Norton 360 version 5 features Insight, which uses anonymous software adoption patterns of Symantec users to automatically identify and block new malicious software; SONAR 3, which monitors running applications for suspicious behavior to identify new attacks, crimeware and other threats designed to evade traditional detection; and Norton Power Eraser and Norton Bootable Recovery Tool, which provide detection and repair technology that enables consumers to clean up previously infected computers.
The new version of Norton 360 links into Norton’s Cybercrime Index through the Norton Control Center. The index uses statistical modeling based on information gathered from Symantec and other sources. Symantec said it discovered 286 million distinct threats in 2010, an average of nine new threats every second.
The Norton Cybercrime Index alerts consumers to online trouble-spots and hazards, including the most dangerous websites, the most hijacked search terms, as well as top scams, identity theft and spam.
The index provides an overall number indicating the day’s threat level. The number is based on an algorithm that calculates data from three sources: Symantec Global Intelligence Network, as well as data from consumer risk management firm ID Analytics and DataLossDB, a research project of the Open Security Foundation.
“Many people are leaving themselves wide open to identity fraud by sharing private information online, such as their birth date or home town. We see the results of this risky behavior with our unique real-time visibility into identity activity,” said Tom Oscherwitz, chief privacy officer of ID Analytics. “By contributing to the Norton Cybercrime Index, ID Analytics is helping to provide consumers with daily insight into their risk level for cybercrime and how they can better protect themselves and their identities online.”