Hi,
I have been using internet and computers since last 4 years and major problem with viruses was faced when loading come web sites or downloading some e-mails using offline email clients like Outlook express or others.
Most programmers include a small program to be run when one opens a web page or email which will infect the computer with virus and it may crash or start behaving weird.
So the use of antivirus software to block such malicious activity is more than necessary. I have been using Norton Antivirus since last 2 years and it gives me all those options which I looked in antivirus. The latest version Norton Antivirus 2002 has email scanning included in outgoing as weel as incoming mails and script blocking feature which will stop any script running on web pages without the users consent. The update service is also good as it upgrades itself to news virus updates without interrupting the user. Scheduled scanning of PC is possible at the time convenient to the user.
Only thing to be kept in mind while using Norton is that it has to be configured to the purpose one wants it to work.
It doesn’t have site blocking feature which would have made a small firewall for children using the PC.
But overall the product is great and in comparison to it’s competitors it is far way ahead. I mean it when I say FAR way ahead because I have seen times when there was a virus update at the right time to protect my PC from a virus while those using a Mcafee were infected by the virus as update was not released by the time their PC got hit by the virus.