Spyware, viruses, & security forum: Norton v. McAfee...that is the question?

Neither Norton nor McAfee are tops. Further, there are a number of reasons not to use them. Norton, particularly, embeds itself in your system in such a way that it it is nasty to try to rid yourself of it.

The top antivirus program, according to lab tests, and according to ease of use as well, is Kaspersky 5.
Solo Antivirus is also very good, and consumes fewer system resources. It's best, in fact, to use more than one, because no one antivirus program catches all viruses. However, one and only one should be used as a resident (real-time) program; the other scheduled at regular intervals as a second test.

Then you'll also want a firewall; Kerio (free version) is better than Zone Alarm (free version).

Finally, you'll want an anti-spyware/hacker/malware program, and good choices are: SpywareBlaster, Spybot, Ewido, or MicroSoft AntiSpyware.

Like others mentioned, use 2 anti-virus software. One resisdent and one that you run manually from time to time. I use Grisoft's AVG free as resident with AVAST as manual verison. I have Zone Alarm (free, not the Pro version)for a Firewall (always had it, never had a problem) and Microsoft's Free anti-spyware beta for XP (since it came out a couple months ago).

My kids browse freely, chat and eamil and I never got a virus on this system. If you can, get a router as well, even for only one computer, it costs the same as an Anti-virus commercial package and adds a layer of proteciton with a physical firewall (not only software like Zone Alarm). Go to GRC.com to test your "openness to invaders". Also free and full of resources.

I was tired of Norton's constant hassles so I tried to download Avasti for my internet watchdog.

I paid the money, downloaded the program but when I tried to download my User License it was provided in a format that was not recognized by Windows XP Professional.

I contacted both the Avasti Sales site and Avasti Support and was told to just open the file to get the code. DAH!

Yes, the same file Windows XP Profession could not open.

I did a screen shot and sent this to both offices.
That was early in the morning and by 14:10 Mountain Standard Time they still had not responded nor would they credit my account when I requested this.

CAUTION! I still have not received my reimbursement

I do feel that neither Norton nor McAfee should be used at all. Both take up system resources like there's no tomorrow, & both can be tricky to get rid of should you not like them. Not to mention the subscription/renewal hassles...but I mentioned them anyway. Personally, I have used V-com SystemSuite (formerly Ontrack SystemSuite) for years & have nothing but praise for this great software. It comes with both AV (powered by TrendMicro, long touted as one of the top AV programs) & NetDefense firewall, not to mention the other great utilities included in the suite (I won't mention them here, it's off-topic). Anyway, reasonable price, never had a virus, automatic updates, never been attacked successfully by hackers, can't say enough good about this product. Try it if you get the chance...it's worth it...

Now on to my (slight) disagreements with this particular post. I do agree that one should not have more than one resident AV (or SW firewall), since they can conflict with each other & render your system vulnerable to attack. However, while you should have only one resident (that is, installed) AV program, you should also periodically run one of the online AV scanners (again TrendMicro Housecall is excellent, & I'm sure there are others as well). That should be enough to keep you out of trouble.

You also mention a few excellent firewalls, but I don't agree that Kerio is better than ZoneAlarm. However, try both, they are both good & free. Another that isn't mentioned often enough is Sygate Personal Firewall...I recommend this one highly as well, & it's free for personal use. Try them all, see what you like better. For what it's worth...

riderchicky..

After going to the Control Panel, and using Add/Remove, download and run the Norton Removal Tool. It should remove all the files which "hook" themselves into your system/s.

I don't know how comfortable you are working in the registry. If you are, you might also want to consider doing a search for anything "Symantec" or "Norton" related, after backing up the registry first.

Best of luck..
Carol

I have had two machines loaded with the latest Norton software, reguarly updated, and both were virtually destroyed by big-time virus attacks.

I now have McAfee running on four systems, all on XP Pro, all of them are on BT Broadband, running 18 to 24 hours a day. The software updates itself when it wants to, (except the Spyware package which needs human assistance every couple of days). I check the firewall stability once a week on each system, useing the McAfee test routines built into the package. I have the software updated automaticly by McAfee every time they renew or update the packages, and I pay, automaticly, in US dollars. The cost is peanuts comapred to losing a system. My systems have had regular attacks made, and so far, in two years, nothing has got through, and as for spam, what's that? If IBM insist that every employee, worldwide, must use McAfee at all times, there has to be a good reason. I have tried other packages, probably around thirty in all, and I am still useing McAfee and will continue to do so for a long time....

I have been using NIS products for 5 years and they have never let me down yet. The latest is by far the best, and very easy to use. I just don't understand all those groaners out there. It does what it says it does supremely well. Of course you need a good anti spyware as well, and I run on my Windows XP Pro machines, both Spybot and AdAware which is fine. However it is definitely not a good idea to run two different Anti Virus programmes on the same machine as it causes conflicts. Stop moaning you lot!

