OT: What Should I Do?
 

My Nortan anti-virus subscription is up in two days and now my nortan anti-virus program is not allowing me to get updates. This sucks arse and is a violation of my agreement with Nortan. I paid for a year, so I should get a year!

So my dilima is such, should I pay the $40.00 us to renew my subscription (After taxes and charges) or should I just go buy nortan 2005, since mine is 2003? I can buy other products and tel Nortan to stuff it, or go with just the free survices, albeit they all such.

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I think you should renew, I dont like the most recent versions of Nortons Software. I also have 2003 and my subscription is up in like 15 days so I am planning on renewing.

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Personally, we use McAfee, but yeah when our subscription is up (which should be soon...) we're going to renew. I really don't see the point in shelling out more cash to the corporation simply to get the 2005 version. '03 should work just fine for you.

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He let me know if your AV stops updating two days before your renew date.

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Break the cycle! Get as far away from Norton crap as you can. It is the joke of the industry these days... Norton does not even provide engine updates without shelling over tons of money for a new version, so an older version of it is quite pointless in the face of real viruses.

Kaspersky is a great AV program. Possibly the best these days.

Kerio 2.1.5 is free and one of the best firewall programs out there.

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Norton 2003 isn't worth jack today!

Don't renew. Norton 2003 cannot detect packed malware (and no I'm not talking about archives, such as zip, rar, etc, packing is completely different), and also does not scan inside rar files. The definitions are there, but Norton 2003's engine is unable to read them. Don't hold your breath for an engine update with your subscription--Norton is one of very few anti-virus vendors who don't provide engine updates with a subscription. You have to buy new versions to get the latest scanning engine. Engine updates are not just for speed!

To stick with 2003 would be outright stupid.

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Note that this is precisely why you should never purchase _any_ Norton products. They all suffer from the same vile marketing practices.

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AT, I've used Norton since I've had my computer, My last version was 2002 and I used the online prescription. However, as the yrs went by, I found that most of the 2002 upgrades were not all that encampusing in regards to various definitions and such. So I didn't renew and instead bought 2005. However, what I did find was that after installing 2005, I had problems running scan disk and defrag. Friend of mine stated had same problem after installing it. So I had to go to Safe Mode to run scan disk and to defrag. so If you do go with 2005 and have that problem, the only way I found to get around it was to use Safe Mode for scan disk and defrag. In addition I also use Adware 6.0 and SpyBot as well as Norton, but I've heard Adware is not updating like it used to, now whether that is true or not I don't know, I still use it along with SpyBot, I always run all 3 when cking my comp system. I also use Kerio for my Firewall and so far I've not had any problems. norton does have firewall but I turned it off and just use Kerio

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Don't buy Norton. I can not stress this enough.

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i use AVG it's freeware for personal use, www.grisoft.com, i like it

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hmmm, let's see.. I have no anti-virus software installed and I just went to the PC-Trend free Housecall virus scannig service and it found no viruses on my system. I have never had any problems with viruses on my computer, I use common sense and it seems to be the best protection. If I think a file is 'suspect' I go to PC-Trend's Housecall and scan the file. their av database is always up to date and it does not hog my system by running in the background. (IMHO AV Software is for the paranoid PC users out there, I'm not in that crowd,.. wait a min, I consider AT a friend so I guess I am in that crowd after all http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif LOL )

but seriously, how often are you people getting hit by viruses? What you need to do is track the source and if it's via e-mail then get something other than Outlook. (It's the #1 biggest backdoor delivery method for viruses.) and if you haven't done so allready get Mozilla or Firefox to replace that 'Other' virus backdoor thing called IE.

Nuf said, Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

P.S. BTW here's the link to the PC-Trend Housecall virus scan.

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DEG you get back to working on SEV RIGHT NOW! We want new pics! We want actual screenshots of a pre-beta version!

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to: David E. Gervais

We the great players of SE IV would like to get an update of the races that will be in SE V.

So we can START modding now
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: OT: What Should I Do?
 

So your recommendation is to buy a new version? Ok go with Nortan again, or go with another company, what brand would you recommend?

