Norton Internet suite

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My suite is about ready for renewal, been thinking of switching to Norton, running Win7 home, on a 08 Dell Vostro, your thoughts please

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Recent versions of Norton are much easier on systems than just a few years ago. I don’t use suites so I can’t give you an opinion about effectivity or ease of use. You’ll probably get almost as many recommendations as responses.

Joe

--Joe

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Like Joe, I do not use a security suite, but if I did I would probably go with the Norton. And that is something I would never have considered a year ago. I have read Norton is much less of a resource hog than it use to be, and its new version has garnered high praise in testing by PC Magazine, How-To-Geek and others.

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My suite is about ready for renewal, been thinking of switching to Norton, running Win7 home, on a 08 Dell Vostro, your thoughts please

Jim McGillis,
Hello, I am and have used “Norton 360” since i have been fooling with “PC’s (around 2007) I know its not much but…..Norton 360 v 3.8.0.41 has worked and well since the beginning for me. Yes i have had some issues with their support, and in fairness they have all been resolved. Here’s the “kicker” On my main “OS” (Vista Home Premium) I call it SP-0 because i have no “patches or updates” installed (save one.. .NET thing) I use 360 and Malwarebytes to perform all of my “security” (along with “Firefox 3.6.3” NoScript etc.) Been running this experiment since mid October ….so far no problems. (that is with the “PC”) although my “head’ “doc” says that “Im much better now and making some progress”…But seriously … this begs the question “whats up with all the updates and patching from Microsquish”? both scenarios, can’t be true (installing all patches/ updates vs no Patches/ updates) (have all patches installed on a different HD) ..yielding the same results. Either Norton 360 / Malwarebytes is the best security there is or I’m the luckiest “Web Surfer” in history. Trust me, i do my share of visiting crazy sites. Or the other possibility that Microsquish patches are nothing more that a clever business strategy … you decide , i have results on my side , (if you can do it …it ain’t brag) in my opinion all the other side has is “hype” Regards Fred

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But seriously … this begs the question “whats up with all the updates and patching from Microsquish”? both scenarios, can’t be true (installing all patches/ updates vs no Patches/ updates) (have all patches installed on a different HD) ..yielding the same results. Either Norton 360 / Malwarebytes is the best security there is or I’m the luckiest “Web Surfer” in history. Trust me, i do my share of visiting crazy sites. Or the other possibility that Microsquish patches are nothing more that a clever business strategy

Always ready to pick this fight aren’t you? If you really want to have a discussion why not start a separate thread and not inteject into one trying to help someone?

Joe

--Joe

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…this begs the question “whats up with all the updates and patching from Microsquish”? both scenarios, can’t be true (installing all patches/ updates vs no Patches/ updates) (have all patches installed on a different HD) ..yielding the same results. Either Norton 360 / Malwarebytes is the best security there is or I’m the luckiest “Web Surfer” in history. Trust me, i do my share of visiting crazy sites. Or the other possibility that Microsquish patches are nothing more that a clever business strategy … you decide , i have results on my side , (if you can do it …it ain’t brag) in my opinion all the other side has is “hype”

There is a serious cost to having to update software: it takes time that could be spent on more productive endeavors, and sometimes takes away functionality. It would be great if software vulnerabilities somehow ended today and that henceforth only secure software was released. But until then…

I would remind you in your postings to bear in mind the security principle called defense in depth. The best practice is to minimize vulnerabilities and use multiple layers of protection. If the only thing an attacker need do to take over your installation of Windows is to slip by your real-time AV protection, then you are not far from being exploited. You may indeed be a very lucky person, but if you are recommending that everyone else turn off software updates, then you would be doing them — and all persons victimized by global botnets — a disservice.

== Edit ==

Oops, sorry Joe, didn’t mean to get this thread even more off topic.

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There is a serious cost to having to update software: it takes time that could be spent on more productive endeavors, and sometimes takes away functionality. It would be great if software vulnerabilities somehow ended today and that henceforth only secure software was released. But until then…

I would remind you in your postings to bear in mind the security principle called defense in depth. The best practice is to minimize vulnerabilities and use multiple layers of protection. If the only thing an attacker need do to take over your installation of Windows is to slip by your real-time AV protection, then you are not far from being exploited. You may indeed be a very lucky person, but if you are recommending that everyone else turn off software updates, then you would be doing them — and all persons victimized by global botnets — a disservice.

I generally agree with most of what Fred states. Yes he speaks his mind, but I believe these are good productive responses.

The worst problem with Fred’s philosophy on this topic in my opinion is that the vast majority of PC users are not what are considered “power users”, or even “Intermediate users”, they are novices. In many cases, if they are reading these forums they are attempting to learn to increase their knowledge, but are still novices none the less. These folks need all the help they can get to keep their systems secure. Yes, in many cases this involves relying on MS and other manufacturers to do a good job in updating their respective S/W. I’m hoping they all read each response and give it the weight it deserves. Yes I want them to also think for themselves. But if they do read each response, the overwhelming majority state that updates are generally very good to keep up to date.

If you novices are reading this please consider all opinions and make up your mind. My opinion is that getting all S/W updates is the correct thing to assist in keeping your PC secure.

