CA vs. Symantec vs. Microsoft

[Ken Blake]

In

I'm not so sure. In my experience, when you use separate
vendors for
separate interrelated software functions (antivirus, spyware,
and
firewall), you are asking for trouble.

I don't think that these functions are really interrelated, and
that hasn't been my experience at all. I use one company's
products for anti-virus, a second for a firewall, and six others
for anti-spyware without any problems at all. That's on both of
my machines here, as well as on the machines of numbers of others
to whom I've recommended the same combinations.

 

[bobster]

McCarty,

I couldn't agree more with you comments and recommendations. I've used Ca
anti-virus since the days it was free and have used ZoneAlarm free for the
last 3-4 years. Here's my slate of "protection" software that has served me
well, is either free or of minimal cost expensive, and does not interfere
with the basic operation of my computer or with each other:

CA my-eTrust V 7.0
ZoneAlarm, free version
AdAware v 1.05
SpyBot Search and Destroy
SpywareBlaster
SpywareGuard
Pop-Up Stopper, free version

I run CWShredder on occasion but since it's never fouind a problem, I
probably don't need it. I also ran a HOSTS manager for awhile but found it
to unnecessarily limit some of my web surfing so I no longer use it.

The key to a clean machine is to use good protection, update it (and your
OS) regularly and show some restraint in what you open yourself up to during
your surfing. My 98SE, P11, 300 MHZ machine is solid as a rock. I average
about one BSOD a month and then only when I try to run a week or so without
rebooting.

 

[Ad]

I fully agree. I used to consider Norton as essential back in the days when
Norton -- the actual human being, not just the name of the software -- was
involved in developing the software. That would be back in the days of
Windows 9x. Back then the software was lean and mean and could do things

that was a while back, I got a package here to do with Nroton and it got
5 and a quater inch disks with it.

that the built-in utilities couldn't do that were also pretty much essential
to overall system stability and performance. Today the antivirus and
software It still does what it is supposed to do, but now not nearly so
leanly or meanly. Systemworks is totally unnecessary and actually is a drag
on the system. And if you decide to uninstall most Symantec software,
sometimes the quickest and easiest way is a clean install of XP (I'm not
joking).

You are correct, A mate of mine had a new computer a couple of weeks
ago and I went though his old hard drive, just to make sure we have not
missed any files, I found parts of Norton which have been uninstalled
about 3 years ago.

Bottom line: Symantec software is still fine for most purposes, but if you
install it, you are essentially stuck with it for life, or until your next
clean install of Windows XP. This can be very annoying if something
different or better comes along that you want to try.

Yep, I decided after the last time I used Norton, about 2 years back,
never to use a all in once security suit again.

 

[PA Bear]

<yawn>

 

[Hugh Candlin]

Here's my slate of "protection" software that has served me
well, is either free or of minimal cost expensive, and does not interfere
with the basic operation of my computer or with each other:

CA my-eTrust V 7.0
ZoneAlarm, free version
AdAware v 1.05
SpyBot Search and Destroy
SpywareBlaster
SpywareGuard
Pop-Up Stopper, free version

I run CWShredder on occasion but since it's never fouind a problem, I
probably don't need it. I also ran a HOSTS manager for awhile but found it
to unnecessarily limit some of my web surfing so I no longer use it.

The key to a clean machine is to use good protection, update it (and your
OS) regularly and show some restraint in what you open yourself up to during
your surfing. My 98SE, P11, 300 MHZ machine is solid as a rock. I average
about one BSOD a month and then only when I try to run a week or so without
rebooting.

Overall, a scathing indictment of an operating system, isn't it?.

Microsoft could offer me the Windows source code,
free, with permission to market it as I see fit
and I would turn the offer down on principle.

I can only hope that Microsoft will see the light,
stop wasting valuable resources patching quicksand,
junk their current obsolete WinTel architecture
and develop products worthy of the 21st century
in which the rest of us lives.

Before the people already working on such products
beat them to it, although they may already be too late.

Watching Microsoft at work is like watching an elephant die.
It is slow. It is stubborn. It is painful. It is inevitably fatal.

 

[glee]

Dan seems determined to force those in the Win98 group to participate in his WinXP
group discussions, disregarding the fact that if those in the 98 groups wanted to
participate in the XP groups, they would go there on their own.