Chris (UK)

I have been using McAfee for several years, and am satisfied with it's virus interception. A few weeks ago I got a phish email asking me to "verify my bank account info". When I moved my cursor over the subject, a screen opened for me to enter the information, and McAfee immediately intercepted it as containing a virus and quarantined it. As soon as McAfee quarantined the message, another one would open, and McAfee would catch/quarantine it. As I watched, dumbfounded at what I was seeing, I could not figure out how to stop it. I could close other applications running - just couldn't stop this message. After closing everything else, I shut down the computer, hoping McAfee had not let one slip by. When I restarted my computer, I did a virus scan, and found nothing. I checked the quarantined viruses, and McAffe had quarantined 26 files, one right after another. To me, that's a good job of guarding my emails. I have used Norton on company computers, but have not had any experience with it such as I've had with McAfee.

I used to think the same, that Norton was better, however I now think differently.

My machine until last week had Norton 2006, and my subscription has now run out, so its no good. I installed a trial version of McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5 on the same day that Norton ran out as I had downloaded it and obtained the manual updates in anticiptation, as a stop gap measure, and the machine was not connected to the router etc, and on its first full scan though the HDD it found (IIRC) 32 viruses! And I have to say I was surprised! (Must point out that my computer is 3 years old and never needed an XP reinstall so is as you can imagin, is full of junk!)

Though thinking back maybe I shouldn't have been, Norton never seemed to be able to clean a virus out of the windows temp folder, they always seemed to come back quickly.

But the biggest, and for me, the best thing to report, is the speed, my computer now runs as fast as it used to before I put Norton 2006 on it, and yes I have upgraded it over time so it is still a fairly high spec machine. I have to say i'm impressed with VirusScan so far, as Norton always seemed to really really slow down my system, and it apears that VirusScan is better to.

Though I am hearing lots of reprots that both McA. & Norton are in face not the best now......check google out for some comparisons between software avalable, there are lots of sites

I.ve run both on several comp. and I have too say I love NAV Systemworks.
For people who say it's hard to remove,just isn't so!! Go to the symantec site and download the removel tool.
The utilities are great. I have "NO" problems with nav.It automaticaly updates and I set it too scan monday and friday.I'm on line 8-10 hour's a day.
I'm retired and do a trmendous amount of searching and reading.

RKMSR

The last 2 computers I purchased came with Norton preloaded. I am a McAfee user and subscriber for many years, (My employer used McAfee before I retired) but I figured why not be doubly safe at least for the introductory period of Norton. Wrong! There was an ongoing conflict between the 2 programs. So I decided to just disable Norton. Wrong! Even disabled it caused a conflict! Finally after 2 days of trying to fully remove Norton, the conflict seems to be resloved. Have been running for about 10 months now with no problem on system one and for about 6 weeks on system 2.

For spyware/adware I run Spybot, Ad Aware and the Microsoft beta version. Each finds things that the other 2 don't. I like the automatic run feature of Microsoft and let it run every night at about 2:30 AM. I am DSL with a 3 system wireless network. 2 systems are for my kids and I manually run their systems about once a week. So far so good!

I have used AVG for a while now, very happily, but with their latest version (1.7?) it has changed behavior completely. It used to be a fast AV program to use, now it is slower than Norton. It is a shame that Grisoft screwed up a good thing, due to this I will no longer consider buying any product from them.

Hi,

Forgot one point. If you need any more convincing of how awful Symantec/Norton is, go to CNet review of any Norton products and then go to the User Reviews links and read the horror stories. You can also evaluate for yourself how accurate the CNet ratings themselves are. Hint: Only trust the user reviews.


Rich

Neither. Used McAfee years ago and did not like its updating hassles. A brother uses it now and still complains about its updating. Reviews of it by "experts" are generally unfavorable compared with the competition. Used Norton for years after McAfee, but never without hassles. At first, it installed over 1000 vacant files that had to be deleted manually! Later, it developed glitches and had to be uninstalled and reinstalled numerous times. Later still, its LiveUpdate refused to work and updates had to be gotten manually from another site. Lately, it, too, has had less that sparkling reviews by "experts." I now use AVG free. A friend in Scotland alerted me to it. Never a hassle since I began using it. It's updated regularly. Scans quickly. Does not slow my system (Win Me). Kim Komando says she uses it on her home computers, and if it's good enough for her, it's plenty good enough for me.

Previous posts are correct, though, in warning against assuming one product can catch everything. I also run Zone Alarm Pro and Webroot's SpySweeper, and scan weekly, if not more often, with Ad-Aware SE and Spybot Search and Destroy. SpySweeper, Ad-Aware and Spybot seem to catch different items.

There does come a "point of diminishing returns," though. I could run 25 different programs if that's all I wanted to do. I keep my eyes open for new and better things (Thanks CNET Newsletters!), but replace something I'm using with something better rather than just adding on.