Virus - or not?

[Thfrank]

I have been using Norton for years without any problems. Now, I have been
trying other anti-virus software (AVG and Antivir). They have identified
viruses in some of my files that have never popped up with Norton.

My question: Who is right? Can I keep trusting Norton? Is there something
like a web-based reference that helps to distinguish between real hazard and
false positive alert?

Thank you
Thomas

 

[kurt wismer]

I have been using Norton for years without any problems. Now, I have
been trying other anti-virus software (AVG and Antivir). They have
identified viruses in some of my files that have never popped up with
Norton.

My question: Who is right?

impossible to tell just from a description...

Can I keep trusting Norton?

impossible to tell... though you shouldn't trust any anti-virus program
absolutely...

Is there
something like a web-based reference that helps to distinguish between
real hazard and false positive alert?

there is virustotal.com - if you uploaded one of these suspect files to
that site, it would get scanned with a bunch of different products and
give you the results... then you could gauge whether the alerts you've
been receiving are false alarms... alternatively, you could submit the
file to an anti-virus vendor for analysis and hopefully someone would
get back to you with an answer...

 

[MaHaBone]

I have been using Norton for years without any problems. Now, I have been
trying other anti-virus software (AVG and Antivir). They have identified
viruses in some of my files that have never popped up with Norton.

My question: Who is right? Can I keep trusting Norton? Is there something
like a web-based reference that helps to distinguish between real hazard
and false positive alert?

According to experts, you'd be better off removing Norton from your pc. Go
to their homepage and download the appropriate tool for uninstalling Norton.
Also, AV analysts suggest that Antivir is better than both AVG and Avast.
AOL's AVS is running on Kaspersky engine and is considered a superior AV
application. If you choose AOL's AVS ensure *NOT* to opt for the toolbar
offered.

 

[Stefano]

I have been using Norton for years without any problems. Now, I have been
trying other anti-virus software (AVG and Antivir). They have identified
viruses in some of my files that have never popped up with Norton.

My question: Who is right? Can I keep trusting Norton? Is there something
like a web-based reference that helps to distinguish between real hazard and
false positive alert?

Well, we use McAfee and we feature it in our website too, so check
it...

I consider it the best antivirus...

 

[FredW]

Stefano explained :

Well, we use McAfee and we feature it in our website too, so check
it...

I consider it the best antivirus...

You call it the best, only because you sell it?
Maybe you should stick to sunglasses?
Silly boy!

 

[Stefano]

You call it the best, only because you sell it?
Maybe you should stick to sunglasses?
Silly boy!

No, I don't sell it... I'm just a designer, not the owner of the
domain. Second, I used it in the past and I always considered it much
better than Norton.

Kaspersky seems also very interesting, but I fear there's just hype
with this name, while McAfee has a solid name and background story of
successes.

 

[FredW]

Stefano wrote on 11-6-2007 :

No, I don't sell it... I'm just a designer, not the owner of the
domain. Second, I used it in the past and I always considered it much
better than Norton.

Kaspersky seems also very interesting, but I fear there's just hype
with this name, while McAfee has a solid name and background story of
successes.

If you read this newsgroup for a longer period,
you can find out that McAfee just as Norton is
nowadays considered as being "bloatware".

Norton and McAfee slow down your computer and creep into
every process and are very hard to remove (uninstall).
Norton and McAfee have both special tools on their site
to remove their remnants after uninstall and even those
removal tools are not sufficient, so more often than not
one has to do a format to finally remove all traces and
allow the installation of other antivirus software.

I have used McAfee and Norton for many years,
both in the office and in private and I was a
satisfied user, but no more Norton or McAfee for me.

As you say, Norton and McAfee just drift along on because of
their "name" and (mainly) because they are prominently present
on the shelves of (computer) shops.

NOD32 and Kaspersky are now considered as being the top.
I switched to NOD32 after giving up on Norton
and I never regretted this step.
I convinced many of my friends to do the same move.

 

[foghollow]

Well, we use McAfee and we feature it in our website too, so check
it...

I consider it the best antivirus...

The corporate version's OK. I wouldn't touch the non-corporate with a bargepole.

 

[foghollow]

No, I don't sell it... I'm just a designer, not the owner of the
domain. Second, I used it in the past and I always considered it much
better than Norton.

That's not actually saying much, though!

Kaspersky seems also very interesting, but I fear there's just hype
with this name, while McAfee has a solid name and background story of
successes.

Yet Eugene speaks so highly of you