Internet Security

[Bonnyboy]

I’m currently running Norton System Works 2006 Premier. Last year I renewed my subscription online. It would have been far cheaper to renew the whole thing at PC World or the likes.

Anyway, it’s renewal time in about 3 weeks, so I’m weighing up my options.

1 Stick with the Norton I have, forget the updates and run it in conjunction with AVG or something similar. Get the benefit of the firewall that way even tho it may be a tad out of date.

2 Remove the Norton and run with AVG on its own.

3 Purchase a completely different Security package.

I have always used Norton. It does slow the PC a little but I’m unsure of the other packages on offer. Seen a telly ad for Kaspersky has anyone tried that out? Mc Afee ??

In fact any advice would be helpful.

[entwisi]

there is absolutely no reason to pay for internet security

AVG for antivirus
Zonealarm firewall,
Spybot, Adaware and microsofts spyware/malware

Norton is a resource hungry PC slowing pile of dogs do dah

[Bonnyboy]

Thanks for the reply, I'd be aswell saving myselfa few quid by the looks.....ta

[panther]

I always say, if its too good to be true, then it probably is!...and AVG looks too good to be true, so i have McAfee

I know i might be stuuuuuupid in buying it, but I think its great and i have never had problems
bet ya thinking 'daft cow'...lol

[banjoman]

Buying an internet security package is like buying insurance....you might not like paying for it, until the day it works for you. Yes there are lots of free ones out there that you can use, but you have to weigh up cost against what it does for you. So I use AVG free, even though it generally only updates once a day. Paid for ones may update more often, but then you have to think "how many times do I expect to be hit by a virus in its first hours?".

I would say it comes down to the value of your data. If you could quite happily rebuild your machine from scratch and reload everything and not really care, then free stuff is more acceptable. If however you are less techie, and want a more perceived "peace of mind" from buying an off the shelf product do that.

But as panther says she has used McAfee and is quite happy so why should she swap ? Totally agree. If you are happy with what you have and the cost if any then why take a risk ?

[entwisi]

sorry, but I don't know of any even paid for AV suite that updates more than once a day and even if the client does( or is configurable to do so, I even recall AVG can be made to update at will) , its when the server definitions that are updated that counts. There is no evidence that the paid for boys are any quicker than the free ones at releasing new defs.

yes, some people will always think that paid for is 'better' than free but it doesn't mean it is.

[banjoman]

AVG 8.0 auto updates...every day.

Most paid for updates..Configurable down to hours or as released ie central server pushes updates rather than client pull, although I do accept that is the client polling the server

So for example if I logon now and AVG updates, but then a new release is put out 1 minute later I may not get that for 24 hours. With paid for products you could have it much quicker, maybe immediately

[entwisi]

There is a check for updates button IIRC, If you are so paranoid then click it every couple of hours. in the real world I have NEVER in over 14 years of being online caught a virus whilst on windows ( or my wifes laptop who still uses it)

[tosh]

i have Norton and fire fox, i did not pay for them you can download fire fox
i have a disk for Norton if u need it any time.
tosh

[entwisi]

err its the virus definitions that matter and thats a pay for service.

[cmonstanley]

had avg cant get rid of it completely off my system.ive got macafee and avg is incompatible .dont get windows xp antivirus i cant get that off either..

[Bonnyboy]

Thanks to all that have replied