It looks like Norton is making a step in the right direction when it comes to consumer expectations of security software. Their newest product comes fully automated, so that the user doesn’t even have to deal with pop-ups or updates anymore. The whole “set it and forget it” is really proving its worth in 360. While it is quite a deal for its retail price, will consumers actually purchase it?

For the price of a tank of gas, most people could protect their computers from viruses all year long. Yet millions don’t, and malicious software costs them collective billions of dollars.

Cupertino software maker Symantec is hoping to change that mindset with Norton 360, a software and online service launching today that combines anti-virus and other protection software, programs to keep computers running smoothly, and 2 gigabytes of hard drive backup. The new product is fully automated, so users will no longer have to deal with needless pop-ups and alerts about new security rules.

‘I think that Norton 360 is a huge step up in consumer security,’ said Forrester Research analyst Natalie Lambert. ‘However, getting customers to make the purchase will be a challenge.’[more]

Tags: Computer Protection