Virus Scan

PurplePerson1

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Sep 18, 2001
Posts
1,989
Loc
Mansfield, Ohio
What is the preferred virus protection software among everybody. I have McAfee, but this week they offered me a free update and when I went to the location they gave me, I saw no update, just choices of different programs. I decided to look at it more later. The next morning it said my one year was up and now I must pay for my update.

If I am going to pay for it anyway, I want to get the best one. Plus it irked me the way McAfee presented it. Is McAfee the best? How about Norton?
 
McAfee and Norton are probably the best known. I've been using Norton for years and have been very happy with its ease-of-use. I have it set up to update the definitions automatically as needed when I go on line, which, as you can imagine, is often enough.

The subscription lasts a year. I've never had to renew it. At least once-a-year I purchase a new version or reformat my hard drive and reinstall everything as part of my housekeeping routine. When I do that, Norton starts over with another 365 days. :D

McAfee is probably just as good. The key is to keep the defintions up-to-date since there are new viruses every day. The best anti-virus software is going to be the one that's easiest to update.
 
I personally prefer Symantec/Norton. McAfee was THE leader in virus technology back in the dos days(I actually had the pleasure of having dinner with him a couple times at trade shows; before he got bought out), but his product never really made the transition to Windows as well as Norton.

Norton can have its share of problems too, especially with the "liveupdate" module failing; but I think it's the lesser of the two evils
Stay away from Symantec "Systemworks" though...(suite that include the virus scanner)

They'll both work well to keep you protected, and are VERY important. Just yesterday my brother got hit and lost everything.

Just my 2 cents on your question,
clink clink ;)
 
Mike,

Care to elaborate on your concerns about Systemworks?

(This isn't a test or a trap. I'm just curious.)
 
I use Norton, and it has 'caught' several bugs in emails from G'ers, believe it or not!
I always send an email to the 'offending G'er, too.
 
Hi Ron,

RE: SYSTEMWORKS

Well... I bought Systemworks 2002 and use it personally here with my (home) XP, with no problems.

However, I know of 4 other people who had a nightmare of a problem with it. (they were all using Windows 98) In one of those cases, the person had to reformat their drive and re-install windows. (installing OVER the mess didnt help) The other person was able to fix it after emailing Symantec and installing several patches. (registration, etc) The 4th had a problem renewing and it wouldnt go through,although it took her money.

The symptom was that it would fail halfway through the install process, and leave the computer with several damaged or missing system files. Reinstalling would give the same error. I think this is fairly common with the product. It also broke Liveupdate, which works for other Symantec programs as well. (such as pcAnywhere, which I use HEAVILY and love)

If you havent had a problem, you probably never will. It is during the install process usually...
 
Charles, I would be one of those Grumblers who tried to send you a virus. Don't worry, you were in good company. I also tried Lance and probably everyone else in my address book. I downloaded Symantec Virus Scan and found the little devil as well as a removal tool. Have you seen just how many bugs there are out there. Very scarey. I will get a copy of the latest Norton program and install soon. Alan
 
Originally posted by Janet L:
Alan,
Charles and I started our computer on an antibiotic regime to try and rid it of future viruses! ;)
Sorry, antibiotics don't work on viruses, you just have to let them run their course. ;)
 
Originally posted by PurplePerson:
Has anyone heard of NAV (Norton's Ghost)?
NAV is Symantec's Norton AntiVirus. Norton Ghost is Symantecs version of a ghost utility, which is used to copy an image of a hard drive for replication. It could be used to restore a system to it's state before a virus attacked, assuming you had ghosted a recent image. However, it does nothing to stop a virus from infecting you.

HTH
 
I used McAfee for awhile. It just seemed to want to dominate my system. Interefering with other software until I got fed up and uninstalled it. I've been using Norton for the past couple years. Everything has been running smooth. Liveupdate works very well. I'd recommend Norton.

Denny
 
Purple Person,

Norton Ghost is NOT an anti-virus program at all. It is a utility designed to help copy the entire contents of one hard drive to a new hard drive or new computer.

I suppose that if you used it regularly, it could help you restore a system that has been damaged by a virus, but you'd be way ahead by preventing the infection to begin with.
 
PP,

You want Norton Anti-Virus from Symantec. I've gotten it from Sam's Club for as little as $19.95, but it's typically more than that. It's probably the most important software investment you can make, though.
 
I use EZTrust Armor from Computer Associates. It has a Firewall and Deskshield. Updates are easy, and it's saved me from virus attacks quite often. Pretty inexpensive as well.
 
I use Systemworks and haven't had a problem with installing it on any of the systems I've used. Then again I bought 6 copies off the internet and they cost me 17.95 each. It seems that some systems are more prone to failure than others all running 98. I've pulled my hair out on several systems because they just wouldn't work properly with 98. Find a different 98 CD and it would work fine on the same computer. There is an awful lot of stuff going on with Windows and all the other programs. Of course Those that work with these things all the time know that already.

I like NAV live update is set to run in the background. We installed McAffee web based AV on my bosses computer since he's on the internet alot and attached to the Network. He hates it because it really bogs down his system and trys to takeover when he doesn't want it to.

BTW Ghost is an excellent program for backing up your hard drive to a CDR/RW You do have to run it as diligently as a regular backup.
 
Has anyone heard of Fixit 2000? What do you think of it? My doctor recommended it today and swears by it.

I am going to buy, tomorrow. It is my day off.
 
Originally posted by jvandy57:
(image of Miller Beer logo)
FYI, I was quite surprised to find the popup message (created by Internet Explorer) "the site www.milerbeer.com has attempted to save a cookie on your hard drive" on The Grumble. Apparently by referencing the logo directly from Miller's site they are attempting to give you a cookie.

FWIW
 
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