Thoughts on renewing Symantec's Norton NAV & Internet Security

R

RobbW

Joined
Oct 15, 2003
Messages
2,988
My Norton anti-virus and internet firewall are nearing expiration. I'm thinking twice about renewing my subscriptions, based on comments I have read here.

I can get Mcafee free with my Comcast cable subscription, but I've read many negative comments about that as well.

What do you suggest I get instead and what should it cost me? I've also got Spybot anti-spyware and Kburra's Cookie Pal.

What would be the most robust combination of "anti-bad stuff" for my computer? I run MS XP Pro.

Thanks,
Robb
 
Oh, nevermind, I just read the MS anti-spyware thread. I didn't realize it included a discussion of anti-virus software as well. Sorry.
 
I've been running the "free stuff" on my rig for about 3 years now. I use the AVG anti-virus software, and the Zone Alarm firewall. I turned off the auto-update feature of AVG and do that all manually now; the programs are a bit of a bandwith-hog according to the XP-optimization folks.

I know when the excellent "Screensavers" show was still running on TechTV, they had a segment pointing out the various flaws with both Norton and McAfee (owned by the same folks, I believe).
 
Just to give my opinion, for whatever it might be worth, my vote goes for AVG. It is 100% free for personal use. In my book a free, but up to date AV scanner is worth 10 times more than an outdated one that you keep forgetting to pay for a renewal on. You will never need to worry about missing that next update because of a lapsed subscription again.

It is what I use personally on all of my home PCs, and what I recommend to all of my family and friends. I also install it as a part of any fresh installs I do when I repair old computers. It is free and uses minimal resources, can be set to do everything automatically and keeps to itself for the most part. It also works with Outlook and other popular email clients to protect against email viri.

Lastly I would point out that no solution is perfect. It takes a good amount of care on the users part to avoid getting infected. If you are generally a safe web user and follow some very basic guidlines any AV software that supports active scanning will do good. I really never get any warnings from my scanners anyway becuse I don't download anything that pops up on screen promising free goods or millions of dollars.
 
Man, I just reloaded AVG, but didn't see any free ones. I'm on a 30-day "test" right now.

Rizzlegrizzlefrazzledrizzleflajhjgoiahsgosihdn';oisghn'slvghs!!!!
 
Andrew Taylor said:
If you are concerned by the cost of renewing NIS, e-mail me.
Click to expand...

Thanks Andrew. It's not the cost but the quality of protection that concerns me most. I'm hearing good things about AVG which is free (yea!), but I also read a compelling argument for Kaspergsky in an above sticky (which is about $40).
 
Thanks for the links an information, everyone. I appreciate it and am following up on the links.

Robb
 
Check out Trend Micro PC-cillin. I have been running this for four years, after dumping Norton. Their updates are automatic, and I have yet to have anything get past them. Unlike when I had Norton. Trend rates up there with the best of them. Their customer service is miles ahead of Nortons also. www.trendmicro.com is their web address. Check them out.
 
I've had NAV, or NIS since 2000 and it finally got so bad and dragged the resources down to the point that I just couldn't handle it anymore so got a refund on the last NIS upgrade.

I run Avast and it's not a resource hog, runs silently and it's free for home users. Works very well, in fact far better than Norton.

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

You have to register it, but that's good for 19 months before you have to do it again.
 
my mcpain in the a$$ just expired so i used the free norton that now comes with netzero(yeh i still do dial up)locked up the machine righ away-

did a dfrag and disc clean-restarted and it runs great,my puter is faster now also-

next time i have to pay i will go with panda-subscribe to there email and you can get some real good deals with the all in 1 they have
 
Trend (and other companies)
let you scan\clean your computer free online

http://housecall.trendmicro.com

then they let you buy it if you want
continuous protection

Good way to try out various products


The first time you try Housecall may take some -small- effort
to make selections / allow downloads
but more than worth the couple minutes

I've always liked Trend


Norton seemed more cumbersome every year
Had used it since almost it's introduction
no more


...
 
I've been using Ad-Aware, Spybot, Zone Alarm, and AVG for about a year give or take for my home PC - working fine so far and free:D .

- gord
 
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