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Review of Symantec's Norton DiskLock

Table of Contents

• Product Specifications
• System Requirements
• Product Description
• What I Liked about the programs.....
• What I didn't like about the programs.....
• Ratings
• Contact information
• Pricing
• Computer system this software was reviewed

Product Specifications

Platform: Macintosh
Media Format: 3.5 high density floppy disks

Single copy or Network Multi Pack

System Requirements:

Product Description

Norton Disklock is a security package that protects files from unauthorized users and accidental erasure. You can program it for multiple users at 3 different levels. Among other things, it allows you to lock folders, encrypt files, and keep track of who accesses what, and who tries to access what. Encryption supplies a greater level of security than locking does.

Disklock allows for Emergency unlock in order to run a disk first aid utility (such as Norton's) to retrieve damaged files.

When you open DiskLock after installing, you have super user privileges, and can then create other superusers, users, and guests.

It allows super users to set not only privileges, but password requirement, logon requirements, etc.

The six main things that you want to do are icons on your first screen. Just click on the icon you want, and a mac box comes up with what you want to do on it. (There is no grubbing around in the control panels, etc.)

You can utilize the Disklock screen saver, or designate another one as an extra level of security in case you need to leave your mac unattended.

Amazingly, hypertext help was actually very helpful and understandable. I don't see very much use for the Bookmark Feature, but viewing related topics led me to some interesting items I might not have thought to search Help for. The glossary is a good idea for people who might not be familiar with some of the less-used macintosh terminology.

What I Liked about the programs.....

It was easy to install. The preinstallation checklist was very clear; one of the things it suggested was to run Norton Disk Doctor, or other diagnostic utility, and it was a good thing, as I had some problems that needed to be fixed.

Creating different kinds of users and their privileges was a snap. I especially liked the fact that you can create several different super users, as well as regular users, and the general all-purpose "guest" designation.

After you click on the icon that you want from the main screen, the screen that comes up has a ? symbol on it, which you can click to get help on the functions listed on the screen.

Overall, the manual was excellent. The troubleshooting appendix (A) was presented in a question and answer format. It takes a little bit of time to go through, but the questions are those that users would ask. Appendix B listed default config. settings, which is good for a quick glance.

What I didn't like about the programs.....

I was a trifle confused by the term Auto Setup Screen, since I was looking for a screen that said "Auto Setup",when I started Disklock, although once I figured out that this was just the main Disklock screen, and it didn't say "Auto Setup", I got the hang of it.

If you choose "Logon as Different User" from the Options menu, you are allowed to logon again, but it automatically closes Disklock, even if you have chosen not to reboot the computer. It would be nice if Disklock were to remain open.

All in all, I liked this program, and will continue to use it. It seems to be very useful to those of us who have minimum security requirements, but also require flexibility, as well as to those people who have more stringent security concerns.

Rating

(Rated on a scale from 1 Dome to 5 Domes. 5 Domes being excellent and 1 Dome being not worthy)

Value for the Money: (4)
Usability: (4)
Installation Ease (4)
Manual (4)

Contact information

Symantec

Web Page: http://www.symantec.com/

Pricing

Price as seen in a Mac Software Catalog. $47.99

Computer system this software was reviewed.

PowerMac 7600

Revised 7/20/97