Symantec/Norton or McAfee?

[dave_c]

Quite simply which is the better buy for General Internet security/protection, Firewall & Anti-Virus software? And is it worth purchasing updates every year?

[peanut]

100 % hands down, its got to be Norton. And yes get the updates regularly or you may contract a virus that you are not yet protected from. No virus protection will stop every virus. As a matter of fact, I got one yesterday that neither Norton or Avast antivirus protected me from. I did get rid of it but anyone who didnt know what to do would be in trouble.

[rojash]

I wouldn't touch either of these products with barge pole. I use ESET NOD32 since changing from AVG (paid version). AVG is very good, but NOD32 just has the edge IMO.

I support 100s of business customers in the UK, and have more trouble with NAV than with any other product.

Examples being:
One of their apps suddenly stops working after an NAV update.
NAV slows their machines, causes various other problems, is very difficult to remove/re-install.

Peanut, didn't you have a problem with RBot recently? How come Norton didn't prevent it, or assist you in removing it?

I don't think you will find many experienced IT professionals who would recommend NAV

(End of rant)

[spaced]

ive said this 100,000 times on this site...AVG is the best anti virus, plus it's free. ask anyone on here.

www.grisoft.com

[Confab]

Avast or AVG for antivirus - both free and don't hog your system like Norton does. They both update automatically. You dont need to pay for an antivirus. I use Avast and it brilliant, not had a virus yet!! It comes highly recommended from other pc users.

For firewall go with Zonealarm. Again its free. Just turn off the authomtic notice when it detects a scan at one of your ports. You won't even notice it running!!

[b0shb4ll]

Also with avg pro, you not only pay half the price of the others (which to say the least, are rather cr4p) but the license is for two years as apposed to one....

[peanut]

I know norton is a huge resource hog but it did great for me on my 32 bit computer. The virus I got was on my 64 bit computer. Norton does not make a 64 bit version so im out of luck there. I use Avast for that. So that tells me just how wonderful Avast is, Its crap. Apparently the "alcan a" worm i had could not be detected by Norton or Avast. Now I need a more reliable 64 bit compatible antivirus.

[peanut]

Rojash, that nod32 looks pretty good and i see its 64 bit compatible. Is there a certain one to get for 64 or are they all the same?

[b0shb4ll]

may be of sone help...:

http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/08/01/31NNsecure_1.html

[rojash]

Peanut. It took me a while to find this out - it's note in any of the documentation or FAQs. But if you go to the download page:

http://www.eset.com/download/download.htm

You'll see it says " for Windows NT/2000/2003/XP 32/64-bit - standard". So the answer's apparently that the same version works on 64 bit machines.

On of the things I like about it is that it works with non-standard e-mail clients and/or multiple email accounts on different servers without the need for plug-ins OR a proxy server. In the second situation, McAfee for one, seems to get completely confused.

[dave_c]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm thinking of purchasing AVG + Firewall edition now, does anyone know if it's available in certain stores? With two years worth of updates it's certainly value for money. And does it offer internet security too?

[rojash]

dave_c, why not buy it from their site and get it instantly?

http://www.grisoft.com/doc/pricelist/lng/us/tpl/tpl01?pr d=sng

[peanut]

Thanx rojash

[doddsredoubt]

peanut,I used to have MacFee slowed my computer down,I now use FREE AVG and as already stated it updates itself and it's just great.