We had covered the news of official Android apps for Norton Antivirus cooking at Symantec. Now the same app has been released officially and by the first impression, I would say it has impressed me with its features.

Viruses for android may not be viruses in their truest sense. They might be a rouge app trying to make the most out of your internet access to pass on personal data. Whatever the cases may be, having an antivirus works well for the placebo.

The security app from Norton which goes as Norton Smartphone Security provides three security features which blocks out a multitude of malwares and hack attempts.

Let us discuss the features offered by this beta release.

1. First in line is a Remote Lock and Wipe which does pretty much what it claims. This service deletes all the data on your memory card in case the phone is stolen or lost. This prevents data theft and ensures a good level of safety. The data wipe takes place when you send a special SMS to your phone and this feature has impressed people a lot.
2. Next in the line of features is a regular virus scanner which they have places under the Anti-Malware menu. This ensures virus free apps by scanning them on demand as well as on schedule. Scans can be scheduled on a weekly, monthly or daily basis. This also includes a user generated threat detection system called Norton Community Watch.
3. Thirdly, there is a least expected Call Blocking system which allows us to place certain numbers under a blacklist. This blocks not only calls, but also any SMS or any form of correspondence from those numbers. An option to add an answering machine is also included.

This security app from Norton has passed my expectation. It has some great features on offer and misses many of the greater features it promised. This being a beta release, those features when included, will make it an instant hit. Lack of competition from other popular antivirus manufacturers also gives it an edge in this competition.

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