Norton and McAfee - Am at a Crossroad

[Leythos]

http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/sat...CUR=840&DSP=&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=1949220000195486

http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/sat...9&V5=31034037&S1=&S2=&S3=&S4=&S5=&V2=&V3=&V4=

I see no mention of 5 licenses.

http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/sat2/ec_Main.Entry17C?SID=49998&SP=10023
&CID=0&PID=727370&PN=1&V1=727370&V2=&V3=&V4=&V5=31034038&CUR=840
&DSP=&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=195486

You didn't look hard - Symantec Corporate Edition 10 With Groupware
protection - starts at 5 licenses for $421 retail directly from
Symantec.

 

[D.Currie]

The licenses for NAV on three machines are about to expire. I need to
renew them soon. This morning, I got a circular from Staples offering,
with rebates included, a free copy of McAfee. I have been thinking for a
few months of switching to it anyway for no real clear reasons and this
might be the time.

Has anyone had experience with both? If so what are you thoughts about
the two. I've no complaints about NAV itself but find Symantec to be very
awkward to communicate with and very slow in responding.

I will really appreciate any thoughts anyone who has had experience with
both can give me.

Thank you very much.

I run different AV products on each of my computers so that I can be
familiar with a wider variety of products that my customers might use.

The problem I had with McAfee is the annoying update feature. And overall, I
don't like the interface. If something is set to update itself daily, I
don't want it to pop up and tell me about it, and then go to the website and
insist that I log in to get my updates. I just want it to update and not
bother me unless there's a problem. I'm not sure what triggers the need to
log in, but it has happened on my computer, and I've seen it on customer
computers and it's just annoying. More annoying if the customer doesn't
remember the username and password. If you're familiar with your particular
version of McAfee, it's probably less of a problem, but when I'm faced with
different versions on different computers, I find that the interface is less
than helpful. I want to know at a glance when the definitions were last
updated, when the last scan was run, when the product expired (or when it
will expire) and what the results of the last few scans were. I also want
updating and manual scans to be simple to find and use. McAfee, depending on
the version, always fails on several of those criteria.

Norton can be a resource hog, but I've seen that most often when someone
installs the whole suite or there are other problems with the computer or
configuration; the antivirus itself isn't that bad if you're running on a
computer with enough resources. And it can be a pain to
remove/reinstall/repair if something goes bad. It seems there was a rash of
problems with Norton products a while back, but I haven't had any come in
recently, so maybe they've fixed things. Also, there are links directly from
the error message to Symantec's knowledge base, and that system is actually
useful if you take the time to read it and follow the instructions. The
interface is also pretty self-explanatory. You can see right away all those
things I listed above.

There are, of course, other options, and with each one you'll find people
who love or hate each product. Like hanging around a garage and asking
Ford/Chevy? Gas/diesel? Honestly, there are things I like and dislike about
each of the products I've tested, so it really comes down to personal
preference.

 

[Jack Gillis]

A whole bunch snipped....................Thanks to all who have responded to me or participated in the thread.

And it can be a pain to remove/reinstall/repair if something goes bad.
It seems there was a rash of problems with Norton products a while back,
but I haven't had any come in recently, so maybe they've fixed things.

That seems to be mentioned often here. I've not made a decision about which
software to go with but I know when I finally do it before the end of the
month, I will want to remove NAV 2002.

Can someone tell me exactly what is required to get rid of it. I've googled
all afternoon and am totally awed.

Thanks again.

 

[R. McCarty]

Norton 2002 actually removes itself fairly well. It predates their
product activation, so all the code associated with it doesn't bog
down the uninstall. I suspect a large part of the Registry remnants
are components of Product Activation. Most likely after uninstall
you'll just need to remove Live Update and Live Reg and delete
the Symantec folders on the PC. (Only if all Symantec/Norton
products are remove - they share some components).

 

[Jack Gillis]

Norton 2002 actually removes itself fairly well. It predates their
product activation, so all the code associated with it doesn't bog
down the uninstall. I suspect a large part of the Registry remnants
are components of Product Activation. Most likely after uninstall
you'll just need to remove Live Update and Live Reg and delete
the Symantec folders on the PC. (Only if all Symantec/Norton
products are remove - they share some components).

Ok, thank you very much. I also have Ghost so I guess I will have to be
careful.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

The licenses for NAV on three machines are about to expire. I need to renew
them soon. This morning, I got a circular from Staples offering, with
rebates included, a free copy of McAfee. I have been thinking for a few
months of switching to it anyway for no real clear reasons and this might be
the time.

Has anyone had experience with both? If so what are you thoughts about the
two. I've no complaints about NAV itself but find Symantec to be very
awkward to communicate with and very slow in responding.

I will really appreciate any thoughts anyone who has had experience with
both can give me.

Thank you very much.

You'll get nearly as many differing opinions as you will responses.

I used, and recommended, Norton Antivirus and then Norton Internet
Security, for many years, on Win98, WinNT, Win2K, and WinXP, all without
any significant problems. I had used McAfee prior to that. But it's
been several years since I've been tempted to try McAfee products.
Their quality seemed to take a steep nose-dive after they were acquired
by Network Associates.

However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton
Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal (at a cost substantially
higher than the preceding year's subscription), I decided to try less
expensive solutions. I downloaded and installed the free version of
GriSoft's AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php ) and the free
version of Sygate's Personal Firewall
(http://smb.sygate.com/free/default.php ). Both have proven to be
easily installed, easy to use, and quite effective. Additionally, I was
pleasantly surprised to see a small but very noticeable improvement in
my PC's performance, once I'd replaced the Symantec product.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Leigh]

You'll get nearly as many differing opinions as you will responses.

