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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | ok
I got notice that norton expires in 4 days.
should I renew?
should I just go with the microsoft defender?
other suggestions? |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | I would say it depends on your internet usage, but I would stick with Norton (just because you are familiar with it). If you have ever had to try to recover from a destructive virus or worm, you will have wished 100x you would have spent 50 bucks on a leading software package. It only takes one infection before you make sure you are covered by the folks that make it their business to keep your OS and data secure.
I have yet to read that MSFT provides the same level of protection of the Nortons and Kasperski's. But I trace better than I read, so it is just my .02. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | A.V.G. (www.avg.com) |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Norton virus has been an overbloated turd for years now. Dump it for anything else.
I use PREVX but there are several good ones out there including the one DB mentioned. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | LOL norton did not catch a major worm that got me a year ago.
I have no faith in norton and have been using them for years.
macafee cut my performance to a standstill so I will never use that one and it caused my computer to reboot. |
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Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Agree that Norton is garbage. AVG (if you use Pro version) is very well rated, as is Microsoft Essentials. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | here is a good place to start if you want to switch.
Sometimes new suites can be as confusing as new operating systems.
I do agree that there are others out there as good or better than Norton...but I do not think one of those is Microsoft's free product. I use Kaspersky and it does a great job. But I also do a monthly scan with Search and Destroy and PC Tools Security suite. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 269
Location: Nîmes, south of France | For years i put Norton Symantec off my computers.
Avast works just fine. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | For FREE, AVG (either their totally FREE product or their competitively priced pro-version depending on your usage) are great.
For an overall paid solution either F-Secure or F-Prot. Both are outstanding products that HAVE ALWAYS BEEN light years ahead of Norton, McAfee etc.
Most importantly THEY ARE NOT OEM on ANYTHING. What that means is they are not supplied as a "free trial" on any pc or with any software package so they are not as prevalent in the market even though they have been around since the late 80's. This means they are not a TARGET of malware like Norton, McAfee and Microsoft.
The Microsoft Essentials is good as a SECONDARY tool if you manage to get infected, but I would not trust it as the primary tool. Again, it's a target. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Originally posted by Arnaud:
Avast works just fine. Be VERY careful using Avast. Arnaud's experience with Avast is a good one, but I have seen things go very sideways with Avast. It is, by all accounts a virus in itself. A good one. Like anti-bodies to a human. However, if a malware does get by it, you are pretty much screwed because any other tool will be blocked by Avast AND you will likely not be able to remove or get around Avast in that situation. This is also the basic malfunction of MacAfee.
If anyone brings me a PC with either McAfee or Avast installed and they have malware, so far the only cure is format c:. Norton at least can be worked around. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 269
Location: Nîmes, south of France | Thanks for the information Miles, i must admit i am not an expert and didn't know HOW it works.
I have Avast installed for 5 years in 4 PC's for the whole family, because it is free and was recommended by software litterature and friends as well. I must say i am very pleased and never encourtered any problems during that time, although the kids make an intensive use of the internet. As a fact, it doesn't slow the PC's like Norton does.
Avast is also available as a more complete version you have to pay for, but i never choose it. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 815
Location: Colorado | I've had great success with AVG the past 5 or so years. Best of luck finding what works best for you Al. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | ...a Mac |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | posted by bauerhillboy:
...a Mac That might be ending...
The lack of viruses for Mac has nothing to do with the Mac operating system.
Y'see, Macs didn't get viruses cuz nobody made viruses for Mac.
Back when Macs were only 7% of computers, and 89% were running Windows, it was just easier and more economical to make viruses for Windows.
You got the most bang for the buck, caused the most damage with one bug.
But it this ever-changing world in which we live in...
All those iPhones, iPads, iMacs, iChihuahua ...  |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I get weekly threat reports from Watchguard. There are plenty of security threats aimed at MacOS. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | "A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with a theory".
I know Al's not gonna switch to a Mac; I'm only kidding around.
But I haven't spent a dime on any virus protection in 10 years. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4233
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | My brother is an internet security professional. When I bought my first personal computer in over ten years this past spring, I asked him what anti-virus I should use. He said install AVG. That's good enough for me.
I'm also in the habit of running scans with Spybot and Malware Bytes on a regular basis. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | We've got AVG on the Macbook and PCs (we're Bi-Com :-) )and never had a problem. Other than the normal PC screw-ups, which are normally more operator error related....but don't tell the wife. |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | AVAST is free and a solid AV program. All you need to do is register. Updates are automatic. never had a problem with it when I was a windows user.
Now I'm a Mac... what's a virus? |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 815
Location: Colorado | I'm also in the habit of running scans with Spybot and Malware Bytes on a regular basis. [/QB] +1 again. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | FWIW..
BAD Anti-virus software has really added to the Virus/Malware panic that's out there. A good product like AVG or F-Secure or F-Prot (those are the only ones I endorse) does NOT require manually checking your pc with anything else ever unless you suspect something. I admit, out of habit, I do a full/deep scan once a year, but I've never found anything. I usually have to clean the up the registry of extraneous garbage (non malicious) to feel like I have a new system again.
As far as the whole Mac's and malware myth... MAC's are the single most at-risk community out there for a severe, global, malware attack. It hasn't happened because the hacker community just hasn't decided to do it yet. The software (eg malware) is there, it's ready.
Every time I see people at coffee shops and free wifi spots on a MAC I cringe. I have hit those places with network trace software and lets put it this way... If you use the web, go to your bank, check stocks, etc, at a Starbucks, then there's a good chance someone in China has a file on you. Computer Security, Network Development, Programming, etc.. is what I do for a living, and have been for the past 30+ years.
Shameless plug: http://www.mileskbaron.com |
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Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Bellevue, Washington | We use the GFI Vipre product here at the office, made the switch from Symantec (Norton) products last year when we had a massive infection of around 700 computers and Symantec said everything was fine.
Haven't had a virus outbreak since, because GFI catches everything.
Personal opinion on AVG and Avast as an IT guy is that they are great for free products but far from what I would call acceptable. A good free product that you can run once youve already determined that you have a virus you need to get rid of though is ComboFix. I highly recommend checking it out if you've got a nasty virus that Symantec can't seem to get rid of. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Vipre was good... until GFI bought Sunbelt. Trust me, it doesn't 'catch 'everything'. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 379
Location: Alagoas, Brazil | I used to use AVG-Free. Had a lot of problems, mainly because I carry my classes in a flash drive and every few days a new virus went to it from the class computer, wreaking avoc on my files at home and work.
Then I decided to go for Norton 360 and from then on no more trouble with viruses. Sometimes it warns about a virus in the flash drive but checks and cleans that automatically. I'm pretty happy with it. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Miguel, you are one of the lucky ones using Norton. |
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virus control
