Norton Internet Security

[bigjohnk]

Hi,

 

My subscription to the above has just expired & I have recieved a mesage telling me my system is not protected until I renew my subscription. The problem is, according to the invoice I got when I renewed last year, my subscription does'nt run out till 28/08/07.

 

Has anyone else had a similar problem with Symantec/Norton.

 

I tried e-mailing the address on their website, only to get an error message telling me that the address no longer accepts mail!!!!

[Conniff]

There is no need to purchase security software. There are free Firewalls and Anti-virus programs available, some of it better than Norton.

 

Google 'AVG' and 'Zonealarm'

 

Also download Spybot search and destroy and Ad-Aware to keep you clean.

[PriorityOne]

I can second that !!... Have had AVG on both my systems for years... and Spybot as well. Why pay, when you can get protected for nothing !!

 

[Curlyben]

Sorry to say but Norton sucks bottom BIG time.

In my experience it causes more harm then good.

 

Now here's my usual computer stuff:

 

When was the last time you did some serious maintenance on your system ?

 

System maintenance includes:

Defrag

FULL patching

Virus scanning

Spyware scanning

removal of rubish files

 

Defrag is an inbuilt function in XP.

Open My Computer > Right click C: > Tools Tab and its there.

 

To make sure everything is running fine run both anti virus and anti spyware apps in normal AND safe modes. (make sure that they are updated first ! ) (AVG is good and free AV)

(A couple of good removal tools are Spybot and Adaware)

 

ALso an on line virus and spyware scanner is Trend Housecall

 

Just a note: actively running two AV's on one machine can cause problems.

So if you are thinking about it make sure your current one is disabled first.

Same thing applies to online scanners as well.

 

Removal of junk files is easy with CCleaner a free app that does exactly what

 

If all this fails then a repair install may be in order:

 

Here's the official Micro$oft way of doing it,

and Here's one with screen shots.

 

Basically this installs windows over the top of your current setup.

So you don't loose any information you already have.

[Conniff]

Sorry to say but Norton sucks bottom BIG time.

In my experience it causes more harm then good.

 

I was going to tell the truth like you but bottled out.

[Curlyben]

Well I had to tone it down some what otherwise I would be CAGbot'd

[Mark_Blackpool]

Just a thought worth checking:

 

Did you rebuild (reinstall the operating system on) your PC something like a month or three months ago?

 

Just wondering if the reason it says it has expired, is because you need to go back into the software and key in a licence code (which you might have got when you renewed last) to let the software know it is properly licenced. It may be in "Free Trial" mode.

[ForestChav]

Free Anti-Virus Protection - Active Virus Shield is better than AVG and Avast IMO

[Guest weegirl]

Make sure and remove your Norton before installing another anti-virus software, it doesn't like other anti-virus programs. If you don't, and install another program you computer may not boot up, Norton will attack the other program as it would a virus.

 

Do this through your control program and the add/remove program option.

[diskmandave]

Avast Home Edition & Comodo Firewall Pro for me, both free.

 

Google Pack is too!

[patrickq1]

norton all norton want is control of your computor i would nt touch them with a bargepole AVG is free and works like a dream also dounload hijackthis its free from trend micro and it will pull out all the crap and rouge browser and spys for you to look at get rid of norton

[MollieUK]

If you know how to alter your registry, then remove Norton and as others have said on here, which I have used for years, AVG, Zonealarm etc are free and excellent. Norton is easily disabled by trojans and the like, waste of space and waste of money.

 

Good Luck.

 

 

p.s. don't touch your registry unless you know what your doing.

[PriorityOne]

 

p.s. don't touch your registry unless you know what your doing.

 

 

No..... don't !! I made this mistake a couple of years ago and ended up with a blank screen when the whole system crashed..... lol.

[Dumpling]

Word of warning, NAV isn't easy to completely uninstall, do a search on Google to find you a proper unistaller. Symantec like Microsoft have a habit of wanting to own your machine, Norton in my experience used to be really good but in the last 4 years have turned bad, the sw completely grinds your machine to a halt.

 

Windows Defender isn't too bad and you can also download CA's offering which works OK, Ad-Aware have a new version which will scan automatically but in my experience, if you were to scan the same machine with Spybot S&D, you'll still find something lurking.

 

Oh yes and never touch your registry if you're not familiar with it, that'll be the death of your machine..

[interestrateripoff]

AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic - More than Security

 

AntiVir appears to have been missed.

 

AV-Comparatives

 

Site contains extensive results for AntiVirus software

[interestrateripoff]

Download and run the Norton Removal Tool

 

Norton removal tool read the instructions before using.

[2Grumpy]

I was using McAfee antivirus. It was making my aging PC very slowwww.

 

I uninstalled McAfee and installed free Avast antivirus, I just use standard protection, not web, IM or email.

I'm very happy with it. I haven't seen any suspicious network activity or rogue processes

I don't have any personal firewalls 'cos my router has got one

[Dumpling]

Check out Shields up peeps, it scans your network checking how secure it is, what you want to achieve is a Stealth network really, give it a try, it's pretty good, there are some ohter tools on the site which be of interest to you..

[interestrateripoff]

AOL have ditched Kaspersky and gone with McAfee now.

 

Free McAfee Security Software-AOL Internet Security Central

 

McAfee® VirusScan Plus – Special edition from AOL

 

Gives you the most comprehensive free set of safety tools available. We've partnered with a leading name in Internet security to deliver the essential protection you need:

 

* Virus protection guards your whole PC

* Spyware Protection blocks potentially unwanted programs

* Firewall helps keep hackers out

 

Since it's automatically on-guard and up-to-date, it helps protect you against today's attacks and tomorrow's threats, too.

[oneofakind]

I'm a fully (un)paid up member of the AVG & Spybot society.

I've used both of these at home for 5 years(ish) without a single problem. Work machines with Norton- don't get me started!

 

[ForestChav]

AOL have ditched Kaspersky and gone with McAfee now.

 

Free McAfee Security Software-AOL Internet Security Central

 

You can still get the Kaspersky ones and i have hacked mine to update from Kaspersky anyway.

 

Typical AOL. Ditch something good... for something wack.

[bigjohnk]

Thanks for all the info folks, unfortunately I've already "upgraded" to Internet Security 2007, but I will be looking at alternatives as soon as I can find the time.