Is Norton any good?

[eeekar]

My new PC came with a free Norton Protection Center..
I was wondering if this is enough or do I still need to install/download other programs to protect my pc?
I also have Spyware Master and Zone Alarm..
Thanks

[hitchface]

Zone Alarm is decent. Get rid of the other two. Some other free ones that are recommended here are:

Spybot S&D
AVG Free
AVG AntiSpyware
Avast!

[law99]

Norton is a resource hog, mom's PC was very,very slow when it had Norton 2007 Suite.

P4 3G 256m, I ran all my free anti-malware programs which found tons of stuff the suite let in, but removals did not help.
Did a HJT with advisor, nothing major. Added 512M of ram, no faster.
Removed Norton Suite, installed AVG free, ran like a super computer in comparision.
No problems since (months), but it is time I ran my programs.
I have removed Norton from friends PCs, very happy. I hate Norton.

Besides what Norton can do to a PC, what Norton Suite does not keep out of your PC, how hard it can be to remove, they have the nerve to charge for it, repeatably.

Did I mention I don't think Norton is worth paying anything for.

[law99]

You should use Symantic's special Removal Tool to get rid of Norton.

[hitchface]

The fact that they need a proprietary removal tool should be evidence enough that you need to move on.

[law99]

l

I use these, all are free.
a-squared (scanner)
Spyware Guard (blocker)
SpywareBlaster (spyware blocker)
Spybot: Search & Destroy (spyware blocker and scanner)
Ad-Aware SE (spyware scanner)
SuperAntiSpyware (spyware scanner)
Windows Defender (spyware blocker and scanner)
AVG AntiSpyware (spyware scanner)
IE Spyad (spyware blocker)
A modified HOSTS file (spyware blocker)
Firefox with addons (safer browser)
AVG &ZA

Most free scanners are ran manually (not active protection), only have one actively running antispyware & one antivirus.

[eeekar]

ack!
so that's why my pc is so slow.....
but I can't seem to remove it...!

[Alaron]

Try the tool: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...05033108162039

[eeekar]

Thanks..
Is the AVG Anti-spyware active protection or do I have to run scans manually?

[law99]

If free, manual, paid version is active.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by eeekar Is the AVG Anti-spyware active protection or do I have to run scans manually?

It has active background protection but you have to run the scans manually.

Cricket

[law99]

Cricket
Does the free version have active protection or only the the paid version? I don't know if you were correcting my mistake or adding more info.

[Negeva]

Originally Posted by law99 Cricket Does the free version have active protection or only the the paid version? I don't know if you were correcting my mistake or adding more info.

I was under the impression that the active protection is only there for the first 14 days then it reverts to an after-the-fact scanner unless you pay.

[shadowpr]

I believe you're correct.

[Cricket]

Sorry, my mistake...I was thinking of AVG Anti-virus. The antispyware is active only during the trial period and then goes dormant. (been a long day...damn weather)

Cricket

[Jim Baxter]

Originally Posted by Cricket It has active background protection but you have to run the scans manually. Cricket

Maybe I missed something in the translation.
I have been using AVG free for quite some time and it runs a scan every day and downloads updates every day automatically.

I am please with it.

[donsor]

I just purchased a Norton Antivirus 2008 to upgrade from the 2007 version which, if I get all the promised rebates, will cost me nothing. But as they say "No free lunch". I've had problems installing it. somewhere along the set up, it will freeze and my PC automatically reboots. I've been in contact with Norton techs but no joy. I used the Norton Uninstall to get rid of old programs. during the setup a window appears which states "Gathering error information. this may take several minutes." Two-thirds down the progress bar, it freezes. The data showing right above iwas "system.nfo". It freezes at this point for several minutes before the PC shuts down automatically. I guess its time to move on. What about CA Internet Security Suite". Is this any good?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Jim Baxter Maybe I missed something in the translation. I have been using AVG free for quite some time and it runs a scan every day and downloads updates every day automatically. I am please with it.

The subject being discussed is AVG Anti-Spyware, not AVG Anti-Virus. The AVG Anti-Spyware doesn't have automatic updates and the background scanners goes inactive after the trial period is over...but you can get these features if you pay for the Pro version of the program.

But yes, AVG Free Anti-Virus does update automatically and you can set it to run scans automatically if you want to...I prefer to run the scans manually.

Cricket

[tomster2300]

I love how Norton requires a cleaning to completely remove the stupid thing. Reminds me of the good old days with AOL. Now that was a pain.

I had to format and reinstall windows to get all the included junk off when I bought my laptop. Sometimes it ends up being the only way.

[TwoRails]

Don't know why so many have problems uninstalling NAV. I have, fortunately not run into the problem myself. The two most recent times where on my own machines: this one and the other main desktop. NAV's subscription ran out and I'm trying out Avast on both. The uninstall, thru Add/Remove Programs, went just fine.

[cmillar6]

Don't know why so many have problems uninstalling NAV. I have, fortunately not run into the problem myself. The two most recent times where on my own machines: this one and the other main desktop. NAV's subscription ran out and I'm trying out Avast on both. The uninstall, thru Add/Remove Programs, went just fine.

