Dump Norton and McAfee Anti-Virus? - Comments Page 2

I don't mind paying for a good internet security suite and research the top ones every year. Norton and McAfee are off my list due to past problems and bloatware. Right now I'm using Webroot and I'm happy with it.

Some of the worst problems I have had with my computers have resulted from anti-virus programs or internet security suites--slowing me down to a crawl, update feature not working, etc. I have spent hours or days trying to find and solve the problems, with little help from the techs, who send the same suggestions (that I've already tried, usually). I find it ironic that software supposed to protect me caused me such difficulties.

we got Norton's in a pkg deal with our Dell computer.After awhile we didn't like it and THOUGHT we had completely removed it from the computer;however it wasn't completely gone and caused us to get a virius.Might be ok if you are using it FOREVER but not worth the problems when later changing your mind.

Interesting, because I thought that AVG Free was only for home computers, and if you wanted to install on a business computer you had to buy the paid version. Well, maybe you are referring to your home computer when you say you dumped Norton seven years ago. Or maybe you are not using AVG Free, but some other freebie that allows commercial users to install without paying. Please set this straight, because we (you and I) are strong defenders of intellectual property rights, and I would hate to see you inadvertently violate your own standards of ethical behavior.

I, too, got rid of McAfee and then Norton years ago for just the specific reasons you have named. They caused me nothing but problems and messed up my computer something fierce.

I have used free programs since then and no longer have the problems. Thanks for the fine article!

I use Norton 360 after having installed and tested over a dozen antivirus softwares. The 360 automatically updates, runs silent in the background and automatically removes problems. It has other features that will maintain your computer and if using the full scan, you can set it to shut off your computer after it finishes. Norton 360 has Norton Insight, allowing any scans to be quicker because it only scans outside of what is known to be safe. My computer only scans 11% thus making scans quicker. Excellent product!

I've been using Norton for a number of years. A couple of viruses have sneaked past the defenses, but Norton cleaned my machine in both cases -- for a fee, but well worth it.

I have two questions about the freebie programs. Do they offer the frequent updates and broad protection Norton does? And (at least as important) does their technical support disinfect your machine for you?

Hi, I am now running Microsoft's Live Security Essentials which is free; a 9.5 MB on my hard drive and did this:

I read about it from Fred Langa on Windows Secrets Newsletter, installed it and it booted a Trojan to kingdom come

Through knowledge from prior use, I installed Comodo's Fire Wall only. Which is free.

I have used Norton many times and have never really had any issues but I know about sticky fingers and resent that and I am quite comfortable with that. I've been a reader of yours since before the bus got bigger and better

I have used AVG and Avira (both free) and have had no problems with either. I'm using Norton now because it comes free with my ISP and if I wanted the full featured version of the other software options I would have to pay for them too.

I retired from high-level IT after 15 years some time ago, and had been using McAfee on each of my computers almost since it came on the market. I finally dumped it entirely because of its slow metamorphosis into nag & bloat-ware.

In one instance, I tried to download an email with a 25MB PDF file attached. After 18 hours, it was less than 10% done. Once I deleted McAfee, it downloaded in 20 seconds. AVG does the job nicely for me now.

I started using Norton Internet Security a couple of years ago after reading reviews on various security packages. I learned that Norton was no longer a memory hog and it received high recommendations from most folks. I don't notice ANY slow down on my computer, and I am using a fairly old computer with Windows XP. Also, I have never had a problem with viruses (knock on wood), nor have I had to use Norton support. Some people who stopped using Norton back when it was a memory hog, might want to review the newest Internet Security package. (I have never used Norton Utilities, BTW, so don't know how it runs.)

I have learned that the only way to truly, completely remove anti-virus, firewalls and other security type software is to first download the security software makers' removal tool and save it to your desktop. Then use the Windows built in uninstaller. It will remove what it can. Then reboot. Then open and run the makers' removal tool. It will clean things up further. Delete the removal tool out through the recycle bin. Reboot again. Now to get the last of the remaining files use the Windows file search then delete them out the recycle bin. Open the Registry and carefully delete the remaing registry keys. That should do it. I'm sure Bob will have some helpful insight and advice here.

