Norton Firewall 2006, Norton Systemworks 2006 problem nightmare.
I am posting this information because it needs to be provided to any
unsuspecting user who thinks he or she wants the new updated Norton
2006 programs when their antivirus subscription runs out. I purchased
the downloaded upgrades to both programs in July. It is now August and
they still do not work properly. The Installation machine is a new,
freshly installed XP system with Service Pack 2 updated to today,
Internet connection DSL, very clean. No other programs have been
installed which could be in conflict.
Main issues:
1. The two Norton programs do not interface well. I could get the
Firewall to run, but the Systemworks was and is still a nightmare to
activate.
2. The programs work properly only intermittently, sometimes, or not at
all.
3. The programs use a high percentage of CPU and consumer time. Norton
uses my computer more than I do now.
4. All rules of good programming practice have been ignored by Norton's
overseas programmers!
5. These overseas programmers arrogantly believe any programmatic
problem must be the incredibly stupid American user, and certainly not
programming error.
6. Tech support is a nightmare, particularly when they insist you push
a button, select a link, or activate a screen when there are no such
options showing on your screen. Telling them repeatedly there are no
such options is like talking to a brick wall, and produces cynical
responses, as if they are dealing with a foolish child.
7. Parts of the programs do not communicate with other parts. After
running a full virus scan from the main program, it failed to
communicate that info to the Protection Center, which still demanded a
full virus scan 3 days later. Obviously the problem did not
self-correct.
8. If all of this were not enough, when the problems become severe to
the point of System32 failures, their online Network Support Center has
the user go through unbelievable "fixes" (which don't work) resulting
in Norton's ultimate repair: Uninstall every Norton program on the
machine and start with a clean install. After THREE times with poor
results, it begins to get very, very old. Since when did the consumer
become responsible for repairing programming errors of the software
vendor?
9. Norton's tech support is hard to understand (that's English they are
speaking?). They make the assumption that any problems must be either
the user or the user's machine. So here's a news flash. I have been a
programmer for 27 years; I learned to program in binary. I know bad
programming when I see it. And the new 2006 versions are bad
programming, period.
10. The downloaded programs can no longer be activated by phone, or
patched, but must be activated by the Norton server, which makes the
assumption that (a) the program connects properly and (b) the
information contained on the server is accurate. Both of which may be
false assumptions. The service techs either will not or can not
manually activate the program at the server end.
My conclusion is the company is being destroyed because of corporate
greed. I have used Norton products from the time Peter Norton actually
ran the company with Disk Doctor. I will not use the products again
after subscription expiration.
Outsourcing programming to unbelievably incompetent, 3rd world, $5.00
an hour, arrogant foreign programmers is ruining what used to be a fine
American product. It's the truth, everyone knows it, but the messenger
will be killed instead. So be it. I will tell you that when the nag
screens begin to pop up, I will find another firewall and utilities to
install. I will look for American companies which do not make the
assumption that any problems must be with the consumer. After 20 years
with Norton products, they have succeeded in driving away their most
loyal customers. And here's a scary thought... American military uses
Norton Firewalls... Now doesn't that make you feel safe?
Ps. I just tried to re-install my Password Manager, and got C++
Unusual Termination Error Messages all over the screen. If any hackers
produce a patch, do us all a favor: Patch those incompetent foreign
programmers right out of their system.
