While we may be just a couple of months into 2010, Symantec is already readying themselves for 2011 and now have a preview of its 2011 line up. The company recently launched beta releases of its 2011 Norton Internet Security suite and Norton AntiVirus, along with new, free security tools which are all available for download.
You can download Norton Internet Security 2011 (download beta), Norton AntiVirus 2011 (download beta), and Norton Safe Web Lite all for free from Symantec’s beta site. While they may still only be in Beta, they are fully functioning and receive live updates frequently just like any other antivirus software.
Norton was known in the past for being a right resource hog, slowing down computers and being a right pain in the backside. But things have changed over the last number of years. Symantec have gone on a strict diet and now there software installs in seconds, takes up little space and you wouldn’t even know it was running on your machine.
In this edition of Norton Internet Security, they are offering a new feature called System Insight 2.0, which can alert users when other applications are grabbing too much memory and system resources. They’ve also added Download Insight 2.0, which will scan downloads delivered through your browser, e-mail, or instant messaging program. Symantec have also gone and redesigned the Norton Identity Safe as well.
You can also try out new free versions of Norton software like Norton Safe Web Lite is designed to alert people to unsafe Web sites among search results. Norton Safe Web for Facebook is geared toward combating “Koobface” and other malware specifically targeted toward social-networking sites.
The free Norton Rescue Tools provide two individual utilities designed to clean up malware. Cybercriminals are increasingly employing one popular scam: sending people phony messages telling them they’ve caught a virus and then offering to install antivirus software. I actually reported on a story about this not too long ago, see it here.
All in all, the 2011 line up of Norton Products is looking good, I’ve been trying out the Beta’s for a couple of years now and have been using them as my only antivirus most of the time and I’ve had no problems.
So why not download a free copy of Norton Internet Security 2011 even if it is Beta, because very little will be different in the final edition. The free Beta generally lasts until Symantec are getting ready to release the paid edition, which in the past I’ve been offered to upgrade to at a discount since I used the Beta.
