by frozen one 34 Replies latest jw friends
This web site explains a bit more whats beneficial with Norton Anti-Virus 2009
check out the video at the bottom of the page. http://www.symantec.com/norton/new/features/index.jsp
I stopped using it for a few years now but as of last year I'm back with it for its strength, usability, speed and features.
Go Linux
Get Avira. It is both free and very good!
I don't use any and haven't for years
Simon... I would be interested in understanding how you stay protected. Some platforms have built in security, however, this may not hold true for others so while you say you don't use any, people may assume they don't need to either. This is dangerous. Excellent point about staying patched! (be aware that MS Windows XP Service Pack3 has caused people issues. We're still SP2 at work because of it!)
frozen one.... As part of my profession, I perform a Security Co-ordination and Administration role. I suggest you do some homework on other or alternative security products if you are not satisfied with Norton. They aren't the only game in town. Going out to the Internet without security is like having sex with no condom. You're going to get infected -- it's just a question of time. With the Internet, it's usually seconds.
At work we use Symantec's Firewall and AntiVirus (Corporate editions). Symantec is owned by Norton.
Regarding your "pokey at times computer", that could be a multitude of things including:
- massive numbers of temp files accumulating on your harddrive that need to be cleaned off
- fragmentation of the files on your harddrive
- 'spybots' (like roings, Trojans etc.) running that you don't even know about.
If you haven't done it for a while, start by defragging your harddrive.
How much will it cost you? In terms of money, compromised performance, and having to run it--if that cost is less than the total benefit you have been getting, then you should renew it. If not, or if there is a program that gives you all the benefits with less cost, then you should not.
Simon... I would be interested in understanding how you stay protected. Some platforms have built in security, however, this may not hold true for others so while you say you don't use any, people may assume they don't need to either. This is dangerous. Excellent point about staying patched! (be aware that MS Windows XP Service Pack3 has caused people issues. We're still SP2 at work because of it!)
I use Vista, XP, Windows 2008 and OS X.
Personally, I think that if an infected file is trying to be opened on my machine (which is where Anti-Virus would kick in) then I am doing something wrong. Why would I be opening a file, especially an application, if I didn't know or trust where it came from?
If I want to 'risk' something then I can do it in a virtual machine that can be rolled-back to a previous snapshot after use.
As I say, I do scans every now and then to check for anything but I don't want to pay the massive IO 'tax' that AV software demands for what is often poor protection and a host of issues that they introduce.
A well patched system, well configured (filewall, services disabled etc...) and policies on what run are important. This includes educating the kids to not go to just any old website and to ask if they want to download and install something.
Thanks for all of the replies. I think what I'll do is uninstall the Norton and install the free AVG and spend the extra money on something beneficial like beer. If I have problems I can always go back to Norton.
Heaven: What is this "sex" you are referring to? I do defrag and clean up quite often and that doesn't seem to help much. I went to Kim Kommando's site which led me to crucial.com. After running crucial's scan I discovered that I most likely need to buy some more ram.
I'm the same as Simon... on my own computer I do not run any antivirus product at all. I would be careful about making that recommendation to others, though. If you're not a computer expert it can get you into trouble, or if you share your computer with kids/others it won't work. (If you ARE the type of computer expert that may be able to run without antivirus, you'll know it yourself without someone suggesting it.)
My experience with Norton Antivirus 2009 is on my friends'/family members' computers.
Yes. AV is superfluous for those who know what services and processes should and should not be running on their machine and who truly understand the difference between executable code and data.
On the other hand, 'Cocktailers' (Cocktailer = someone who thinks a cocktail of security products allows them to be careless on the net.) almost always have something on their machine that shouldn't be there. No AV product detects everything.
I'd keep the Norton subscription and lose the Harley subscription
