Norton anti-virus is shit

[Coyote]

It's as bad as what it is meant to protect you from.

-It uses most of my (well, families) computers processing power.
-It freezes the computer since I can't have too many programs running now.
-It requires updates every few days or it constantly warms me "system is at extreme risk!!".
-Demands full system scans that take forever each week, or keeps alerting me to it.
-Deletes or forbids access to some files because they could be potentially hazardous, like music files.

And before you think I actually wanted to get it. Oh no, I wanted to download AVG and I was waiting until the previous subscription to Norton had ended. And I had to wait for my cap to restore as Xtra broadband cuts out on downloads when at dial up speed. But then Dad noticed a big $150 chunk had come out of his bank account and got an email confirming that Norton had taken the money. Apparently in the fine print we had agreed that they had the permission to keep our banking details (we bought the last subscription online) and they were able to automatically update our subscription and take money out of our account unless we said otherwise. There was no warning of this happening before they took the money out.

Plus Lavasoft Adware picked up on a few things Norton had missed. Plus spyware which you have to pay Norton extra to be protected from.

So let that be a warning. Don't get Norton and if you got yours online make sure this doesn't happen to you.

My next computer is going to run Linux (http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/linux_user_at_best_buy.png)

/rant

[The Pastor]

how long have you been a computer user and only you just realised this

[Bren]

.

My next computer is going to run Linux (http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/linux_user_at_best_buy.png)

/rant


Why your next computer. You can make the computer you run now run linux!

Do you want some linuxy links from a linuxy guy?

[homer]

It's as bad as what it is meant to protect you from.

-It uses most of my (well, families) computers processing power.
-It freezes the computer since I can't have too many programs running now.
-It requires updates every few days or it constantly warms me "system is at extreme risk!!".
-Demands full system scans that take forever each week, or keeps alerting me to it.
-Deletes or forbids access to some files because they could be potentially hazardous, like music files.

And before you think I actually wanted to get it. Oh no, I wanted to download AVG and I was waiting until the previous subscription to Norton had ended. And I had to wait for my cap to restore as Xtra broadband cuts out on downloads when at dial up speed. But then Dad noticed a big $150 chunk had come out of his bank account and got an email confirming that Norton had taken the money. Apparently in the fine print we had agreed that they had the permission to keep our banking details (we bought the last subscription online) and they were able to automatically update our subscription and take money out of our account unless we said otherwise. There was no warning of this happening before they took the money out.

Plus Lavasoft Adware picked up on a few things Norton had missed. Plus spyware which you have to pay Norton extra to be protected from.

So let that be a warning. Don't get Norton and if you got yours online make sure this doesn't happen to you.

My next computer is going to run Linux (http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/linux_user_at_best_buy.png)

/rant

You want AvG free and avg anti spywear

most those antispywear programs actually put things in the pc you dont know
then when you run them they find stuff they put there

[homer]

It's as bad as what it is meant to protect you from.

-It uses most of my (well, families) computers processing power.
-It freezes the computer since I can't have too many programs running now.
-It requires updates every few days or it constantly warms me "system is at extreme risk!!".
-Demands full system scans that take forever each week, or keeps alerting me to it.
-Deletes or forbids access to some files because they could be potentially hazardous, like music files.

And before you think I actually wanted to get it. Oh no, I wanted to download AVG and I was waiting until the previous subscription to Norton had ended. And I had to wait for my cap to restore as Xtra broadband cuts out on downloads when at dial up speed. But then Dad noticed a big $150 chunk had come out of his bank account and got an email confirming that Norton had taken the money. Apparently in the fine print we had agreed that they had the permission to keep our banking details (we bought the last subscription online) and they were able to automatically update our subscription and take money out of our account unless we said otherwise. There was no warning of this happening before they took the money out.

Plus Lavasoft Adware picked up on a few things Norton had missed. Plus spyware which you have to pay Norton extra to be protected from.

So let that be a warning. Don't get Norton and if you got yours online make sure this doesn't happen to you.

My next computer is going to run Linux (http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/linux_user_at_best_buy.png)

/rant

You want AvG free and avg anti spywear

most those antispywear programs actually put things in the pc you dont know
then when you run them they find stuff they put there

Get windows defender as well, its free

[Coyote]

Why your next computer. You can make the computer you run now run linux!

Do you want some linuxy links from a linuxy guy?
Families computer. They get fussy over me changing the volume.

When I'm not such a poor bugger living at home and I actually have a life elsewhere with my own computer, then I'll explore the linux route.

how long have you been a computer user and only you just realised this
I know many bike riders that don't know how an engine works.