I agree, the Norton bashing threads are starting to get a little old in these forums. When properly installed NAV uninstalls without issue thru add/remove programs, no cleanup tool is necessary. I gave up on Norton 2 years ago when I got sick of paying $39.99 to update my subscription fees, I really didn't notice any speed increase when I uninstalled Norton and went to AVG. With modern systems now running >512MB of ram, the few extra resources that Norton consumes are no longer an issue. As a stand alone antivirus tool, Norton does a very good job and ranks well above AVG in just about every antivirus review you read. I am almost ready to go back to Norton because I am tired of AVG's ridiculously slow scanning speed and because of poor reviews I am reading with respect to its virus detection rate.

[TwoRails]

Agreed with everything you said, cmillar6. I stopped buying the subscriptions as I could find the latest version on sale somewhere. I have '08 waiting to install and I picked it up at Best Buy for under $20, for example. In fairness, I'm trying an alternate just to see about all this performance increase I keep hearing about. I found zero increase in everything: bootup times didn't change, I don't get emails faster, downloads are still fast, etc... Nope, no performace increase found. And yes, with 2GB RAM being typical, what's the concern over a couple of MBs? Again, yes, NAV works.

[Negeva]

Agree with some of the comments - it does seem daft to renew a subscription to what is basically an old version of Norton - or any other AV suite, when it is cheaper to buy the newer version in the shops or online for less than half-price in most cases. That is one of the things AVG has sorted out by having you always download the latest version of the program - which means more effective scanning engines and so on.

Only ever had a few issues with Norton removal when someone else had attempted it and failed. Though using the removal tool does make it slightly quicker to remove than the Add/Remove applet.

To be honest I'm impressed with the new 2008 version of Norton 360, but I only installed the AV application and not the rest of the applications. However, the new version of their disk de-frag tool is better and just ever so slightly quicker and less resource hungry. It seems that Norton/Symantec have heeded the word of many a geek and made the program less resource hungry or they just hired a few more efficient coders

I'm running NIS 2008 and I have no issues with it and find it has improved greatly over NIS 2007. I've never had an issue with Norton but many complain about the Norton Removal tool, I WISH over software programs had such a tool. I get tired of uninstalling a program then having to go back and manually uninstall its program folder, reg entries, decktop icon, ect. Every testing report I've read Norton always scores near the top and as far as Norton being bloated, so is Windows, but alot of us keep using it don't we. I always push the "free" programs here when people ask, never Norton unless they ask specifically about it. Lets all just use what we like and leave the bashing to the testing labs unless of course you've found a product that is a down right rip-off.

[glc]

A lot of Norton's issues are not obvious - just wait till you have things being blocked and instabilities that you can't figure out. Other packages are not totally immune to this, but more often than not, when I'm working on a machine that's got surfing and/or e-mail problems that have Norton installed, uninstalling Norton clears up the issues.

To date (fingers crossed), I have not had any issues with Norton and I've been using it for many years. It was slow and a power hog in its early days but I don't see that all with NIS 2008. I know (from reading them here) that many people have issues with Norton however we don't see the many who don't because they have no reason to come to the forum to tell us so. You see it more because of you're business but lets face it, most have not a clue of the workings of a PC, I see it in all the dealings I do. Anyway, not to beat a dead horse, maybe one day someone will write the perfect program, until then, thank goodness for all the help this forum provides me and the many people who uses it.

[Panama Red]

Preinstalled Norton on personal machines is very problematic to say the least. Networking with that beast is nearly impossible in my experience. And I agree with glc's mention of other seemingly unidentifiable quirks when Norton is installed.

Symantec Business Version is another software entirely. I have several customers using it and renew it every year. It is a bit bloated but it does the job it's intended for without causing other issues.

[tomster2300]

Well one funny thing about the Norton I had was that every time you reinstalled it, it gave you a completely new year's subscription for free.

Norton does not protect against viruses as well as programs like AVG and Trendmicro's housecall. Run all three and see the other programs pick up what Norton missed. It's kind of scary that they actually charge money for the thing when you really begin to look at it.

[TwoRails]

Originally Posted by tomster2300 ... Norton does not protect against viruses as well as programs like AVG and Trendmicro's housecall. Run all three and see the other programs pick up what Norton missed. It's kind of scary that they actually charge money for the thing when you really begin to look at it.

I would still like to see that from a reputable review from a source such as PC World, and other mags, who use 3rd party, respected antivirus research institutes. At the risk of sounding ridiculous, I think it's kinda scary the money MS charges for their bloated stuff... (hows that for stirring the pot )

That can be said of any anti-virus/anti-spyware program, no one program will catch everything. The findings by this site: http://www.av-comparatives.org/, doesn't support your claim that AVG or Housecall detect better than Norton nor does any report by an independent testing site that I have reviewed. That aside, its about what people are comfortable using plus there level of computer skills, some programs are tougher to use than others.