What's best to replace Norton IS with?

[Rockrz]

My Norton Internet Security is getting on my nerves...

I'm supposed to be able to train the Firewall to dis-allow certain programs from connecting to the internet.

I've gone into the control panel to mark certain programs to be blocked from connecting, but...everytime I open any of these program I'm still getting the little Norton pop-up that's asking me if I want to block this program from connecting, or not.

I would contact Norton, but I don't want to have to pay $30 per incident on software I paid a premium to have. I've had nothing but bad experiences trying to contact NJorton in the past, so I'm not interested in that option.

So...what Firewall and Anti-virus program is best if one isn't using Norton?

[MakeYourslf2012]

AVG seems to win the virus-vcan vote in these forums, however - I personally don't have any experience with it.

If you looking for a Firewall, go to the general software forum here at PC Mech and click the sticked thread at the top (labeled something along the lines of "Free software"), you'll find several Firewall/VS utilities.

[Rockrz]

How good could free software be?

Are the authors working hard to provide a good quality product without any pay? How does that work?

[doctorgonzo]

Some of the software, like AVG, is only free for personal, non-commercial use. If you are a business, you have to pay. So there is revenue. It actually makes sense from the business security side of things to make anti-virus software available to as many people as possible. When businesses are attacked by viruses, worms, DDOS attacks, and so on, it's usually by home computers that have been turned into remote-controlled bots by trojans and viruses. The more people that are running anti-virus software, the fewer computers that are available to attack businesses, and of course that makes businesses happy.

Then there are lots of people who just like programming for fun; that's what the open source movement is about.

I use both AVG and Avast anti-virus; they are both free and do a fine job. For firewalls, lots of people recommend ZoneAlarm, although I don't personally use it.

[cmillar6]

go into the program control in the norton firewall, block the programs of your choice, when you get the pop-up telling you norton is blocking the program make sure "don't ask me this again" or "always do the selected option" is checked. I can't remember the exact wording. The norton software firewall works very well, its configuration just takes getting used to.

[glc]

Replace it with AVG Free antivirus, a router preferably with a SPI firewall, and the builtin XP SP2 firewall. Add antispyware apps and you should be all set.

AVG Free is just a slimmed down version of their professional products - but the protection is identical. It's just not as configurable and there's no support.

If you insist on paying for an all in one solution, get Trend Micro.

[Rockrz]

go into the program control in the norton firewall, block the programs of your choice, when you get the pop-up telling you norton is blocking the program make sure "don't ask me this again" or "always do the selected option" is checked. I can't remember the exact wording. The norton software firewall works very well, its configuration just takes getting used to.I've check off which progs I want to block, but I keep getting the pop-ups...that don't seem to have any option for "don't ask me this again".

I've used Norton for years and have never had this ongoing problem. Maybe I need to un-install and then re-install, although I don't know if that would just be a waste of time.

I'll keep playing with it for a while.

[cmillar6]

Replace it with AVG Free antivirus, a router preferably with a SPI firewall, and the builtin XP SP2 firewall. Add antispyware apps and you should be all set.



the problem with the sp2 firewall is that it doesn't support outgoing program control, it only monitors incoming connections. This is why most people use a software firewall.

Rockrz, how exactly are you blocking programs in Norton?

[glc]

cmillar, if you have a router doing NAT with a SPI firewall, backed up by the Windows firewall, that's plenty good.

[Rockrz]

Rockrz, how exactly are you blocking programs in Norton?I'm going into Norton's firewall control panel and clicking on specific programs listed there and marking them to be BLOCKED.

This worked great on my old system. Once I blocked a program, I never saw any pop-ups asking me what to do because those programs were automatically blocked by Norton Firewall from connecting to the net.

[HAL9000]

the problem with the sp2 firewall is that it doesn't support outgoing program control, it only monitors incoming connections. This is why most people use a software firewall.

Rockrz, how exactly are you blocking programs in Norton?

The outbound protection is a bunch of bunk... ZA has outbound and when the SIRCAM virus came out... ZA would say "SCAM.EXE is trying to access the internet, would you like to allow it"... do you know how many people said YES... COME ON!!!... "SCAM.exe"??? Doesn't that sound like a no no... big sirens should be going off... but nope... pretty little outbound protection and people get conned anyway.

I'm in full agreement with GLC here... protect the inbound as recommended and with a decent virus scanner and spyware protection and you're fine.