Internet security programs....

[JETA]

I'm not sure if this is in the right place so feel free to move it.

It's that time of year..... I need to renew Norton. However, I've grown to detest Norton.

Does anyone have any recommendations on other Internet security programs.

TY!

[Xia_Ke]

I use AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition and use Spybot S&D. Both are free and I have had no problems at all while using them. Another thing to consider is using a browser and email program other than Explorer and Outlook. If you don't use them already, check out Firefox and Thunderbird. Above all, just use common sense. Don't open unknown emails and be careful visiting unknown websites. One other trick, if you use Outlook, is to turn off the preview window which automatically opens emails when scrolled over.

[another view]

Mac OSX.

I've had Norton with PC's and gurus that I know hate it - it can cause conflicts with all kinds of things. AVG's free personal software is supposed to be very good. Firefox and SpyBot are good too. Try SpyBot in safe mode, sometimes it finds more stuff that way.

[mwfanelli2]

I'm not sure if this is in the right place so feel free to move it.

It's that time of year..... I need to renew Norton. However, I've grown to detest Norton.

Does anyone have any recommendations on other Internet security programs.

TY!

I avoid Norton and Symantec products with a passion.

As already suggested, AVG (the free version) works extremely well and gets a lot of top ratings. I run both Spybot and free Ad-Aware about once every two weeks or so (only cookies found). AVG can be found at grisoft.com, you really have to look around for the free version.

I run Outlook all the time and have no problems ever since Outlook was first released. I haqve not had problems at all in all that time. For a while, I used Thunderbird on a lab machine, it is also very good. I gave it up because of a major bug that permanently deletes entire folders when you try to move them to another folder. I lost a lot of email that way.

I use Opera most of the time for a browser which I believe is much better than Firefox. Firefox, however, is extremely good even if it tends to be a memory hog and slow (being fixed in Version 3). IE 7 is only used when I need to go to the Microsoft site. Opera and FF are vastly superior to IE7.

[JETA]

Thank you for all of the prompt replies. I will go check out AVG.

I should have said I use Outlook (which I like), firefox, adaware, spybot and ms defender.

I'll be thrilled to dump Norton. Hope the uninstall goes good. I've heard horror stories about that too.

[JETA]

Quick question now after looking at AVG. It looks like the free version doesn't have a firewall. What do you do about that?

[Xia_Ke]

Quick question now after looking at AVG. It looks like the free version doesn't have a firewall. What do you do about that?

CLICK ME :thumbsup:

[JETA]

Thanks Aaron! So I have it down to the one you posted, Comodo or Online Armor.

Found this link which is very interesting comparing firewalls for windows.
http://www.matousec.com/projects/win...ewalls-ratings

[masdog]

JETA, what OS does your computer have?

Windows XP has a built-in firewall. It doesn't block outbound connections, but it is good enough for blocking inbound ports. I've always had good experiences with ZoneAlarms as well.

As for Norton uninstalls, they can be rough. But Norton recognizes this, and they have a tool available to remove whatever the uninstall doesn't get. They shouldn't but I'm guessing with a system as complicated as Norton, anything could go wrong.

[JETA]

Hi Sean,

I have XP. When I had microsoft's firewall running it drove me nuts just like Norton.

Maybe I should give it a try witout Norton.

I have three slideshows I'm working on for our football banquet. I'm going to wait until I'm completely done b4 I touch Norton. Knowing my luck I'll kill my puter.

[masdog]

Hi Sean,

I have XP. When I had microsoft's firewall running it drove me nuts just like Norton.

Maybe I should give it a try witout Norton.

I have three slideshows I'm working on for our football banquet. I'm going to wait until I'm completely done b4 I touch Norton. Knowing my luck I'll kill my puter.

That's odd. While I've had issues with Windows Firewall (not allowing Remote Control to work, causing issues with file sharing and Bittorrent), I have never had it "drive me nuts" with pop-ups or notifications. I don't think it actually notifies you of anything since it doesn't block outbound connections.

You might have been using Norton Internet Security with your Norton Anti-virus, and that does drive me nuts with all its notifications.

[RP Racing]

Avast free anti-virus I like better than AGV. I use zonalarms free one for years.

[JETA]

So what I need is a firewall, spyware (already have that), spam filter (loving Cloudmark) & anti-virus?

Do I have this right?

[Xia_Ke]

Sounds about right. Personally, I don't even bother with SPAM filter software. Never found a good one and just takes up memory. I prefer just to use the delete button.

[masdog]

JETA,

If you have Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007 (the full version, not Outlook Express), it includes a built-in heuristic SPAM filter. It works pretty good for the SPAM that gets thru, and gmail doesn't allow much in.

[SmartWombat]

[QUOTE=Xia_Ke[URL="http://free.grisoft.com/"]AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition[/URL] Spybot S&D Firefox Thunderbird /QUOTE]
What he said
Plus the vital plug-ins for FireFox:
NoScript, TabMixPlus, Exif Viewer, Download Statusbar, All-in-One Sidebar, AdBlock Plus, Adblock Filterset.G Updater

[JETA]

Quick update. I finally got Norton off my computer. It's worse then any virus I've ever got on my puter. Good riddance.

Zonealarm is downloading and as soon as I know it's running properly AVG is next.

Thanks again for all of the help. I truly appreciate it!

[zrfraser]

I know you despise norton and I did to until I tried Norton 360. It takes awhile to set up, but I have loved since install. I also had a copy of Macafee enterprise edition that was simply awesome, never had a single problem with viruses when I had that on my old machine.

[mwfanelli2]

I know you despise norton and I did to until I tried Norton 360. It takes awhile to set up, but I have loved since install. I also had a copy of Macafee enterprise edition that was simply awesome, never had a single problem with viruses when I had that on my old machine.

When I worked at a company whose name I won't mention, MacAfee eterprise edition was what they used on their servers. That product allowed huge numbers of virus to get through and had the servers down and business hobbled, for a very long time. I personally would never trust it.

I have not had a virus on my personal computers since the days of Windows 95. That is due to using some common sense. For example, years ago, I came in early one morning and saw lots of emails with the title "I Love You". Now, either my charm exploded overnight or it was a virus. I deleted all those emails without opening them. Most everyone else was excited, "Wow, someone loves me!" and opened them up. The servers had to be rebuilt from backups that took two days. When it was back up, people opened new versions of the same email and the servers went down again. Dumb, dumb dumb. Not a graet advertisement for the virus checkers either.

How many people freely give up their personal information to strangers, reply to the promise of millions from Nigerian business men, hit that response link to the "emergency" message from eBay or paypal, or peruse free porn sites? I am confident that I could run this windows machine with no virus checker at all and still only have a very tiny chance of being infected.

[another view]

For example, years ago, I came in early one morning and saw lots of emails with the title "I Love You". Now, either my charm exploded overnight or it was a virus. I deleted all those emails without opening them. Most everyone else was excited, "Wow, someone loves me!" and opened them up. The servers had to be rebuilt from backups that took two days. When it was back up, people opened new versions of the same email and the servers went down again. Dumb, dumb dumb. Not a graet advertisement for the virus checkers either.

We had that same one here too - it was amazing. Not only would common sense tell you not to open it, but our IT Dept sent out a couple of emails saying it was a virus and not to open it. This was followed by managers verbally telling people the same thing. However, plenty of people within the company still opened it, and it was just nuts... Have to admit they did a great job because the only thing us non-IT people (at least those of us who didn't open the message) saw was a bunch of emails. The IT dept kept everything up and running.

Common sense is the first line of defense. You wouldn't buy a camera from one of those "too good to be true" con-artists, would you?...