 

[Bill in Co.]

If that's the case, it's pretty irresponsible, on his part.

Dan seems determined to force those in the Win98 group to participate in his
WinXP group discussions, disregarding the fact that if those in the 98 groups
wanted to participate in the XP groups, they would go there on their own.

http://www.forbes.com/home/ebusiness/2005/02/28/cx_ah_0228mondaymatchup.html

 

[Guest]

I don't think that these functions are really interrelated, and
that hasn't been my experience at all. I use one company's
products for anti-virus, a second for a firewall, and six others
for anti-spyware without any problems at all. That's on both of
my machines here, as well as on the machines of numbers of others
to whom I've recommended the same combinations.

Actually, I'm having second thoughts about my original comment, even though
it is still accurate as applied to me. Most of the people who are having
recent trouble are people who install "security suites" such as Norton
Internet Security. And in the interest of full disclosure, I now use
Microsoft and Lavasoft for antispyware, EZ Trust for antivirus, and the
Windows firewall.

Ken

 

[Dan]

I understand your point, Glen. I thought a spirited debate would be nice but
I can see that you and Gary do not care for it much.

: Dan seems determined to force those in the Win98 group to participate in
his WinXP
: group discussions, disregarding the fact that if those in the 98 groups
wanted to
: participate in the XP groups, they would go there on their own.
: --
: Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
:
:
: : > <yawn>
: >
: > Dan wrote:
: > > Which company is the best for protecting your computer? Which company
has
: > > the best anti-spyware, anti-virus, and firewall solution to protect the
: > > individual, companies and the government? Please post your feedback
and
: > > here is an article from Forbes about the two companies.
: > >
: > >
http://www.forbes.com/home/ebusiness/2005/02/28/cx_ah_0228mondaymatchup.html
: >
:

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Not sure where you've been, Dan, but that "spirited debate" you so covet
has been an ongoing discussion for as long as these forums have existed.

Your intensity is laudable but tiring. Popping into each and every
thread to lay down a few paragraphs of what is often only tangentially
relevant material, turning simple, focused discussions of specific
technical details into a general discussion of whatever... It detracts
from the efficiency of the forum, and either directly confuses the
person we are here to help, or indirectly confuses them by igniting
"spirited debate" on matters which are only slightly related to their
issue

If it was a case of one or two long "spirited debates" every week or
two, in amongst all the rest of the task-oriented threads...

 

[Fred S]

Ken,

You should drop the Windows firewall and use Zone Alarm or even CA's EZ
Armor which is an older version of ZA.

Windows firewall is better than nothing but only blocks INcoming
traffic. Many viruses and rogue programs get on your PC and try to go
OUT and the Windows firewall will not even look at them.

ZA is Free, so is Sygate, which is also very good - each of these is
better than the Windows firewall.

Fred

 

[Dan]

If I limit it to maybe once a month or less would that be acceptable to you
and Glen?

: Not sure where you've been, Dan, but that "spirited debate" you so covet
: has been an ongoing discussion for as long as these forums have existed.
:
: Your intensity is laudable but tiring. Popping into each and every
: thread to lay down a few paragraphs of what is often only tangentially
: relevant material, turning simple, focused discussions of specific
: technical details into a general discussion of whatever... It detracts
: from the efficiency of the forum, and either directly confuses the
: person we are here to help, or indirectly confuses them by igniting
: "spirited debate" on matters which are only slightly related to their
: issue
:
: If it was a case of one or two long "spirited debates" every week or
: two, in amongst all the rest of the task-oriented threads...
:
: --
: Gary S. Terhune
: MS MVP Shell/User
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
:
: : > I understand your point, Glen. I thought a spirited debate would be
: nice but
: > I can see that you and Gary do not care for it much.
: >
: > : > : Dan seems determined to force those in the Win98 group to
: participate in
: > his WinXP
: > : group discussions, disregarding the fact that if those in the 98
: groups
: > wanted to
: > : participate in the XP groups, they would go there on their own.
: > : --
: > : Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
: > :
: > :
: > : : > : > <yawn>
: > : >
: > : > Dan wrote:
: > : > > Which company is the best for protecting your computer? Which
: company
: > has
: > : > > the best anti-spyware, anti-virus, and firewall solution to
: protect the
: > : > > individual, companies and the government? Please post your
: feedback
: > and
: > : > > here is an article from Forbes about the two companies.
: > : > >
: > : > >
: >
:
http://www.forbes.com/home/ebusiness/2005/02/28/cx_ah_0228mondaymatchup.html
: > : >
: > :
: >
: >
:

 

[glee]

I dunno....ask Bear. (but don't ask him while he's eating).