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LOL to bad the link you sent me to says this "Only Internet Explorer Browser is supported." LOL

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NO! His recommendation is to NOT purchase Norton products. You will just have to keep buying it, and a subscription, over and over again. For crappy software. Kaspersky is the solution. Whatever you do, do not buy any more Norton/Symantec products.

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After this go about I am of the mind that Nortan can kiss my puffy white bare behind. The problem is, once Nortan has infected your system, there is no way to remove it. I tried before and it was a nightmare of epic proportion.

So I am stuck with the Nortan software no matter what I do, so really all I can do is buy nortan software since I cannot disable it and or extract it from my system without causing more errors then a windows 98 update.

Seriously you cannot uninstall nortan to any degree that it won't conflict with other AV products. Its a natorious scam that just keeps getting more natorious.

What other AV products are there? Panda Soft, MaFee (nortan clone), and what? (I noticed you said the one you linked to Fyron is crappy software so I guess that one is out. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

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AVG is pretty good. www.grisoft.com

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Look closely, there's a period there. The "crappy software" comment is about Norton, and the linked product is "the solution".

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I hated Panda.. it caused even more of a performance hit than Norton.

And somewhere around there is a Norton remover, that gets rid of all the junk Norton leaves behind deliberately, in order to make competing products look slow....

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I voted "Get Other Program". I too use AVG and am very happy with it. Has worked flawlessly for me for quite a while now. Of course, that's not the only line of defense, but IMO it's the best free AV out there.

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*does a double take*

What??? The one I linked to is the _best_. Norton is the crappy software. Kaspersky is awesome.

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So... Go with Norton then, Fyron? Heh, heh. (adds fuel to fire).

I didn't like McAfee a few years ago because it conflicted with Civilization II or III... Can't recall which.

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You seem to have the worst of luck with anything related to corporate software.
Symantec is what we use at work and it works perfectly 100% of the time. We have never had any scares with major virus' breaking out in the office because Symantec does its job. We also do not have to shell out the big bucks all the time like you say people do in order to keep up to date.

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Corporate editions are not in any way equivalent to consumer editions. You pay a lot more for the corporate licenses anyways...

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My sister's computer came preinstalled with Norton. That was impossible to uninstall. Kept interfering with other anti-virus programs.

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I have to say thank you to David. I took him up on the online scan recommendation and voila, six, count them six, virus hits for things that NORTAN should have detected and killed. SIX!

All of them should have been detected by NORTAN in my last scan which was this morning, but NO.... Nortan doesn't even work!

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we ahve a total of three computers connected to the interent in my house, all of which run both Norton AV and internet security, professional edition. We have never had any problem with them or with updates. Though this may just be me...

On a side note, using the hacker tracker that come with Norton, my dad has found that Microsoft (and other large, presumably OK corporations) have tried to get into our computer. Not in the manner of dumping cookies but actually trying to access personall information.

Re: OT: What Should I Do?
 

Norton doesn't work because you have to subscribe to get virus updates. Subscribing is kinda expensive, and noone does it.

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Um, it should have worked last night, the 3rd, which was my last system scan. The renew date was today. Additionally, one of the viruses, the seventh one now, Trojan.byteverify is listed as a NOTRAN detected virus and should have been cleaned regardless. Simply put Nortan does not work as advertised, and they cheat you out of at least two days worth of updates at the end of your subscription.

So now do I have to worry that Nortan will not work at all? Will not scan for viruses even though it says its doing so, or scan my incoming emails? This is bull**** if you ask me!

God I wish there was legislation in action that would FORCE companies like Nortan and MS to fix these problems, and make them liable for any issues caused because of their lacking software and over hyped abilities.

Re: OT: What Should I Do?
 

Try out Kaspersky...

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If you're worried about paying for AV stuff, you could always get AVG. I think its still free.

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There are lots of free anti-virus programs available and more becoming available all the time. AVG is considered pretty good but here are a few more that I am aware of.

http://www.avast.com/eng/av4_version_comp.html -- Avast! Free Anti-virus

http://www.clamwin.com/ Clam Win -- Free Open Source Anti-Virus

http://www.free-av.com/ AntiVir -- Free Anti-Virus

Re: OT: What Should I Do?
 

