Norton 360 beta 4 made available

Symantec has made a new beta version of its Norton 360 all-in-one security software publicly available.

Beta version four of Norton 360, which is compatible with Microsoft's latest operating system Windows 7, features Quorum technology that analyses a file's age, download source, digital signature and prevalence, to determine whether it is a security threat or not.

Symantec said since the release of Quorum, 70 million unique files are being tracked with input from more than 35 million anonymous Norton Community Watch members. In addition, the technology currently identifies one million new files per week.

Norton 360 Beta 4 also features the Smart Start-up Manager that allows users to reduce or stagger start-up applications, as well as the ability to backup up files online, and to restore or access them from anywhere via the web.

Users will also benefit from enhanced versions of Norton Identity Safe, Norton Safe Web - a website rating service that gives Google, Yahoo! and Live.com search results safety and ecommerce ratings - and the opportunity to try the optional beta of OnlineFamily.Norton, a web-based service that keeps parents in the loop on their kids' online lives..

"In the fight against cybercrime, we recognise that consumers need more than just basic protection," said Rowan Trollope, senior vice president, Consumer Products and Marketing, Symantec.

"Our technology's effectiveness has been battle-tested and proven in the field, and we're including this new form of security in the Norton 360 beta."

Norton 360 Beta version 4 is available to download now from Symantec's website.

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See also: Scareware earns cybercriminals £850,000 a year