Customer Reviews
worst customer support 
2004-05-28
This product if full of defects,cannot be installed easy, lot of headache and not phone support for customers. If you want for a new product customet support, they will ask you for 24.99 per incident! They are crazy! On line support? yes, send a email 5 days ago, still no answer, and u cannot find any phone # to talk with anyone.
Norton Personal Firewall 2004-05-24
BIG FAT risk writing this. Read on to see why.
As a designer, I've been using my Anti-Virus and Firewall with NO problems for a while now. As I do every morning, I get online and check for Norton updates (especially Virus Definitions).
So, about two weeks ago, I load in a bucket-load, only to find my perfectly-tuned work machine slowing like an F1 car running out of fuel at Monaco!
Now I can't see ANY webpages WITHOUT disaabling my Firewall - DESPITE granting IE/Opera/Mozilla net access SEVERAL TIMES.
When I do connect with Firewall enabled, I get attacked with heaps of twats using trojans. But I can't see any web sites. There's absolutely NO CHANGES made to an already successful set-up, so WHAT'S GOING ON SYMANTEC???????? Every time I go online, I'm comprimised. What sort of Firewall is that????
I'll be buggered if I'm going to spend more cash simply because you can't be bothered to support 2002 users with this software. I have paid for my updates until October 2004!
I've also had a heap of customers with this new 2004 Firewall/Ad Blocker installed saying the website I made doesn't work! It even blocks legitimate branding images on a web page as adverts! It presents users, critically, with NO CHOICE and makes the job of legitimate enterprises and designers alike with a VERY business-biased veto option on what we see.
I had the utmost respect for Symantec for years, then this!
No support, then 'Sorry, we didn't get $50 out of you this year, go swim!'
Atrocious. Get something else!
such nonsense 
2004-04-27
I have no idea who wrote the previous reviews but they're all wrong, badly wrong!
I have used Norton's products for years and never had a problem with any of them. These people obviously haven't got a clue as to how to set up Norton Personal Firewall. It's so easy it's childs play!
Norton have great on-line support and the one small item I queried was answered completely and to my asatisfaction.
The only thing I will say is that you MUST remove all traces of the old program before installing the new one or there will be some conflict while the new product looks for traces of pirated Norton material.
If at first you don't succeed, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!
BEWARE of ANY SYMANTEC PRODUCT! 2004-04-19
Do NOT buy ANY Symantec Product UNLESS YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A NEED FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE - THERE IS NONE! I have just spent 4 hoursAFTER HAVING PAID for SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL trying to get my renewal activated. After going through 15 menus on-line to try and email customer service, I was given a form. I entered the info. When I finally got an email response, it had nothing to do with my question, then told me if it didn't help, I would have to REPEAT THE ENTIRE ON-LINE Process! I then called their "Customer Service" line - PUT ON HOLD FOR 30 MINUTES! Finally had to redo renewal by phone without answer to question. This is typical of ANY NORTON PRODUCT CUSTOMER SERVICE!
Waste of Money Do not buy. 2004-04-15
After many years of using Norton Antivirus I figured I couldn't go wrong. I was already using ZoneAlarm's shareware firewall and I decided that Norton would be the real deal. What a mistake. This program simply is too difficult to understand to find out whether it indeed could work. It seems far less flexible than programs that are given away for free.
If you want an idea of what others think of this piece of garbage check out ebay. You can buy earlier versions for less than the cost of shipping! One of their competitors will give you $10 rebate for the disc. It's more than you will get from anyone else. Don't waste your money.
Be advised that once you register this baby Norton will try to trick you into a subscription every time you renew Norton Antivirus. And they will ignore your attempts to get the charges reversed.
8-months of Great Experiences ( Unlike Most Others) 
2005-02-10
Unlike everyone else on Amazon.com I've thankfully (knock on desk) only had good experiences with both Norton Personal Firewall 2004 & Noron AntiVirus 2004.
It does take PERSISTANCE to train the Firewall properly and to get comfortable with the IE security and Cookie settings, but after about 2 weeks of teaching the software its been gravy... and I thankfully haven't had any major intrusions, file corruptions or viruses that I'm aware of in the past 8-months.
Downloading updates is seamless, I don't have memory hog issues on my AMD 3200+ w/512 MB Ram, Windows XP SP2 and my high speed DSL connection that's always on. I've turned off Symantec's Popup Blocker and configured the built in one with XP SP2. I set IE to prompt each time a website asks to install cookies. I've set the Firewall security setting to "High-Block Everything Until I approve it". Other than that, I manage Java Applet & Active X security within IE. I did try setting these to "Medium - ask me each time" and it worked as well. Really, the first 2-weeks in which you visit most of your key banking, finance, news, gaming and other websites is the important period which REQUIRES PATIENCE. The trick again is teaching the firewall which sites you approve and which you don't. According to various studies, the average internet user spends 80% of their online time on less than 10 websites. After the first 2-weeks, its the 20% you just have to teach yourself and other users of your computer to be smart about.
If you're not very comfortable with computers and are only a basic user of e-mail, news & regular websites... this is a great program as long as you have a techno-savvy son/daughter, friend or colleague who can help you set it up the first time. If you're a pretty advanced technology buff you'll appreciate the integrated management console between all Norton Programs and will like most of the features. Overall.. it's 4 stars in my book.
Windows 95 and NT are not supported....read the directions! 2005-01-31
Read the directions. Read the "before installation" page to prepare your computer. If you installed this in windows 95 or NT or if you didn't disable the Windows XP firewall first you need to go to control panel and add or remove programs and remove Norton Firewall 2004. It doesn't support Windows 95 or NT. Now follow the rest of the directions and include the product key. If you don't follow the directions, don't expect success with software.
Doesn't work 2004-09-28
I upgraded from Norton Personal Firewall 2003, which was working fine. Now I cannot access the Internet without disabling my firewall.
Zone Alarm is free, and Windows XP comes with a firewall. I'm tired of having my computer corrupted by Norton Utilities and my Internet disabled by Norton Personal Firewall. I will not purchase any more Symantec products.
Why did you do it - Norton? 2004-07-08
Recently bought new computer preloaded with Personal Firewall 2003 - had problems accessing some website features but was able to fix following excellent advice from ATT. Received message from Symantec saying my version should be upgraded to 2004 version - BIG mistake - cannot access ANY website (including Symantec) with Firewall enabled - no matter what! - no advice available from Symantec website (unless I pay $29.95 per call) - very unprofessional< Symantec - expected much better from you. Hope I can uninstall. Star rating - minus two.
Very difficult to install 2004-06-09
Bad uninstalls of previous Norton products can cause this one to hang and not install. No customer support (they promise to email you in 3-5 days.....). No easy was to self-troubleshoot the problem (even though there are lots potential causes listed on the Customer Support web site).
I've used and recommended Norton products for ten years, and will now switch to another brand. This was obviously released before it was fully developed.
