AOL Security vs Norton AV

[Jim Snively]

I recently installed a DSL for a friend who is a will remain an AOL user.
This friend uses AOL Version 7 and Norton Antivirus 2005. During the
installation AOL "pushed" the upgrade to their newer version with "free"
security. Suspecting there would be a clash between AOL Version 9 and NAV
2005, I decided to complete the DSL installation using AOL 7 and NAV 2005.
The current NAV 2005 update subscription last until January 2007. This
raises a couple of questions which I hope can get answered here:

1. Is AOL Version 9 a valid way to satisfy the Windows XP SP2 requirement
for an anti-virus program?

2. Assuming that answer is yes and the "free" price for AOL pushes us in
that direction should I:

a. Uninstall NAV 2005, then upgrade AOL now?

b. Wait until the NAV subscription expires then take the steps listed
in a above?

c. Stick with AOL 7.0 and upgrade NAV when the current subscription
expires?

d. Any other option?

Thanks

Jim Snively

 

[Dave B.]

Go with D: Remove all Norton products now, remove all AOL "security" now.
Install AVG Antivirus and if needed one of the good free firewall apps.

 

[Bob Harris]

One anti-virus is essential, two or more may clash and cause problems.

If you want the AOL offerring, then remove Norton. Go to the Symantec
website and look for a tool to really remove it. Doing a simple uninstall
is rarely sufficient with modern Norton products.

However, I am always a bit skeptical about anything that is "free",
especially from a company like AOL. Personally, I would stick with Norton
over AOL-supported anti-virus.

Note that the previous reply also has a good point: There are some good and
free antivirus programs. AVG is one of them. You might try doing a web
search on reviews of antivirus programs to get a compare and contrast among
the for-fee and the free programs. Sometimes the major difference is ease
of updating, sometimes it is more significant features.

By the way, in addition to one anti-virus, also have one firewall. As a
minimum use the XP firewall. Better yet, use Zone Alarm (free).

Finally, as a former AOL user for ten years, I would suggest that your
friend try to use the email and other features that come with the DSL
service. That friend may eventually realize, as I did, that AOL is not
really necessary anymore. In fact, in timing tests I found that the AOL
browser to be far slower than IE6 or Firefox over the same high-speed
connection. Depending on the DSL supplier, they may even have a program to
transfer favorites and email addresses out of AOL into something more
common, like IE6 and Outlook Express. It could be well worth asking about.

 

[MowGreen [MVP]]

This hurts me to say but, the AOL AV is actually Kaspersky and it
performs very well -

From - http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp?id=82&mnu=82

Rank

1. Kaspersky version 6.0.0.303 - 99.62%

2. Active Virus Shield by AOL version 6.0.0.299 - 99.62%

22. Norton Professional 2006 - 83.18%

The only drawbacks I've found so far are that one can not configure it
to skip locations during a scan and I haven't yet figured out how to
change the scheduled scan time.

NAV is dreadful. Dump it.


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Hey Mow,

AOL Security vs Norton AV Now there's a ... I can't think of anything nice
to say, so I better not say it. ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

This hurts me to say but, the AOL AV is actually Kaspersky and it
performs very well -

From - http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp?id=82&mnu=82

Rank

1. Kaspersky version 6.0.0.303 - 99.62%

2. Active Virus Shield by AOL version 6.0.0.299 - 99.62%

22. Norton Professional 2006 - 83.18%

The only drawbacks I've found so far are that one can not configure it
to skip locations during a scan and I haven't yet figured out how to
change the scheduled scan time.

NAV is dreadful. Dump it.


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

I recently installed a DSL for a friend who is a will remain an AOL user.
This friend uses AOL Version 7 and Norton Antivirus 2005. During the
installation AOL "pushed" the upgrade to their newer version with "free"
security. Suspecting there would be a clash between AOL Version 9 and
NAV 2005, I decided to complete the DSL installation using AOL 7 and NAV
2005. The current NAV 2005 update subscription last until January 2007.
This raises a couple of questions which I hope can get answered here:

1. Is AOL Version 9 a valid way to satisfy the Windows XP SP2
requirement for an anti-virus program?

2. Assuming that answer is yes and the "free" price for AOL pushes us
in that direction should I:

a. Uninstall NAV 2005, then upgrade AOL now?

b. Wait until the NAV subscription expires then take the steps
listed in a above?

c. Stick with AOL 7.0 and upgrade NAV when the current
subscription expires?

d. Any other option?

Thanks

Jim Snively

 

[Ted Zieglar]

Kaspersky is top shelf AV, but in AOL's hands...well, you saw what they
did to Netscape.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Long ago, Ted, before I knew anything (2 weeks ago, just kidding) I had
AOL. Uff da!

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[MowGreen [MVP]]

AOL licenses KAV, but is not allowed to alter it. So, they can't screw
it up
It really is a good, free AV for the "masses" since they can't disable
the scheduled scans ... or, to put it in another context, even I can't
find where the scan schedule is and can't screw with it.
Now, if only one could configure it to skip folders that contain malware
that one "plays" around with ...


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

 

[blintze]

When I look at my task manager, it looks like AOL is using MacAfee.

Also, my machine has been really sluggish since I started using the AOL
AV. I used to use PC-Cillin. Has anyone experience slowdowns with the
AOL AV?