There is an old bit of advice which I think aptly applies here. If you are looking to buy a TV, appliance, etc., reading reviews can be helpful. But, if you really want to find out which brand is reliable, call the repair shops and ask them which brand/model they see least.
My mainstay is a PC building, upgrading and repair business. And I can't tell you how many machines I have had to disinfect that were running AVG, Norton or McAfee; most fully up-to-date. Now, we are all susceptible to doing things which potentially can harm our most prized machines, either out of ignorance or sheer stupidity. And that's why AV's or Security Suites are a valuable asset; to protect them from ourselves.
I've tried many of the afore-mentioned brands and Kaspersky ranks #1 in my book for many reasons although it's ability to block the 'baddies" is foremost along with it's hourly updates... etc. NOD32 would rank #2. If one is determined to bypass the best of the best and go for a freebie, either Avira or Avast would be my recommendation. However, I do realize the accepted adage plays heavily on many: "Different strokes for different strokes". And thankfully that means my phone will continue to ring and the caller needs my help! KA-CHING!
I've been using AVG 7.5 before that i used Anti-Vir. Both are free, and never let through anything. If you don't mind paying F-Secure Anti virus is near fool-proof, but it also consumes insane amounts of resources.
Stung for my arrogance and stupidity
If you read back through this topic you will find a message from me to the effect that I had disabled my live Virus protection and resorted to sensible practice and occasional static scans.
Result: My first infection in over 20 years of computing - a nasty little rootkit that wanted to invite some friends to the party.
As a result I have now tried and tested several of the leading Internet Security Suites (and individual components) and, as surprising as it sounds, I have found Norton Internet Security 2009 to be:
And I have had a few Norton / Symantec offerings it in the past and hated them for exactly the opposite of all the above reasons so I was sceptical.
I now have a clean built machine with Norton on from the get-go and wont turn it off.
There's a free trial available so I would definitely recommend giving it a go.
I use several things in conjunction with each other that work quite well.. apart from AVG Free, I use:
A1 PC Cleaner, with the complimenting RegVac,
Malwarebytes, AMUST, and XoftSpySE.
I did have NoAdware, but heard it was a false positive giver, and it looks like it's dying out.. pity, I liked it.
Well, yeah... But also consider that Norton, AVG and McAfee have a HUGE lot of more users (since they get bundled with new PCs alot)... The fact that anyone running something else seem to have less problems is much because they also likely have more experience.
I use NOD32; however, it is hard to name an Anti-Virus as the best, because some anti-viruses catch viruses that others don't. I think it is a coin flip between Avira AntiVir and NOD32.
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is great for the anti-spyware side of things.
Look at his page:
http://www.virusbtn.com/news/2008/09_02
You'll note that NOD32 isn't even among the best 50% in catching viruses...
You'd still have to drag me kicking and screaming to use another Norton/Symantec product.....
.....AND I'd chew off my own arm to escape.....
Stay away from Norton and McAfee. Some of the worst problems I've seen with virus laden sytems were ones where people had these installed. The only reason that people really even have these is because most manufactured computers Dell, Gateway, HP etc have them installed OEM. They are quite garbage really and eventually they burn a hole in your wallet with subscription services, renewal fees etc. If these companies really wanted to propmote anything other than their own profits they wouldn't make you sign up for subscriptions just to stay protected.
STAY AWAY!
Of course if you like wasting your money and system performance just to get that good feeling that some big name corporate software giants taking good care of your PC then by all means go to Office Depot and pick up the latest and greatest Norton Super Internet Security/ Firewall/Antivirus/ Pop Up Blocker/Sytem Backup/ Memory Hog/CPU 100%/ Disk Fragmenter Version 6.0. While you're at it pick up about 4 GB more RAM, and sign up for their lifetime unlimited subscription for a measly $1000. Any company that feels they have to release a new version of the same software every year is pulling the wool over your eyes. Don't be a sheep.
