Software Review: Norton Anti-Spam – Symantec Corporation

    by Bill James     January 2004

SPAM has become the plague of e-mail communication.  Computer users are victims on a daily basis of an endless barrage of tasteless unsolicited e-mails.

Symantec Corporation has recently introduced a SPAM fighter called Norton AntiSpam 2004. It is a product that is designed to trap suspect incoming e-mail. I recently installed this product because I typically get 50 to 75 suspect e-mails a day that I’d rather not have to deal with. I have used this product now for two weeks and can report that it is 98 percent effective in detecting and insulating unwanted e-mails.

Installation is very straight-forward. It is a 1, 2, 3 process. You may not be aware that Symantec has now gone the activation route with its 2004 products. Once you enter the product code, the program installs. After an initial reboot, the program loads your address book and from there you select which e-mail addresses that you want to add to your ‘blocked’ list. Click OK and you are now protected against unwanted e-mails. You can use the software’s default settings that effectively identify SPAM, but the software is also configurable for customized settings.

The user interface is very similar to the Norton Anti-Virus program. With the purchase price, you get a complimentary subscription to any updates. The program does not update as frequently as Norton Anti-virus. During the training period you can review any trapped e-mails to determine if in fact they are SPAM. The program automatically creates an e-mail message rule folder and tags each message that is identified as SPAM. SPAM messages automatically are sent to this folder which you can periodically review just perchance a message that you want to receive is misidentified. I have been very impressed by the fact that Norton AntiSpam identifies them correctly. I have not lost any wanted e-mails. One plus about the Norton product is that it works with Outlook Express. It adds a button to the toolbar so that you can mark any mail in your incoming box as SPAM. Likewise, when you visit your Anti-Spam folder, you can deselect any e-mail that you do not want to block.

In addition to getting SPAM protection, the product offers a number of tools to help you manage SPAM. It gives statistics on how effectively the software is identifying SPAM. In addition, it also includes a configurable Ad blocker. Do not confuse this function with other products like Ad-aware.  Ad blocking is not limited to just popups; you can also block ads on Web pages with a clever little applet called “Ad Trashcan.” This “drag and drop” application allows you to drag a Web ad onto a window. You block a single ad or groups of ads. The product retails for $40.00. Shopping around, you may be able to find it cheaper. But it is a bargain at any price because it does its job quietly and unobtrusively in the background.

Bill James is the President of the OKCPCUG.  Comments on this review and suggestions for future software reviews are welcomed.