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Topic: Good Anti-virus program |
Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 12:24 am |
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My Norton Anti-virus has expired, and wants me to renew. I have three different tier choices. Also, my original version is older, and even if I renew, I will no longer be eligible for tech support (even thought I've never had to call them in the first place).
I tried McAfee years ago and had system problems.
I want to be protected against viruses, trojans, worms, etc. I don't necessarily think I need the fancy, top of the line security program that does everything (I already have a pop up blocker and such).
Should I go with renewing my old version of Norton on-line, buying the newest version of Norton at a local retailer, or trying another route for protection? |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 2:36 am
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Jeff, you might try going to www.grisoft.com and download the AVG Free edition. I've been using it for years and it works great for me.
Phred
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"From Truth, Justice is Born"--Quanah Parker-1904
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 3:24 am
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I dumped Norton over a year ago. It got to big ("bloatware") and was causing problems with my XP machinces.
I now have C.A. "EZ Armor" and it's been working great. If you are on RoadRunner you can get the package free. It has an anti-virus program, firewall (Zone Alarm Pro), Anti-spam that integrates with Outlook or Outlook Express and now also includes Pest Patorl - a spyware program.
Everyone has their favorite program, and the EZ Armor is my favorite, now. |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 5:10 am
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I use the free version of www.avast.com and have it set up where Avast automatically updates virus detection [almost everyday].
A small window pops up and a voice announces that Avast Anti-virus has just been updated.
I've had no problems with it at all, going on a couple of years now. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 5:27 am
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AVG Free edition works fine foe me, I started using it after my Norton subscription ran out earlier this winter.
I'd recommend getting a good firewall and anti-spyware also,- I use the ZoneAlarm free firewall and Sunbelt's Counter Spy (not free).
Steinar
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www.gregertsen.com
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 8:27 am
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Yes, "AVG Free" Edition is a full blown version and it works.
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[URL=http://www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37/URL]
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Will Holtz
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 9:35 am
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| Another vote for AVG Free edition. I've been using it on various computers for a year or two now. Never had a problem with it. Haven't gotten any viruses. |
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Richard Bass
From:
Sabang Beach, Philippines
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 11:30 am
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I've been using Avast for about 2 yrs now. No problems.
Richard |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 1:13 pm
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Jeff,
Once you have Norton,,,you're stuck with it.
It will not deinstall.
That's my experience.
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Colm Chomicky
From:
Kansas, (Prairie Village)
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 1:29 pm
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| If you do decide to renew. Don't renew through the Norton Website. I find it cheaper to buy a new version each year through a discounter - tycially "OEM" software (no hardcopy manual) just an installation disc. I bought Norton Internet Security 2005 back in Sept 2005. with postage for $19.95 with one year online subscription. Norton site wanted about that much just to renew subscription for Antivirus 2004. (I assume manafacturers are always more expensive as they can't undercut their suppliers.) Use a shopping site such as PriceGrabber etc. to find the cheapest. |
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Larry Clark
From:
Herndon, VA.
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 2:51 pm
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| I've had great success using System Suite 6 by Vcom/Advanquest. It's a complete package of anti-virus,firewall,spyware cleaner etc. Recently saw it on sale at Staples office products for $25.00. Definately worth looking into IMHO. |
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Pat Kelly
From:
Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 2:57 pm
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| Another vote for AVG. Haven't had any problems since installing it. In fact got rid of a few problems. It's very hard to uninstall Norton. You have to go to their website and download a utility to get rid of it. I had to run the utility about three times before all vestiges of Norton were gone! Until I got rid of it I couldn't use MSN messenger or access any chatrooms. |
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Michael Haselman
From:
St. Paul
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 5:43 pm
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| Does anyone know how to get rid of the Norton popup where it asks if you want to renew now or later? I've been hitting the "ask me in 2 weeks" button for about 2 years now, but can't figure out how to make it go away forever. |
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Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 10:08 pm
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I just noticed that Best Buy is offering Norton for free (via rebate). So, if I chose to stick with Norton, it would definitely be better to do that deal than to pay Norton directly for renewal.
