantec wants in return...so were we.

Like many end-users of Norton AntiVirus (NAV), I face the decision of either paying for a new year's subscription of virus definition or upgrading to the latest release. Norton's 2004's release, codenamed Leno, is set to be released soon. While Norton is considered by many to be the gold standard in virus protection, the question remains: is this new version worth dishing out some hard-earned cash for?