I used, and recommended, Norton Antivirus and then Norton Internet
Security, for many years, on Win98, WinNT, Win2K, and WinXP, all without
any significant problems. I had used McAfee prior to that. But it's been
several years since I've been tempted to try McAfee products. Their
quality seemed to take a steep nose-dive after they were acquired by
Network Associates.

However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton
Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal (at a cost substantially higher
than the preceding year's subscription), I decided to try less expensive
solutions. I downloaded and installed the free version of GriSoft's AVG
(http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php ) and the free version of
Sygate's Personal Firewall (http://smb.sygate.com/free/default.php ).
Both have proven to be easily installed, easy to use, and quite effective.
Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised to see a small but very
noticeable improvement in my PC's performance, once I'd replaced the
Symantec product.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

Bruce,

Thanks for these links. I will give these programs a try.

Leigh

 

[kurttrail]

http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/sat2/ec_Main.Entry17C?SID=49998&SP=10023
&CID=0&PID=727370&PN=1&V1=727370&V2=&V3=&V4=&V5=31034038&CUR=840
&DSP=&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=195486

You didn't look hard - Symantec Corporate Edition 10 With Groupware
protection - starts at 5 licenses for $421 retail directly from
Symantec.

Different product. That is SYM 10 Small Biz, not Sym Corp., and with
Sym Corp, the small number of licenses is 10.

Nice try, though.

"I've used Symantec Corporate editions for years." - Lameboy

You didn't say you used the Small Business version with Groupwise.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[D.Currie]

Ok, thank you very much. I also have Ghost so I guess I will have to be
careful.

If you still have problems removing it, Norton has removal tools on the
website.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Bruce,

Thanks for these links. I will give these programs a try.

Leigh

You're welcome.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Leythos]

Different product. That is SYM 10 Small Biz, not Sym Corp., and with
Sym Corp, the small number of licenses is 10.

Nice try, though.

"I've used Symantec Corporate editions for years." - Lameboy

You didn't say you used the Small Business version with Groupwise.

I use both, Corp in many places, SB in others, give me a break - they
are the same engine and are both small/compact.

Either way you look at it, the Corp or SB version is very small, does a
dang file job, and was rated #2 in most testing done by independent
labs.

 

[kurttrail]

I use both, Corp in many places, SB in others, give me a break - they
are the same engine and are both small/compact.

Either way you look at it, the Corp or SB version is very small, does
a dang file job, and was rated #2 in most testing done by independent
labs.

And way too effin' expensive for home use, considering there are free
alternatives that work.

But they are two different products, as even Symantec sells them as two
different products. So stop BSings, Lameoid. Bringing up Sym Corp in
this thread is ridiculous.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Leythos]

And way too effin' expensive for home use, considering there are free
alternatives that work.

But they are two different products, as even Symantec sells them as two
different products. So stop BSings, Lameoid. Bringing up Sym Corp in
this thread is ridiculous.

Not really, when you consider it doesn't expire like many of the home
versions - you get free updates of virus def's for at least 5 years that
I've experienced. So, even the SB version, 5 licenses at $421 retail
direct from Symantec is a good buy.

 

[kurttrail]

Not really, when you consider it doesn't expire like many of the home
versions - you get free updates of virus def's for at least 5 years
that I've experienced. So, even the SB version, 5 licenses at $421
retail direct from Symantec is a good buy.

Are you back on drugs? $421 vs. FREE. Only a total corporate suckup
like you would suggest the $421!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Leythos]

Are you back on drugs? $421 vs. FREE. Only a total corporate suckup
like you would suggest the $421!

Show me a #1 or #2 rated product with the same features and I'll agree
that the free should be used - but I've not seen a #1 or #2 rated
product that's FREE.

 

[Plato]

Show me a #1 or #2 rated product with the same features and I'll agree
that the free should be used - but I've not seen a #1 or #2 rated
product that's FREE.

Perhaps half or 3/4ths of the $421 is for ads in mags/websites to
guarantee a #1 or #2 rating as a return favor for placing such ads.

 

[kurttrail]

Show me a #1 or #2 rated product with the same features and I'll agree
that the free should be used - but I've not seen a #1 or #2 rated
product that's FREE.

LOL! Well I'll take the free product that I know works, over your
"rated" expensive program. AV is a mere utility, and any idiot willing
to spend that much money on a mere utility is insane.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Leythos]

Perhaps half or 3/4ths of the $421 is for ads in mags/websites to
guarantee a #1 or #2 rating as a return favor for placing such ads.

Could be, but in looking at many of the review sites, the ones that
appear to not accept advertising, they always rank Symantec's AV engine
for the Corp (and for Kurts specific benefit - SB) engine in the top 2.

While we use AVG as the free software installed for many residential
users, since we don't support Residential accounts, it doesn't rate
anywhere near as good as Sym or even Norton products..... I like AVG
since it will alert the users to old definitions, scan email in/out,
etc, but I use Symantec Corp (or SB) on all clients networks and we've
not had any compromised systems yet.

I would think that if you had more than a couple PC's, since you're
going to want to protect that investment, not to mention the cost of
replacing data or having your data exposed to some hacker, that the cost
of a quality AV product would be worth the cost of what it protects.

 

[Leythos]

LOL! Well I'll take the free product that I know works, over your
"rated" expensive program. AV is a mere utility, and any idiot willing
to spend that much money on a mere utility is insane.

I've not seen you mention what you use, if it's good enough for you to
use and put down all other products, how about sharing the name/version
of the product you're using?

 

[kurttrail]

I've not seen you mention what you use, if it's good enough for you to
use and put down all other products, how about sharing the
name/version of the product you're using?

I'm not the one recommending someone buy 2 more licenses than they need
at an exorbinant price in order to protect their 3 PCs from viruses.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"