Norton's subscription fee is absurd. I doubt I'll be renewing.

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My apologies, I miss read what you posted. Thank you for the recommendation I will be checking it out.

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Trend is pretty well known

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Has any one been able to log onto office.org lately?

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I told you NAV 2003 would be unable to detect some viruses, regardless of whether or not it has definitions for them. Its scanning engine is out of date and cannot detect packed viruses. Most new ones are packed, and even old ones can be packed, thus making NAV 2003 obsolete even with new definitions.

As for Panda, I hated that one. It caused a huge performance hit on my test system. Computer Associates' EZ AntiVirus, McAfee, and Kaspersky are my recommendations. For a "home license" look into F-Prot: 30 bucks gets you antivirus for every computer in your house--without breaking the terms of your EULA. Finally a vendor that gets it!

For free antivirus, get them all. AVG Free, Avast and AntiVir PE (AVPE). Of course, never run more than one real-time monitor at the same time, unless you're masochistic, that is.

Caveat: free AVs do NOT provide the same level of protection as commercial ones. Their detection ratio, compared to commercial products, is pathetic. Given that you seem to be a high-risk user, I would not suggest relying on free AVs. Get yourself Kaspersky and be done with it.

Re: OT: What Should I Do?
 

What a coincidance, my Nortan subscription just expired too! Seeing that almost everyone says NO to NOrton, and there are many opinions on what is the best, I looked to the search engine. I found this site that evaluates anti-virus software, http://antivirus.about.com , but I don't know if it is trustworthy. It rates the top 8, and Norton isn't in there.

The #1 pick is PC-cillian. So I am asking - does anyone use PC-cillian or know enough about it to vouch for it? And thanks to AT and all those who replied for saving me from re-newing Norton, which I would have done if not for this post.

Re: OT: What Should I Do?
 

Captain Al.

I'm using Trend PC-cillin and I have to admit it's pretty dam good. Very customisable and easy to use, also it's incredibly good at detecting Viruses, even if it can't remove them for any reason. I'm not exactly an expert though.

Me and My Family have been using this product line for at least 3 years and it hasn't really let us down. Unlike Norton which I used to have http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif

Re: OT: What Should I Do?
 

Thank gusy. I now need to come up with the $$$ to buy new AV product. Thanks to you guys I have an impressive list to choose from. Choices.

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That list does not rank them by anti-virus capabities at all apparently. The top spots go to combined programs that do more than anti-virus, which really is not a good way to do it. Hell, norton internet security is _on_ the list, which tells you right away that it is worthless. :-\ Kaspersky really is number 1. It is also great because it _doesn't_ have a really crappy "modern" interface (aka WinXP style lack of control). It does not try to insult your intelligence by hiding the controls away under a shiney, flashy interface that causes pain when working with it (such as Norton does)...

For all of your firewall needs, you want <a href="http://kerio.com/dwn/kpf2-en-win.exe">Kerio 2.1.5</a>. It is possibly the best out there these days and it is completely free. Do not bother with the newer versions of the program, as they do not offer improved functionality, just a dumbed down "modern" interface.

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I know. 60 day trials of antivirus stuff usually comes with new motherboards. Just buy new motherboards, take the antivirus stuff, and give the mobo to me....
sounds fair

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Kerio free is considered a good firewall, but so is Outpost free. Outpost is almost always given the best rating for ease of use (understandable interface), it has lots of features, and it is extensible. People can add their own custom modules to it. For example there is an IP address blocker, supported on the same forums as the main Outpost program itself, whith regular updates of spyware/adware site lists posted for the users.

http://www.agnitum.com/
http://outpostfirewall.com/forum/index.php?

BTW, AVG includes a limited firewall in the latest version.

Re: OT: What Should I Do?
 

Well, I bought Kaspersky on the very strong recommondation of I.F. I don't know how it compares to others, but I can tell you how it compares to Nortan. On first scan, it picked up 12, yes 12, viruses that Nortan missed. Thanks, I.F.