But these other programs are peaking my interest. Thanks for the suggestions!  |
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Pat Kelly
From:
Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 21 Feb 2006 4:16 am
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Michael,
as suggested above go to
this site and down load the appropriate utility. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 21 Feb 2006 6:05 am
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| You can get rid of Norton, but you have to manually edit the registry to fully get rid of it, even after you do an "orderly" uninstall. Norton is like AOL, it invades so much that it's hard to get rid of. Some have found they have to do a "clean" install (reformat and reinstall everything) to get rid of Norton (or AOL). Even the Registry Cleaner programs (which I am not a fan of) won't get rid of all of it. |
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Mark Edwards
From:
Weatherford,Texas, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2006 6:19 am
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| Guys there is a farily new antivirus program out and it's free, all you have to do is download it. It's called avast, and the guy that made this used to work for norton and he got tired of watchin norton make their own virus's and place them in cyberspace so more people would need to get norton protection. Again it's free, just download and your set. It updates and let's you know when it's done on a daily basis. Blocks all the crap that's out there I have it and am completly statisfied. |
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Harry Dietrich
From:
Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Feb 2006 6:25 am
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Hi Jeff
And if you do decide to stay with NAV, I hope you NEVER have to call for tech support.
I did one time, and the call goes to India, and I had one h*ll of a time trying to understand what he was saying.
Harry  |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 21 Feb 2006 6:31 am
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It really just jerks my chain when, after purchasing Norton, I have to pay them again to update it.
Thanks for the suggestions. |
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Pat Kelly
From:
Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 21 Feb 2006 7:02 am
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With all due respect to all concerned. Symentec supply an .exe program as described above which will rid your PC of Norton. Please check out the link or else move this thread to Wiz's domain.
Charlie, you bought the edition and the rights to the software as it was at the time. if you want to benefit from the research an development that goes into improving the product, you buy the new model.
Anyone still driving a model - T?[This message was edited by Pat Kelly on 21 February 2006 at 07:09 AM.] [This message was edited by Pat Kelly on 21 February 2006 at 07:11 AM.] |
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Les Pierce
From:
Shreveport, LA
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Posted 21 Feb 2006 1:49 pm
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www.free-av.com
I've been using this program for several years. It has worked well, and is free for personal use. I use it with Spybot Search and Destroy, and SpyWare Blaster. I have encountered only one problem that this system couldn't handle, and that was solved with the 30 day trial version of UnHackMe. I used to do a lot of Internet when I had DSL, and downloaded a lot of trial and free software, and was virus and add free for 99% of the time.
I do not like Norton, and in my opinion it presumes to be smarter than you, and will make decisions for you in your best interest. This may appeal to some, I imagine.
Les |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 22 Feb 2006 6:21 am
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| Quote: |
| Charlie, you bought the edition and the rights to the software as it was at the time. if you want to benefit from the research an development that goes into improving the product, you buy the new model. |
I'm not sure that Henry Ford was actually designing cars with planned obsolescence in mind. The same can't be said about Symantec, which seems to automatically update Norton with no trouble, until a year is up. Why a year? Is that a factor in research and development?
Forgive me if I'm asking Symantec for a little more humanity. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 22 Feb 2006 6:34 am
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The Norton program to "completely remove" it from your PC does not, in many cases do what it says.
I have several personal cases of using it and it not removing "everything". I have seen many posts on the Dell "users forum" of problems removing Norton and even with the Norton utility.
Finally, if the software is designed correctly, you can do an "orderly" uninstall (using the add/remove software), restart Windows and it's gone - nothing else needs to be done. Two programs come to mind that do not do that, Norton and AOL. |
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Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Pat Kelly
From:
Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 22 Feb 2006 2:01 pm
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| I know it sounds illogical but when I was removing Norton I had to run the utility several times before Norton stopped bothering me. You'd think the code would do whatever it has to do the same every time it runs. However ...? |
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