How Does Symantec Get Away With Producing Crap Software?

I don't get it. I've never owned a piece of Symantec software that:

• Wasn't obscenely bloated past its useful feature set
• Didn't have a convoluted and downright incomprehensible user interface
• Didn't make me reboot after installation and updates
• Didn't turn off other, useful Windows features, sometimes without telling me first

Case in point: Norton AntiVirus 2007

The original copy, bought in late 2006, sports Internet worm and spyware protection on top of the standard anti-virus functionality. However, it didn't take long to realize that the worm protection blocks a few, necessary, mundane ports like XP's VPN client. With the worm protection enabled I could not connect to any of my usual VPNs--work, home, etc. Thankfully you can configure exceptions, if you know the application that you want allowed. I did not.

A few calls to Symantec and one email later, I had three different executables that were possibilities, including one that was already in the exception list. Deciding to go with overkill, I created exceptions for the other two (none of which were really the VPN dialing client after all). Running out of time and patience, I decided to run with the worm protection disabled, opening my system up to other threats, but enabling my VPN connectivity.

Earlier this week I surfed some forums for an answer to this problem. Here's what I found:

• The executable needing an exception to enable VPN dialing is rasdial.exe
• Creating exceptions in NAV 2007 does not work--the program eliminates allowing outbound connections the minute you create a new exception, despite having "to (only)" and "to and from" other computers options
• A new, Vista-compatible update solves many of these problems

Aha!  Note the last bullet. Anyone with a valid NAV subscription can download and install the update.

(Note: At an animal hospital where I performed as a network support person, I routinely ran into instances of Symantec NAV and Internet security installations that "recommended" to the user that the firewall protection be enabled and maximized. This had the unfortunate side effect of disabling all NetBIOS communication with the machine--severing network and printer shares, etc. Another great feature/recommendation.)

Thankfully it didn't take long to find the update on Symantec's site. I only had to install three ActiveX controls to download it (not an embellishment) and begin the installation. An hour and a half later... I'm not joking here. The update took an hour and a half on my fairly speedy laptop, with the solitary status message of "Norton AntiVirus." How freaking helpful. The "last" dialog said something about "installation is finished, click Next to end the installer." Clicking Next spawned another status window informing me the installation was being "finalized," followed by the ubiquitous Norton/Symantec product "you must reboot now" dialog. After reboot, the installation routine did a few more things and then complained about all the tasks I hadn't completed--full system scan, update virus defs, etc. LiveUpdate was launched and a bevy of things updated--forcing yet another reboot.

The only good news in all of this is that the Microsoft VPN client now works fine with the worm protection enabled.

Again, I have to stress that this type of experience is not unique to Symantec's NAV. They seem to write their own rules for each product, only maintaining one standard--let's make our software confusing, hard to use, and difficult to configure.

The answer, however, to the question posed in the topic of this post is:  They are Symantec, the worlds largest manufacturer of software like NAV, Ghost, Internet Security, etc. Consumers recognize the name and buy religiously (yep, me included), most of which simply install the software and never touch it again (except to respond to LiveUpdate's prompts). So, I guess they don't have to change, despite the fact I wish they would, or at least start being held accountable.

</rant>