 

[Bill in Co.]

I don't either. It's just noise, and doesn't belong here.

I understand your point, Glen. I thought a spirited debate would be nice but
I can see that you and Gary do not care for it much.

http://www.forbes.com/home/ebusiness/2005/02/28/cx_ah_0228mondaymatchup.html

 

[Dan]

:>
: I dunno....ask Bear. (but don't ask him while he's eating).
: --
: Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
:
:
: : > If I limit it to maybe once a month or less would that be acceptable to
you
: > and Glen?
: >
: > : > : Not sure where you've been, Dan, but that "spirited debate" you so
covet
: > : has been an ongoing discussion for as long as these forums have
existed.
: > :
: > : Your intensity is laudable but tiring. Popping into each and every
: > : thread to lay down a few paragraphs of what is often only tangentially
: > : relevant material, turning simple, focused discussions of specific
: > : technical details into a general discussion of whatever... It detracts
: > : from the efficiency of the forum, and either directly confuses the
: > : person we are here to help, or indirectly confuses them by igniting
: > : "spirited debate" on matters which are only slightly related to their
: > : issue
: > :
: > : If it was a case of one or two long "spirited debates" every week or
: > : two, in amongst all the rest of the task-oriented threads...
: > :
: > : --
: > : Gary S. Terhune
: > : MS MVP Shell/User
: > : http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
: > : http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
: > :
: > : : > : > I understand your point, Glen. I thought a spirited debate would be
: > : nice but
: > : > I can see that you and Gary do not care for it much.
: > : >
: > : > : > : > : Dan seems determined to force those in the Win98 group to
: > : participate in
: > : > his WinXP
: > : > : group discussions, disregarding the fact that if those in the 98
: > : groups
: > : > wanted to
: > : > : participate in the XP groups, they would go there on their own.
: > : > : --
: > : > : Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
: > : > :
: > : > :
: > : > : : > : > : > <yawn>
: > : > : >
: > : > : > Dan wrote:
: > : > : > > Which company is the best for protecting your computer? Which
: > : company
: > : > has
: > : > : > > the best anti-spyware, anti-virus, and firewall solution to
: > : protect the
: > : > : > > individual, companies and the government? Please post your
: > : feedback
: > : > and
: > : > : > > here is an article from Forbes about the two companies.
: > : > : > >
: > : > : > >
: > : >
: > :
: >
http://www.forbes.com/home/ebusiness/2005/02/28/cx_ah_0228mondaymatchup.html
: > : > : >
: > : > :
: > : >
: > : >
: > :
: >
: >
:

 

[Dan]

Well since identity theft is number 1 in Arizona where I live then I am very
concerned about it and what Microsoft and the U.S. government is doing to
safeguard our information. I heard about the fbi site being hacked. Is
nothing safe anymore and I wonder if their is a government site that I can
access to limit all sharing of my information on a need to know basis such as
the CIA, FBI or Homeland Security needs to know something and I doubt this
very much since I do not participate in illegal activity.

: I don't either. It's just noise, and doesn't belong here.
:
: Dan wrote:
: > I understand your point, Glen. I thought a spirited debate would be nice
: but
: > I can see that you and Gary do not care for it much.
: >
: > : >> Dan seems determined to force those in the Win98 group to participate in
: his
: >> WinXP group discussions, disregarding the fact that if those in the 98
: >> groups wanted to participate in the XP groups, they would go there on
: their
: >> own. --
: >> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
: >>
: >>
: >> : >>> <yawn>
: >>>
: >>> Dan wrote:
: >>>> Which company is the best for protecting your computer? Which company
: has
: >>>> the best anti-spyware, anti-virus, and firewall solution to protect
the
: >>>> individual, companies and the government? Please post your feedback
: and
: >>>> here is an article from Forbes about the two companies.
: >>>>
: >>>>
: >
:
http://www.forbes.com/home/ebusiness/2005/02/28/cx_ah_0228mondaymatchup.html
:
:

 

[Bill in Co.]

