My computer (windows XP) crashed and burned last year because I didn't have any virus protection. I had the hard drive re-installed. While being repaired I also got Norton antivirus and Webroot Spysweeper installed. They both ran out yesterday. I bought another year of Norton but I'm not sure if I need the Webroot spysweeper since I have Norton. What do you think?

 

Your best bet would be to go ahead and get a free spy sweeper like spybot or adaware. Just to be on the safe side. I don't think norton av has a spysweeper unless you get their antispyware edition.

 

I agree - Norton does a decent job stopping viruses, but is not designed to catch SpyWare. With the current environment, you NEED some type of protection. I like SpySweeper myself, but I also run both SpyBot and Microsoft's beta anti-spyware, as no one program seems to catch it all!

 

OK thanks, I'll renew!

 

Since you have norton I'd suggest renewing. Just remember that it's not the best anti virus on the market... I refuse to use a product that requires a registration fee. TO me that proves they are creating the viruses to create a need for the product. I use AVG anti virus and it detects about 20% more viruses than norton does. ALso when norton runs out it stops updating, AVG never needs payment so it's always current. AVG has a registered version for corporations, but for home users it's free. Norton takes over the entire computer and is a complete pain to get rid of. So if you've got it you're kinda stuck with it.

 

Ill second AVG. I have been using it for a while now, we have mcafee at work and most of us will put AVG on any pc that a user reports with a virus or problem. Adaware is good and so is Spybot search and destroy. Norton is ok but like was said a few years ago it ballooned to some over reaching all envasive program. AVG will also scan in and out going email.
There is one sure fire way to remove Norton from every place it gets into, its called format C:\ Sorry geek humor.

Disclaimer: Do not do a format unless you are ready to lose every thing on your computer, it should only be attempeted by professionals on a closed course.

 

Norton makes a removal tool, but if you already have registry problems it's useless.

 

I just switched over to a P4 with Home Edition SP2 that had Norton 2003 installed on it but the subscription ran out. I was thinking of registering but the program was making my computer run slower. So I uninstalled it and put in AVG as I used this in my older comp with better results.

Ad Aware, Spyware S&D are very good free programs. "HiJack This" is good to have if you need to post a log in a Tech forum for any help. "CCWshredder" just in case is not a bad idea.

 

avast and zonealarm, free programs and work great.

 

Here is my setup and I don't get burned.
1."Norton 2002" hasn't done anything for me at all lately and it is not free, it will not be renewed. I used it for three years, with no complaints other than cheaper alternatives.
2.My back-up Antivirus is "Grisoft AVG" installed and ready to go, works good, and free.
3."Pest Patrol" by Computer Asscociates for spyware works very nice, I paid for it, and hate to say I might renew it 10 months from now.
4.Lavasoft "Ad aware" is OK but it hasn't been finding anything lately, used to get alot of stuff.
5."Spywareblaster" by javacool software is running in my background, I don't know if it is stopping anything, but it doesn't cause any trouble.
6.Spybot search and destroy, hasn't picked off anything lately, but has a few nice tools, checks registry and various malware and adware, it is free and is highly rated.
7.I have run Microsoft "Antispyware Beta 1" for a month now and it doesn't find anything, first scan picked off two bugs and nothing since. It seems to be trouble free, so far.
8 Microsoft "Baseline Analyzer" version 1.2.1 it scans windows and MS products and finds out if they are set up correctly and tells you about missing MS updates, and especially warns you about missing security updates.
9. I run trendMicros "housecall" free AV scan every couple weeks to make sure I am virus free.

This is all very boring but I have great protection the last few months. I got burned this winter and had to pay 60 bucks to have "TVMedia Display" adware removed from my HD. since then I run nightly scans of Ad aware, Norton 2002, Microsoft Antispyware, and Pest Patrol to keep things tidy.

My XP firewall is set to on, I use Internet Explorer driven by comcast high speed, and it is coming thru a wireless encrypted router for a second firewall.
Every day, I click on "internet explorer properties/tools/internet options" and I clear the history files and delete all temporary internet files, then I click settings, and manually delete all cookies I have no interest in saving.
I do not clear cookies using the auto clear feature, I would lose all my preset passwords.

 

Well, if this is anything. My own Ad Aware 1.06 /Spybot have been rather light of late too. My AVG only caught one trojan a couple of weeks ago (everything else is clear.) and I subscribe to my server's anti virus/spam "Vircom" email service that keeps pesky narsties from coming through.

It comes and goes. Sometimes, these devices will find alot and then there are periods of lull. Especially if your settings are up, blocked areas stay that way and everything seems chugging along nicely. Be happy for the "quiet" times you get. It means all your precautions are doing their jobs.

 

When I last ran Windows, I was using a lot of freeware. Adaware, Spybot, AVG, Freezip. After switching to Linux, I do see Windows more as a virus that attacks the computers immune system and makes it suceptable to getting sick. I have a legal copy of xp pro and just couldn't agree to the license.

So yes, free software is great, although once you find a distro your happy with, buy it so they keep developing it.

 

I use Norton Pro AV. I have no complaints whatsoever. I removed Grisoft free AV from 2 machines at home because of repeated problems and reformats. All machines in my home (8) run either Norton Pro AV, or Norton 2005 AV. I have the paid version of Grisoft Server AV on my server, but am not real trusting of it. Norton does remove spyware. It does scan email in and out if you set it up correctly. I also use Spybot S&D (1.4) and AdAware SE (1.06) with occasional hits. I also run MS Antispyware. If you pay attention to what you do, where you go, and what you D/L, on the 'net, you can keep the problems down to a minimum. I also run a hardware firewall, and keep logs of the activity. You would be amazed at the numbers of people/machines out there trying to access YOUR system.

 

I tried to download another year of Norton antivirus but it got lost somwhere and I could not get a icon on the desktop to launch it. So I called up Symantec customer service and got a person that could bearly speak english. I explained my problem and asked if he could walk me through the download. That turned into me walking him throuhgh what I was going and him saying "yep, uh-huh, you are correct sir". I still had the same problems and he then said he would just refund my money and " go buy the software at a retail store". So I'm off to the store tomorrow.

I have ad aware, spybot and spysweeper installed just fine. But I still need a good anti virus like Norton or AVG, right? I hate go with Norton just because of the customer service problem I just had but I think I will so I don't have any problems mixing things up. Anyways I'm still pretty new to the computer thing, what Norton antivirus do I look for at the store? Thanks again.

 

I renewed my Norton Pro 2004 subscription a couple weeks ago. There was a slight issue, but it was resolved. They extended my subscription for 13 months, instead of 12 because of pricing differences on their website for the same product. The person did have an accent, for sure. I also had to call Symantec 2 times for 2 license activation issues. I had to install 2 new drives in 2 computers. I had activated too many times for the # of licenses (8) I have. A phone call each time got that settled with no issues, either.
I have had good experiences with Norton /Symantec. I don't hesitate to reccomend their products. Oh- BTW- I also use PC Anywhere Corp. Edition. It works well w/ Norton AV.