I run MSE 2 and have ThreatFire running in the backround. For really stubborn infections, I'll eradicate those by launching and scanning with Malwarebytes, Surfright Hitman Pro and SuperAntispyware. My feeling is that nobody should ever need to pay for any security applications. I have not needed to reformat my current laptop in the 4 years I've owned it but I'm sure that day will come...probably sooner rather than later. For now, it runs XP SP3 very well and pretty speedy. (Love Firefox 3.6.3)

Cheers

When you say Norton You say invite Virus.When I was using Norton I would watch it turn off and on by Viruses.Found Gizmo.com and found Avast Anti Virus,and Its FREE.Readup on it and it stays in the top 2 World Wide.If I had to choose,Avast#1,Windows#2.PS:It found the Virus that turned off Norton.

I also dumped Norton years ago, my reason was that at one point they refused to update the version I was using and wanted me to buy a new version.
I have heard about difficulties in uninstalling Norton, however I had to trouble doing it. I used the free version of AVG for a long time, and it worked well. After reading several reviews of Microsoft Security Essentials, I switched to it and ave been quite satisfied. For one thing it updates itself without requiring my attention for the most part. I also find that the free Revo Uninstaller works much better than the built-in Windows remove programs app.

I stopped using Nortons many years ago. At the time I had Norton utilities and NAV. However, every time I tried to run the defrag tool in Norton utilities it would stop after a certain period of time, about 12 mins if I remember correctly. After a lot of investigating, I came the tenetative conclusion that it was NAV causing the problem, somehow accessing the hdd and therefore restarting the defrag process. I had several fruitless months of arguing with Norton support about how to fix it but they always denied a conflict.

Anyhow a year or so later when i paased the PC on to my step-daughter, like a good citizen I removed the commercial software from the PC. After removing NAV, I ran the defrag and sure enough it ran all the way through without a hitch!!!

No more Nortons for me - since then on your advice I have rin avg/spybot/adaware and more recently MSE wiothout a worry in the world.

I got rid onf Norton on my home computers about three years ago and replaced it with AVG paid edition, no problem since then.

But I also run Norton corporate antivirus on my home business PC's for over 6 years and I never had one problem or slowdown.

Go figure...

I dumped McAfee Security Suite & began using Microsoft Security Essentials over a year ago now. Haven't had any problems at all & have never looked back.

Microsoft Security Essentials is only about a tenth the size of McAfee Security Suite, so it doesn't bogg down my computer like McAfee Security Suite did.

McAfee Security Suite contains lots of unnecessary bells & whistles that take up a lot of space on a computer which hurts computer performance.

I'm in the UK and my ISP supplies anti viruse, anti spyware, ID theft, Privacy manager, Firewall, Ad blocker and Parential control according to my subscriptions. In my experience this works for me. I also use MSE(free), Secunia PSI(free), Uniblue Drive Scanner, Wise disk cleaner(free), Wise registry cleaner(free), Re-image. With stubborn problems I have used AVG, Avira and Malwarebytes to help me out. One of my favourites for a free scan was PC Cillian, but I must admit I have not used it for quite awhile.

If you have been using Norton or McAfee in the past and are okay with them and not restricted with monies then continue to use them. If on the other hand like quite a few people have experienced problems with them, then look for the best free ware to suit your requirements and take any pre-installed soft ware off your new computer after you are protected by the free ware, you've got to be on line to down load, so keep your self safe.

Keep your updates, anti-virus, anti-spyware, Firewall, Drivers of any kind and software all up to date to reduce your vulnerability.

Staff Safe

My hard drive crashed a few months ago and I had to have it wiped and reformatted. The local company that did it recommended dumping McAfee and installed Avira, free. It updates frequently, and I've had no problems. My computer runs much faster, but I don't know how much of that is dumping McAfee and how much is hard drive cleanup.

I have not used McAfee or Norton for ten years, used AVG Free and other free programs instead.

Twice in ten years, the only time I had a problem was when Microsoft induced me to update and ruined my computer having to use a recovery disk or send it out to a shop to recover. I rank Microsoft as worse than a virus on that account.

I too, stopped using both products years ago. Norton especially Screwed up my system. I paid to have my system completely cleaned of them.
I currently use (and paid for) Vipre, by Sunbelt and am very happy to do so. Excellent protection and service and doesn't slow your system down - easy to understand and configure. Money well spent.