I’m also very sorry to have gotten so far off topic.

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I am a user of Norton Internet Security 2010 (on Win 7 and Vista systems) and I’m quite happy with it. Earlier versions (2007 and prior) certainly were “resource hogs” as the naysayers like to expound, but Symantec has resonded to customer complaints and in later versions, the product has improved vastly.

Other (free) alternatives you may want to consider are Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware. Both are highly reviewed and recommended.

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Joe,
Hello. Jim simply asked a “question” about “Norton” I am sharing my experience with “Norton” and my “OS” with him. I’m not “picking a fight” Goodness knows i have been “beat up” enough for my opinions. My intent is to get people to think for them self, and not always stick with the “common wisdom” (which is usually wrong) Regards Fred

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Jim simply asked a “question” about “Norton” I am sharing my experience with “Norton” and my “OS” with him. I’m not “picking a fight” Goodness knows i have been “beat up” enough for my opinions. My intent is to get people to think for them self, and not always stick with the “common wisdom” (which is usually wrong)

Your experience is fine. That is absolutely what the OP asked.

It seems that you can’t resist the additional stuff about your modus operandi. That adds nothing to what the OP asked. It appears you are just proselytizing hoping for converts to your viewpoint. As I said, if you want a discussion about the subject of patches and updating start a thread specifically for that.

Joe

--Joe

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I have used free AV in the past (and still use it for a lot of my customers). I have used AVG free a lot, however, several of my customers have been hit with scareware with AVG free installed and up to date. I have been moving some to Microsoft security essentials which seems to have somewhat lower overhead than AVG.

I have run Norton internet security 2009 for about 6 months on my home machines and Symantic Corp antivirus on some of my corporate customers. I have also run Symantic endpoint protection on some of my Corp customers. I have been pleasantly surprised with the improvements symantec has made on there antivirus software in the last 2-3 years.

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I have used free AV in the past (and still use it for a lot of my customers). I have used AVG free a lot, however, several of my customers have been hit with scareware with AVG free installed and up to date. I have been moving some to Microsoft security essentials which seems to have somewhat lower overhead than AVG.

I have run Norton internet security 2009 for about 6 months on my home machines and Symantic Corp antivirus on some of my corporate customers. I have also run Symantic endpoint protection on some of my Corp customers. I have been pleasantly surprised with the improvements symantec has made on there antivirus software in the last 2-3 years.

Glad to hear Norton/ Symantec works so well for you.

As for AVG Free, that program has no rootkit protections, and in itself it has no firewall. Both issues are involved with “scareware” or fake AV infections. I switched from AVG to Avast partly to get better rootkit protections.

As to the OP, I tried Norton 360 version 2, and found it immediately blocked Firefox from updating or even uninstalling any of its add-ons. Norton tech support in India wanted $99 to tell me that there was no problem with Norton 360, and that I could not make any exceptions or special rules for the product. I dumped it on the spot, having gotten it with a rebate at a net cost of $10. I will never use Norton products again, not because they do not perform well, but because getting support when you need it is nearly impossible, and they try to escalate every issue into a paid incident.

If you never have a technical issue, Norton products are practically carefree and very effective. But if anything ever goes wrong… watch out!!

I’d like to give my take on why updates are so important, but that was just a side-issue in this thread. Let’s stay on-topic, folks. Thanks.

-- rc primak

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http://lounge.windowssecrets.com/index.php?showtopic=774317

Another Norton Suite thread which shows a not so positive problem with Norton 360. My opinion of Norton has been widely discussed in these forums. No I have not used Norton for a few years. I was tired of the resource hog (Perhaps it’s better, I have to believe my esteemed colleagues on this) but more importantly I was tired of dishing out all the funds to continue the privlege of using Norton. Now I have wised up (Perhaps I’m getting wiser in my old age) and have availed myself of one of the excellent free options available. I presently use MSE AV/AM I find it very quiet in the background. Yes Fred, it does offer updates regularly, every day as a matter of fact, but don’t we want this in our AV app?

To answer your original question, in my opinion there are free alternatives much better than the Norton suite you are thinking about.

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I’m running Norton Internet Security on my 2009 Vostro 1500 laptop and have had no problems related to Norton.

I’m also using it on my XPS Studio 9000 with no major problems. One time when I updated Firefox, Norton would not permit Firefox to connect to the internet, but a reboot fixed the problem.

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I like FREE. I have used AVG and AVAST in the past as well as many versions of Norton, McAfee, and others. I have way to many computers and will try them all. I’m a mostly retired computer support person and I recommend the free MS Security Essentials primarily because it seems to work well and never gives a message about upgrading to the paid version as AVG does occasionally. I also use Norton when I can get it for free or low cost. I just bought a 3 user version of NIS 2010 for zero dollars after rebate. I also have a free copy made available via my ISP (Comcast). who used to offer McAfee for free. I’ve never had a virus problem using any of the AV programs, just be sure to keep them updated. In my experience fixing customer computers the biggest threat to your computer is YOU. Almost always someone has clicked on something that they knew they shouldn’t have or couldn’t resist opening an email attachment with an interesting name.

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Amen! We generally cause many of our problems ourselves, some accidentally, some on purpose.

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