Technical Note: Content Filtering

In version 4.0 of Norton Internet Security, Symantec moved http filtering from the device drivers to a service named SymProxySvc. This has resulted in fewer device drivers being loaded and a common architecture for both Web content filtering and email virus scanning.

This service is utilized as a transparent proxy through which HTTP, MSN Messenger, and AOL Instant Messenger [ed. and NNTP in v4.5] traffic is redirected. When this occurs, you will see connections from your web browser and other applications to localhost, which are those applications communicating with the proxy.

A second proxy, NAVAPW32.EXE, is used for filtering POP3 and SMTP traffic to mail servers to scan them for viruses.