MajorGeeks has some fantastic freeware and open source AV progs that are maintained for you free of charge. Thats the way softwares supposed to be.
Of course if you wait long enough you can get Norton 2010 by far the best , but maybe a year after that 2011 will be ready and thats going to be even better! Damn though I should mention Norton 2012 is going to be the end all savior and rest assured you won't feel its outdated at least until they release 2013..... and on and on......
I took the liberty of editing out pointless and plain out incorrect trolling from the quote...
Right. Now show me the test where the efficiency of those free antivirus is proven... It's strange how there are multitudes of tests on free firewalls, but pretty much NONE for free antivirus software, don't you think??
And please... Point me in the direction where I can get all the top quality work YOU have made and put out for free... ... as it should be....
... I should know better than feeding the trolls though, but well ...
First off you're a sheep as I'm a troll. On to the point...
Perhaps the latest Norton Internet Suite software bundle outperforms any freeware version byte for byte, I admit error in tacking the performance but prove wrong the ideas about renewal fees on top of the initial purchase price.
That is the shameful problem of buying into the idea that you purchase software but never actually own it.
They own YOU.
When your subscription runs out after a one year term you are left in the dust waiting for the next version release, or until your HDD becomes so loaded with viruses that you have to reformat or rebuild if you are a clueless PC user. You I assume are not, but millions of people are clueless, so they just keep signing the check or punching in the CC number.
You took the liberty of editing out my my post because YOU know you have nothing to say against it, other than the performance differences which you are obviously well versed on. I posted and your response was attacking one point I made and it should be you that lays out all the data to prove what I said wrong.
A few questions for you Norton faithful...
1. How much does it cost for a lifetime subscription to updates?
2. Do you build your own PC or buy one in a store?
3.How much does the software cost when you first purchase it?
4.Whats the difference between Norton 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005 etc etc?
Heres some Performance Charts, Note: AVG is freeware. How much do you get for all your money from the Norton Gods?
I see.
NIS 2009 outperforms the AVG *paid version* on every single tested point... Why would your precious "free" one be better?
You don't own *any* of the software in your computer. Free or not... You only have a license to use it (and in some cases even recode it)...
Left in the dust? I just extend my subscription, new version out or not...
Check this report: http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse/report19.pdf .... There's enough data there to show why NIS is worth paying for. If I'm not suppose to judge software on how it performs, then what should I judge it by? Faith?
Unlike some people, I don't mind paying for a good product. I used Trend Micro until an "update" caused issues with my computer. Then I switched to NOD32, which is excellent in many ways... Now I use Norton, because imo it's the best of the lot... That's how much they "own" me... I support software companies that put out good software. As it seems to me, you resent people who do, so it's likely that you don't.
I've built my computer, and bought the software I have on it. I used to pirate all software on my computer, because I couldn't afford to buy licenses for everything. I've grown up now though, and I *can* pay for the things I use. I don't see how the cost of software makes any difference though.
Some of them suck, other don't...
What's the difference between Windows 3.11, 95, 98, ME, NT, XP, Vista, Windows 7? Between Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4? Between Whatever software, whatever version?
I get 97.9% virus detection with less performanceloss, rather than the 94.3% AVG manages... I get NO false positives as opposed to AVG which tend to alert on everything and their grandmothers... I get *fast* response to new threats, NIS updates hundreds of times every month, response time is out of this world...
AVG is NOT freeware, their equivalent of NIS is AVG Internet Security... I've tried it, and it's nowhere near as slick as norton...
Almost all of the main packages offer free trials so you can try them out for yourself - but be warned of the inability to perform a simple clean uninstall as discussed above.
I was sceptical of NIS2009 and tried most of the others before I read reviews and comparative analysis that included NIS. Even after reading those very positive reviews I was sceptical - having been bitten by Norton before (not in a damaging way just in a system hog/take over your system way).
