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Traditional antivirus will die in the next two years

September 17, 2008

For the vast majority of users, at least, the current model of paying for and installing separate online security software products for each device, OS and transaction environment is on the way out. It has to die.

Why? Look at the way the kids use Google, and then look to the future.

Increasingly, users expect to be able to communicate and transact across a variety of devices. And younger users - the very people who use laptops, smartphones and public internet terminals - have less concept of the various operating systems and operating environments they use. Put bluntly: they don't care, they just want to get online, all the time.

Give it a year or two, then, and today's students and stoners will be spending hard cash online via a variety of devices as a matter of course. Particularly if companies like MySpace finally get music downloads right, and the kids start paying for their kicks. Cash attracts criminals, but the current model of shelling out 50 quid to protect a Windows PC against malware signatures isn't going to cut it. Not my sentiments, those of Symantec bigwig Con Mallon.

Mallon believes that in the 'next two years' security software will become platform neutral. He said that Symantec's job is to get its Norton products to "secure access on and off the net" so the set-and-forget it crew can expand their software use without compromising security.

Using the fact that Norton Internet Security 2009 now supports Firefox, I suggested that at some point Symantec would need to go cross platform and embrace Mac OS X, and bring the currently pay-for Norton smartphone product into the NIS bundle. Mallon agreed, suggesting that the move away from Windows-based desktop computing and into a multi-platform cloud-computing world represented a challenge, but a"new opportunity that will take a lot more work" for Symantec.

Of course, what no security company will say on the record right now is that the mobile security threat is really only in its infancy. Most of the mobile malware that exists is proof of concept. Kaspersky, for instance, is happy to offer its mobile product for free to some users, in order to boost its community for future cloud applications. And the most compelling reason for mobile phone security software is so you can brick the thing when you lose it down the pub.

But the threat is coming. So expect NIS 2012 and its rivals to be a very different beast from the current release.

See also:

Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 review

Symantec says Ola to faster, lighter online security

Visit Security Advisor for the latest internet threat news, FREE net threat email newsletters, and internet security product reviews

Symantec launches Norton Internet Security 2009

Posted by: Matt Egan

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Comments

Posted by Por favor on September 17, 2008 :

Well according to your guru the Forum Ed he previously repeated the mantra, that when Vista was about to be excreted then, no one will need the likes of Norton nor McAfee.
Plus he toe sucked with the Microsoft tactics that no kernel code should be shown to those queers, at any cost, because Vista would be King and they will be beheaded.
So Matt according to your mates in the Costa's we still have Norton till 2012?

Just goes to show you that the gutter press uses a very wide brolly. Don't think much of fe the fool that holds it, either.

Posted by Matt Egan on September 18, 2008 :

Por favor - again? Really? You need to (a) start using your actual name and (b) get over whatever problem it is you have with FE. Actually, (c), start saying what you mean instead of couching your comments in 'clever' terms. FE is someone I respect enormously, who has a wealth of experience and a vast amount of knowledge. But he is very much is own man, with his own opinions - that's how we like him. If Microsoft (or PC Advisor or anyone) told FE what to say or to toe the party line, he'd be out of the door before you could say: 'FE-shaped hole in the wall'. So man up, use your real name and tell us your beef in a way we can understand: feel free to email me. But stop with the dull, pointless, dumb-sounding drivel.

Posted by Mark on September 18, 2008 :

If these guy stops posting their 'dull, pointless, dumb-sounding drivel' then the blogs will be history for me. As far as I can see most of this section can be dull, pointless and real drivel except when a few crazos bother to reply and liven it up. Let's be honest, most of the blogs usually fail to get a healthy response. Therefore, the next couple of weeks should be telling. I used to read and post onto the Forums over the last 8 months but I don't bother any more because it is run by an aged and stodgy geezer with a bad attitude. Sorry guys and PCA but that's just my honest view.

Posted by ide busman on September 18, 2008 :

Someone is making a interesting point here. You can say almost anything within the Blogs whereas the same cannot be said for the Forums.

Many a thing that I have read which is written by the PCA staff would definitely be removed if it appeared within the forums.
Farcical really.

Anyway, Norton is rubbish.