What does that have to do with crossposting between two operating system
support groups, with two different operating systems?

Well since identity theft is number 1 in Arizona where I live then I am very
concerned about it and what Microsoft and the U.S. government is doing to
safeguard our information. I heard about the fbi site being hacked. Is
nothing safe anymore and I wonder if their is a government site that I can
access to limit all sharing of my information on a need to know basis such as
the CIA, FBI or Homeland Security needs to know something and I doubt this
very much since I do not participate in illegal activity.

http://www.forbes.com/home/ebusiness/2005/02/28/cx_ah_0228mondaymatchup.html

 

[Dan]

Well since it is a problem with both XP and 98SE I thought two or more groups
should be involved in the discussion.

: What does that have to do with crossposting between two operating system
: support groups, with two different operating systems?
:
: Dan wrote:
: > Well since identity theft is number 1 in Arizona where I live then I am
: very
: > concerned about it and what Microsoft and the U.S. government is doing to
: > safeguard our information. I heard about the fbi site being hacked. Is
: > nothing safe anymore and I wonder if their is a government site that I
can
: > access to limit all sharing of my information on a need to know basis
such
: as
: > the CIA, FBI or Homeland Security needs to know something and I doubt
this
: > very much since I do not participate in illegal activity.
: >
: > : >> I don't either. It's just noise, and doesn't belong here.
: >>
: >> Dan wrote:
: >>> I understand your point, Glen. I thought a spirited debate would be
: nice
: >>> but I can see that you and Gary do not care for it much.
: >>>
: >>> : >>>> Dan seems determined to force those in the Win98 group to participate
: in
: >>>> his WinXP group discussions, disregarding the fact that if those in
the
: 98
: >>>> groups wanted to participate in the XP groups, they would go there on
: their
: >>>> own. --
: >>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
: >>>>
: >>>>
: >>>> : >>>>> <yawn>
: >>>>>
: >>>>> Dan wrote:
: >>>>>> Which company is the best for protecting your computer? Which
: company
: >>>>>> has the best anti-spyware, anti-virus, and firewall solution to
: protect
: >>>>>> the individual, companies and the government? Please post your
: feedback
: >>>>>> and here is an article from Forbes about the two companies.
: >>>>>>
: >>>>>>
: >>>
: >>
: >
:
http://www.forbes.com/home/ebusiness/2005/02/28/cx_ah_0228mondaymatchup.html
:
:

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Actually, I'm having second thoughts about my original comment,
even
though it is still accurate as applied to me. Most of the
people who
are having recent trouble are people who install "security
suites"
such as Norton Internet Security.

OK, glad to hear it.

And in the interest of full
disclosure, I now use Microsoft and Lavasoft for antispyware,
EZ
Trust for antivirus, and the Windows firewall.

LOL! If that's meant as a dig, I wasn't trying to hide what
products I use. I've posted them here before. I didn't mention
their names because it wasn't relevant to my point.

I use NAV (despite all the bad things you hear about it, I've
been using it for years successfully, and have never seen any
reason to change), the free version of ZoneAlarm, and the
following anti-spyware products:

Spyware Blaster
AdAware
Spybot Search and Destroy
Spyware Guard
Microsoft Anti-Spyware
IE-Spyad
Winpatrol
SWShredder

 

[Guest]

You should drop the Windows firewall and use Zone Alarm or even CA's EZ
Armor which is an older version of ZA.

Windows firewall is better than nothing but only blocks INcoming
traffic. Many viruses and rogue programs get on your PC and try to go
OUT and the Windows firewall will not even look at them.

I prefer to use means other than my firewall to keep the crud from every
getting on my machine in the first place.

ZA is Free, so is Sygate, which is also very good - each of these is
better than the Windows firewall.

They stop crud already on your machine from phoning home. I prefer to keep
the crud off my machine in the first place so that it never even gets the
opportunity to phone home. For someone like me, who knows how to avoid
crudware and also has other software already running as first and second
lines of defenses and early warning systems, using a third party firewall is
-- please excuse the crude analogy --like wearing a condom when you don't
even plan to have sex.

Ken