I decided I should give it a fair shot and it won me over.
I'm not the sort of person to get all emotional about any one utility product over another, I'm wont stay with NIS if it lets me down - I'll move on. So far Im a happy punter in that it does what it says on the tin and does it quielty and efficiently.
To be honest you probably can't go far wrong picking any of the top - (NIS, NOD32, Kaperski, ...) just choose carefully to suit your personal needs.
I'm a degree qualified professional software developer with 20+ years experience (hence my earlier arrogance and stupidity) who has always paid for licences for the software I use where applicable - even when I couldn't afford to (I just did without).
I learned computers by using pirated software... Everything from pretty much all windows revisions, autocad, photoshop, ms office, games (and optimizing systems for it) and the small amount of software/web developing I can do... If I had done without, I'd not known even a fraction of what I know today, and imho the world around me is better with my expertise here to help out...
No company has lost money on some bloke who pirate a game or piece of software because he can't afford to buy it... The problem is that a huge lot of piracy is done because of greed, not need. If the people who could afford to buy their software actually did that (or used free alternatives if they found the price unreasonable) we'd have much more reasonable pricing on everything, which would mean less people would really NEED to pirate things to be able to enjoy it.
(Sorry, went off-topic here... )
Sorry, I wasn't getting at you or trying to start yet another "piracy is bad/no it's not" argument.
Just stating my position and background. Please, please no-one go there.
I've heard that bullshit so many times now it's pretty damn lame.
...and it's STILL bullshit.
My reasons for having a dislike of Norton/Symantec products are because of personal experience.
The fact is that I've always used Norton or McAffee in the past on all my previous builds. McAffee for instance was a literal nightmare to recently remove from my laptop after receiving it as part of the bundled software when I first bought it. Eventually I did a complete reformat to rid my HD of all its little trails just so I could reinstall from scratch. It may not be the case for some folks but I thought to myself, who needs viruses when theres software like this?
As for Norton...
As software goes I believe in paying for quality software 100%. From personal experience many of Nortons past attempts to release multi-app Suites, failed miserably in that once installed, components were a bitch to uninstall even when you didn't want them all.
Norton 2005 Internet Security was my last purchase from Symantec, Heres a quick link detailing some of the fun and easy to use aspects of its "features". How about that from a company that posted a annual profit of over $500 million. My point is that "most" people choose the name brands because of their comfort while failing to realize that there are respectable free programs out there that are maintained and licensed by people who are not in it for profit. I have a hard time trusting giant companies that make record settings profits while leaving their customers picking up the tabs when they try to perform what should be simple, routine procedures.
My last word. I am sorry for making my post in a way that was inflammatory to people who do not choose the alternate routes like listed above when finding the software. I support quality products, I just don't like the idea of software giants that habitually release what are seemingly downgraded products at the expense of their own customers.
I use Ubuntu for my O/S. A solid open source Linux. No more Micro$oft.
Sins is a great game btw and I did purchase it. I even have the box and shit..
Did you bother to read the rest of my post at all before you decided to judge it "bullshit"?
Tell me, how does a copy of software among people who don't have money enough to buy it make you lose money? If they bought the software they use if/when they get the economy for it, you lost nothing while the poor bloke actually gained experience and a liking for your software (if it's a good product ofcourse, but not even a pirate use crappy commercial software)...
The money you lose is among people who copy the software that CAN pay for it...
And matter of fact is, if I hadn't pirated stardock software (among others) a few years back, I'd likely not be using computers as much today, and as a result I wouldn't have bought the 3 years of object desktop ultimate subscription I got. I'm hardly unique in that matter.