Posted by Matt Egan on September 18, 2008 :

All of which is fair comment. But I do have a problem with the constant, anonymous spamming of unrelated blog posts with FE-bashing. FE is plenty big enough and ugly enough to look after himself, but having a go at him on a posting that has nothing to do with him is pointless.

Posted by Matt Egan on September 18, 2008 :

And anyway, I want to talk about the future of AV... What do you mean "most of the blogs usually fail to get a healthy response"??

Posted by Leo on September 18, 2008 :

Yes Matt, fair comment but, as a forum member, I do witness some posters' innocuous replies regularly being deleted, which is very rare within the blogs .

So, I can understand why some members do eventually turn to the open blogs to vent their anger or simply just to reveal the nasty practices and cliques within. Often a resulting complaint or gripe simply ends up being erased out by the FE.

As an old timer on this site, I can honestly say that the FE is intolerant and unjustly allows his favourite wizards to get away with rudeness, aggression and blatant rule breaking.

Anti Virus?
I would initially concentrate on the insidious malware creeping in and out of PCA Towers. It's a real sham and shame.

Posted by Matt Egan on September 19, 2008 :

Well I'm sorry to hear that Leo. But my substantive point remains the same: if you have a problem with FE, the way to handle is to either (a) email him to set out your concerns or (b) post your concerns in the relevant forum. The bottom line is, FE is unlikely to read your comments in the blogs section, let along respond to them, so posting on non-related blog entries is good only for venting your spleen.

Posted by Cyril Randle on September 22, 2008 :

To a newcomer, (me), these comments are exclusive. Who the **** is FE? Who the **** pays for antivirus or Adaware when there are free ones which work fine? Does ANYBODY still pay for Norton?
There are millions of us out there who don't 'game' or download music, films, porn, etc. Especially oldies like me. We just want the internet, safe and sound. I read 'por favor' and wondered whether I should bother to stay to read. Is it actually English? Or is it in code? How off-putting gentlemen.

Posted by Cyril on September 22, 2008 :

Low grade material.
One must try harder.

Posted by mE tHINKS on September 22, 2008 :

that Cyril Raandle @ "Beat the broadband blues" is using codes with some help from Cyril Randle @ 'Traditional antivirus will die in the next two years'.

Or is he just simple or confused?

Both.

Posted by Matt Egan on September 22, 2008 :

Cyril, I admire your techie spirit, but I have to tell you that the vast majority of people pay for security software from the likes of Symantec. And Norton remains globally the most popular. Indeed, increasingly people are paying for internet security suites rather than separate AV, antispyware etc. Can you protect your PC for free? Absolutely. But you can also service your own car, do your own plumbing. Some do, many find it easier to pay for expert help. If you said that paying £50 for an ISS was too much, I wouldn't argue, and I'm not for a second saying that paying for Norton is the best option, but it is undeniably popular.

Posted by XP on September 22, 2008 :

It's similar to saying that Vista is undeniably popular but it's not just the techies who now know that it is a pile of crap.

Your move.

Posted by Matt Egan on September 22, 2008 :

XP - eh? What's my move? Haven't got a clue what you're talking about. Not sure I've mentioned Vista at any point. I suppose you could draw a link between Vista and NIS 2009, in the sense that both have huge market share, and are comfortably familiar to non-techie users, but are far from perfect and probably invest more in marketing than technology. Er, your move.

Posted by Grand Master on September 22, 2008 :

Vista and NIS 2009, "are far from perfect and probably invest more in marketing than technology."

Thanks Matt. I didn't expect you to fall for the 2 move checkmate.

"I'll let you set the pieces up for the next game, thanks".

Just then Mr. Syman's face was observed to turn into a very crimson haze.

Posted by Matt Egan on September 22, 2008 :

Grand master - you must be very proud. Of what, I'm not sure. But still, if you're happy, I'm happy. Or do you think your massive intellect somehow tricked me into expressing an opinion? On my own blog? Bless you.

PC Advisor staff
Blogger Daily news, views and thoughts from the PC Advisor staff as they put together the magazine. Collectively the PC Advisor team has over 100 years of computing experience, so as you'll imagine they're never short of an opinion or two.
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