Author Topic: Virus software? (Read 823 times)

bj229r · « **on:** February 13, 2008, 06:20:15 AM »

Paid $49 for Norton year and change ago, was allowed to plunk it on all 3 pc's in the house, NOW they want $69 for the renewal/upgrade...too frikkin much, esp considering they run like 7 processes on my pc---can anyone recommend a decent virus/firewall product which doesn't cost $70 and evokes memories of Skynet?

Max · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2008, 07:18:32 AM »

Do a forum search. One name pops up on a regular basis and I believe there's a freeware version of it.

Wait till you try and remove Norton from your system...it's like a cockroach that won't die.

Max · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2008, 07:24:13 AM »

http://forums.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=212837&highlight=anti+virus+software

Bruv119 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2008, 09:41:55 AM »

you can get a "free" version of AVG and AD-aware. Both have been good for me.

wabbit · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2008, 12:28:31 PM »

I've been recommending AVG Free, Spybot search & Destroy, along with Ad-adware free and spywareblaster to my clients for the better part of 15 years.

My clients and myself have been more then happy with how these programs work, and not one has ever been compromised, while using them.

You don't need all these programs. Currently I only install AVG Free and Spybot for malware. If the customer wants more backup protection then add ad-adware free and spywareblaster. I've found that Avg Free and Spybot do the job just fine, and you don't really need the others, but it doesn't hurt to have backup protection either.

For firewall protection , I don't recommend windows firewall. It isn't very good as stopping out-going connections. I recommend using Comodo. It works rather well, especially if you disable the 'defense' portion which will drive you to drink heavily, and really isn't needed as you already covered by AVG Free and Spybot.

If you have to you can use Zonealarm free, but since ZA has a nasty habit of loading stuff along with Zonealarm WITHOUT informing you, I no longer trust them.

Spybot: (make sure you use teatimer which comes with it)

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

AVG Free: (they also have free rootkit and spyware programs but haven't tested them much so can't say how good they are yet)

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/products/us/frt/0

Ad-adware:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Spywareblaster:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Comodo:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Zonealarm Free: (Look all the way to the right for the link)

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/trial_zaFamily/trial_zaFamily.jsp;jsessionid=Hz2dsbwK1c0W2gNIlrajhzYsP40kdm5XEHDICG0wZhH3oagAZrh7!-1199446515!-1062696904!7551!7552!NONE?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=db_trial

Wabbit

Rolling Thunder

Hawk55 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2008, 12:39:10 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Max
Do a forum search. One name pops up on a regular basis and I believe there's a freeware version of it.

Wait till you try and remove Norton from your system...it's like a cockroach that won't die.

Absolutely right! You need to call Norton itself to get directions on removing it.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2008, 12:48:11 PM »

Norton and McAfee both have gotten to be worse than the viruses they claim to stop.

You cannot completely get rid of either as they patch the Windows kernel upon installation. When you go to remove them, they will not undo the patch.

Pretty much no way to get the system completely back to normal without reformatting and reinstalling the operating system.

Puck · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2008, 02:20:42 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Pretty much no way to get the system completely back to normal without reformatting and reinstalling the operating system.

...thus the definition of a virus...

bj229r · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2008, 06:44:21 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Norton and McAfee both have gotten to be worse than the viruses they claim to stop.

You cannot completely get rid of either as they patch the Windows kernel upon installation. When you go to remove them, they will not undo the patch.

Pretty much no way to get the system completely back to normal without reformatting and reinstalling the operating system.

Yah, I've dealt with it before...."Norton"...."Symantec"...etc, read like a scourge across the registry...AFTER the 'uninstall. (Thanks for replies, btw:aok )

Tigger29 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:23:42 PM »

Personally I use Avast Antivirus.. free for personal use, and doesn't seem to use up many resources.

I've heard it may not be the best.. but then again far from the worst also. It's always worked fine for me.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2008, 05:56:08 AM »

It is not the registry that is the issue. It is the fact they patch the operating system kernel when they install and that patch cannot be undone without a re-install of the operating system.

bj229r · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2008, 06:08:26 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
It is not the registry that is the issue. It is the fact they patch the operating system kernel when they install and that patch cannot be undone without a re-install of the operating system.

Ahh, cc....good reason for making a mirror and tucking it away

RTHolmes · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2008, 06:13:10 AM »

Symantec has a tool for download called SymRNT.exe which has removed Norton completely from my machines in the past - try this before you do a reformat and reinstall.

Getback · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2008, 09:46:47 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Max
Do a forum search. One name pops up on a regular basis and I believe there's a freeware version of it.

Wait till you try and remove Norton from your system...it's like a cockroach that won't die.

LOLOLOL Max!

I use Avast, very popular among the college crowd and it's free.

I think AVG is free too. Never used it though.

bj229r · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2008, 07:08:09 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Getback
LOLOLOL Max!

I use Avast, very popular among the college crowd and it's free.

I think AVG is free too. Never used it though.

I tried both this am...neither has free introductorys any more (I know the Shrew's laptop has one of these two as freebie)---not sure if I wanna give credit card # for product sight unseen---need study further