I was more ranting about how shit it is. I've known for a while now and had intended to replace it.

You want AvG free and avg anti spywear

most those antispywear programs actually put things in the pc you dont know
then when you run them they find stuff they put there
As far as I know Ad-Aware is meant to be good.

And I said I wanted AVG and will get it soonish. Back to dial up for a couple of weeks.

[sidecar bob]

Go to www.avast.com & download their free home edition.

[James Deuce]

I'm with sidecar bob on this one. Smallest footprint of any of the free anti-virus apps I've tried. AVG is getting a little slower to release updates of late.

[Disco Dan]

Try this antivirus software (http://www.apple.com/imac/), with built in firewall. Wont get a virus again.

[McJim]

Norton should have stuck with making bikes in my opinion.:rofl:

[Conquiztador]

I run Avast antivirus and ZoneAlarm firewall. Both free. Have done so for close to 5 years and not one virus or a firewall problem. They also tend to pick up spyware.

I prefer Avast instead ov AVG as it downloads much faster, is updated daily and does not jam the puter while doing what it is supposed to do.

[Jiminy]

I prefer Avast instead ov AVG as it downloads much faster, is updated daily and does not jam the puter while doing what it is supposed to do.

I'd tend to agree, I found AVG heavy on resources and quite annoying.

I went the AOL route, but they recently changed their free antivirus. I'm about to switch to Kapersky, not free, but apparently very efficient and very discreet. AOL antivirus was based on Kapersky, and I've been more than happy with it for a year now.

[Spuds1234]

Avira Antivir is also free and very good.

Atleast that has been my experience with it. Better than Norton and AVG.

It has a pop up evertime it updates (daily), but that doesnt bother me as once you close it it doesnt come back until the next day.

[scracha]

Avira Antivir is also free and very good.

Atleast that has been my experience with it. Better than Norton and AVG.

It has a pop up evertime it updates (daily), but that doesnt bother me as once you close it it doesnt come back until the next day.

There's some nice scripting / macro software on download.com that you can spend 2 minutes training to click away the nag screen.

These threads always have at least one Linux or Apple fanboy on them. Apple's do get virus' and/or break.

Avast antivir / Comodo firewall / Spybot 1.52 = good combo.

http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm = superb free disk imaging software. I used it to move a Vista partition to a RAID 1TB drives (some customers have too much money) and it worked beautifully.

The following are worth downloading as get out of jail free cards.

http://siri.urz.free.fr/Fix/SmitfraudFix.exe
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix
http://www.ubcd4win.com/ (pre-built iso's available as torrents)

[Coyote]

I have Spybot and Zonealarm too. ZOnealarm doesn't appear to suck up so much of my computers speed.

I'm surprised no one seems to be outraged by Norton taking our money. Is this a common thing to happen?

[James Deuce]

Yes. Their Corporate product sucks too.

[Conquiztador]

I'm surprised no one seems to be outraged by Norton taking our money. Is this a common thing to happen?

I know very few (do I know anyone??) who does not use the free ones. I think it might be as a result of this that nobody comments re the Norton fee. Nobody has experience with paying for antivirus/firewalls.

A little like buying bottles of water for $2.50 when you have it free from a tap at home...

[Usarka]

Thousands of people use the pay products because they arent computer literate and dont know of the better alternatives......


I'm surprised no one seems to be outraged by Norton taking our money. Is this a common thing to happen?

I once signed up to the Consumer online (stupid idea), and they had one of these clauses that if you don't cancel they will charge your card for the next term.

i calmly (bahahaha) pointed out to them that they are supposed to be the advocates for consumer rights etc etc. Their response was that this is a common practice........... go figure.

[Coyote]

Thousands of people use the pay products because they arent computer literate and dont know of the better alternatives......



I once signed up to the Consumer online (stupid idea), and they had one of these clauses that if you don't cancel they will charge your card for the next term.

i calmly (bahahaha) pointed out to them that they are supposed to be the advocates for consumer rights etc etc. Their response was that this is a common practice........... go figure.
This was us for a long time.

Consumer magazine is hilariously ironic. They'll gladly protect the consumer, giving out information they have found, so long as you buy a 1 years subscription. I love how they had some guy from the magazine (he's on target) that would come onto the breakfast show giving out vague warnings that'll become clear once you buy the magzine.

[Okey Dokey]

I'm a self taught 'puter gal and use Norton (oh the shame) and pay for it. Also spybot.

Too timid to try and change because I am too lazy to try and learn more. Scared of losing stuff and feels safer with a "bought" package from a company.

So I guess my annual fee is a stupidity tax!