Norton 360 Features

• Both Norton 360™ Version 4.0 and Norton 360™ Version 4.0 Premier Edition are basically the same. Both applications provide one year of protection for up to three household computers. Norton 360™ Version 4.0 Premier Edition offers more online storage than the basic software package. You may, however, purchase Additional online storage.

Core Protection

• Automated anti-virus and anti-spyware software blocks viruses, spyware, Trojan horses, worms, bots and rootkits in files, programs, emails and instant messages. Norton 360 employs a two-way firewall that defends against hackers. Users may choose between "Quick Scan" and a "Comprehensive Scan." Threat categories Norton 360 may detect include security risks, hack tools, spyware, trackware, dialers, remote access, adware, joke programs, security assessment tools and misleading applications.

Advanced Protection

• The Norton Bootable Recovery Tool repairs, restores and boots infected, unbootable PCs. Norton 360 provides real-time threat detection and warns of potential threats in downloaded files and applications. SONAR technology identifies evolving spyware and viruses before traditional definitions are available. Norton blocks browser, operating system and application threats and protects against infected websites.

Identity Protection

• Norton 360 blocks hackers from accessing your computer and retrieving sensitive information. It obstructs phishing websites, as well as providing Identity Safe stores and managing login data and other personal information. The software has automatic login and form filing that protects against keylogging applications. Norton 360 also verifies and authenticates popular shopping and banking sites.

Backup and Restore

• Norton 360 has the capability to restore deleted or damaged files and folders. Backups, which may be set to a schedule or triggered by an event, are securely stored online. Norton 360™ Version 4.0 includes two gigabytes (GB) online storage, whereas the Premier Edition includes 25 GB. You have the option to backup pictures, financial files, office documents, contacts, videos, email and Internet favorite settings, as well as other files on your hard drive. The first backup to Norton 360 Secure Online Storage takes a more time than subsequent backups. Subsequent backups take less time because Norton 360 looks for changes and backs up only the changes. The amount of backup time is dependent on the Internet connection speed. It can take more than 13 hours to back up 100 MB of data with a 128 Kilobits per second (Kbps) Internet connection; more than seven hours with 256 Kbps; more than three hours with 512 Kbps; and more than two hours if you have a 1024 Kbps Internet connection.

PC Tuneup

• PC tuneups are simplified. Norton 360 can be set to speed up your computer's boot time, as well as automatically find and fix problems that slow your computer's performance. Norton 360's "Optimize Disk" feature defragments and optimizes the hard drive to free up disk space. The "File Clean-up" feature removes cookies, temporary Internet files and Windows temporary files. Other PC Tuneup tools include "Registry cleanup" and "Internet Explorer History Eraser."

Parental Controls

• The Norton Add-on Pack is free for existing customers. The pack includes Parental Controls, which use password-protected, customizable predefined profiles for adults, teens and children. Parental Controls not only block offensive and inappropriate websites based on profile settings, but also log attempts to access the blocked sites. The Norton Add-on Pack will be discontinued May 2011. It is being replaced with a free version of Norton Online Family.