[quote who="CrowB@R" reply="17" id="1988763"]Norton 2005 Internet Security was my last purchase from Symantec, Heres a quick link detailing some of the fun and easy to use aspects of its "features". How about that from a company that posted a annual profit of over $500 million. My point is that "most" people choose the name brands because of their comfort while failing to realize that there are respectable free programs out there that are maintained and licensed by people who are not in it for profit. I have a hard time trusting giant companies that make record settings profits while leaving their customers picking up the tabs when they try to perform what should be simple, routine procedures.[/quote]
There's this company named Microsoft that makes an OS. An OS should be a simple, routine procedure too... With the same reasoning you really should be sitting with a linux/OSX computer now and yell on us to switch...
It's as foolish to judge any software by how it worked 4 years ago as it is to judge a new computer that way. It's a mistake ALOT of people do, both regular users and experts.
But Merry Christmas! It has been a good year (for me, I hope for you too), and may your next year be even better.
Merry Christmas to as well! I can come off as a bit of an asshole in my posts forgive me. Best Holiday wishes!
Yes.
However it's off-topic so if you wish to be yet another to attempt to debate it...start a thread.
The reason so many Norton/McAffee systems will be found to be compromised is their 'popularity' in the market place, so it'll be down to the greater likelihood of more people using their systems without due care.
Norton in particular had a history of being resource-hungry and also being a bitch to remove if wanted.... too much dross. When it also managed to disable BITS it was time to seek other/better AV proggies....my choice was BitDefender so I won't be going back.
...and my Drive Image 7 is PowerQuest....before it was bought by Symantec...
Can we go back to bashing Norton now?
Please?
-
Considering I tried NIS 08 (after using NIS 07, even) and was very much less than impressed I'd be very surprised if they managed to slim it down while still ensuring that it does its job with NIS 09. But it may be worth a look, at that.
Also, for what it's worth, when I was up in Ohio this past year I visited a cemetery where some relatives are buried and discovered in the process that there are nearby both a Norton and a McAfee buried there-and in fact right next to each other. (I should've brought a camera.)
So, of course, I laughed, and no one else got it.
Those of you who knock Norton products do so in because of experiences in the past and what you've been told by other people.............forget the past...........re-evaluate.........bring an open mind to the table.......and go try NIS 2009 before you 'knock it'. Like many people, who kept an 'open mind', I have been really impressed by their 2009 product and if you look at some of the other 'tech' sites around the internet you'll find that I'm not the only one. Norton even found a pretty dormant dialer on one of my machines that the so called 'top guys' ESET and Kaspersky completely missed.
Piracy IS bad mmmmkay? There's really no denying that. Very few people copy software because it's the only option, it's mostly only because they can... 'nuff said.
Norton Internet Security 2009 is good. Bash as much as you like, it doesn't change the fact.
As has been suggested previously, run the trial... Try it... It's YOUR computer. I've never listened to what "I hear", specielly on the internet. It would be as foolish as listening to some mysterious voice in the head telling you to use an abacus rather than a calculator.
And to everyone saying "I use software X and have never had a virus" let me tell you this; If you get a virus, it'll be one that software X (which could be norton, NOD32 or granddaddys homebrew) doesn't detect... So it's possible you're infected with something your current AV doesn't find. It doesn't mean your software is worse or better than something else, it's just fact. No software find every virus available. Personally, I run a random available (from the major AV companies) free webased AV scan every now and then to make sure I've not got something Norton misses. I haven't run into anything yet with norton, but it's definetely worth the trouble to make sure. Don't use the same online scanner every time, they might miss things too. To be safer you COULD run several different scans every time, but it's not something I do...
I've been using AVG for years..never had a problem and find it very easy to use. For work, I supported them and picked up the multi license for my business.
Bottom line is, 99 percent of it is being a smart end user, knowing what sites you're going to and what you are downloading , as well as being careful with email. DO NOT OPEN attachments unless you are absolutley sure of it's contents, like a work email that you are waiting on etc..and make sure the definitions are up to date. In all honesty, new viruses(they are getting less common if anyone has noticed) will usually get by AV software, even with decent detection capabilities, this is where being a smart end user comes in...
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
Sign in or Create Account
