Thread: Shoud I Re-Up with Norton Anti Virus or go with a free app ?

I run linux at home so it ain't an issue. At work I've got a laptop that is approaching 1 year old. The norton anti virus it came with is set to expire. I can either renew my subscription or run a free app. In the past I had good luck with Avast. Any opinions on norton versus a free virus program ? TIA.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I run linux at home so it ain't an issue. At work I've got a laptop that is approaching 1 year old. The norton anti virus it came with is set to expire. I can either renew my subscription or run a free app. In the past I had good luck with Avast. Any opinions on norton versus a free virus program ? TIA.

NO!!!

No Symantec product will ever be installed on a system that I own. It's expensive, bloated, and not any more effective than the other options. I'm no fan of microsoft in general (and also run Linux on my systems, dual-booted with Win7) but I have to say they hit it out of the park with their Security Essentials. I don't know what the system requirements are for it, but I'd suggest at least checking it out:

Microsoft Security Essentials - Free Antivirus for Windows

I have also used Avast and AVG in the past and liked them fine. I just find the Microsoft option to be nicely unobtrusive. I last really investigated the options about a year ago, but it was very well reviewed at that time, so I suspect it would still be.

So I would *definitely* check out any of those three before Norton.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

but I have to say they hit it out of the park with their Security Essentials.

While I don't share the full extent of Cangooner's enthusiasm I agree in general. If this is a business PC, though, and you have someone helping you support it, I'd go with whatever they're comfortable with and consider it a business expense.

Originally Posted by DFriedl

While I don't share the full extent of Cangooner's enthusiasm I agree in general. If this is a business PC, though, and you have someone helping you support it, I'd go with whatever they're comfortable with and consider it a business expense.

Actually it is personal. I work in a tattoo shop and bring it to help pass the time when it is slow. It connects via the shop wireless and that is password protected. I don't go to sites that are risky so my risk is probably minimal but you never know. Ounce of prevention and all of that.

I have used most of the free av suites out there. I am currently using microsoft security essentials on my windows boxes and it works no problemo.

Now note that I don't know a thing about this kind of stuff, and guys who do know, seemingly all hate Norton... but I think that's because they know what they are doing!

I'll never be without my Norton. There is no logic - no massive amounts of looking into it done on my behalf but, after I got it years back, I have yet to have a virus that I know of, or a melt down causing any lost files... and I tend to surf some shady sites from time to time.

Call it an insurance policy that's way over priced - but i love mine.

Call me!!!

Eset! The best there is and has a small footprint.

I've been using Avira free for years, and it's done me well thus far.

Originally Posted by earcutter

I have yet to have a virus that I know of...

Ha ha! That's the kicker, isn't it?

The flipside of that is you could have the crappiest security software out there that detects nothing, and still be just as secure in that belief.

Sorry, couldn't resist!

What killed Norton for me wasn't its performance as a piece of security software but rather the fact that it is (was?? haven't used it in years) a hog on system resources that really, REALLY worms its way into your system. I like to have control over what's happening on my computers, so I want nothing to do with a suite of software that requires pretty specialized attention just to remove the thing. But that's another story...

Either way, whatever works for a computer's user is what works for that computer's user.