There is an old bit of advice which I think aptly applies here. If you are looking to buy a TV, appliance, etc., reading reviews can be helpful. But, if you really want to find out which brand is reliable, call the repair shops and ask them which brand/model they see least.  

My mainstay is a PC building, upgrading and repair business. And I can't tell you how many machines I have had to disinfect that were running AVG, Norton or McAfee; most fully up-to-date. Now, we are all susceptible to doing things which potentially can harm our most prized machines, either out of ignorance or sheer stupidity. And that's why AV's or Security Suites are a valuable asset; to protect them from ourselves.

I've tried many of the afore-mentioned brands and Kaspersky ranks #1 in my book for many reasons although it's ability to block the 'baddies" is foremost along with it's hourly updates... etc. NOD32 would rank #2. If one is determined to bypass the best of the best and go for a freebie, either Avira or Avast would be my recommendation. However, I do realize the accepted adage plays heavily on many: "Different strokes for different strokes". And thankfully that means my phone will continue to ring and the caller needs my help! KA-CHING! 

Stung for my arrogance and stupidity

If you read back through this topic you will find a message from me to the effect that I had disabled my live Virus protection and resorted to sensible practice and occasional static scans. 

Result: My first infection in over 20 years of computing - a nasty little rootkit that wanted to invite some friends to the party.

As a result I have now tried and tested several of the leading Internet Security Suites (and individual components) and, as surprising as it sounds, I have found Norton Internet Security 2009 to be:

• nearly the lightest on its feet (and I'm a heavy game player)
• about the fastest on full system scan
• the easiest to install and configure
• as reliable as any other (it found this one, AVG, NOD32 and others missed it)
• updated effectively constantly

And I have had a few Norton / Symantec offerings it in the past and hated them for exactly the opposite of all the above reasons so I was sceptical.

I now have a clean built machine with Norton on from the get-go and wont turn it off.

There's a free trial available so I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

Well, yeah... But also consider that Norton, AVG and McAfee have a HUGE lot of more users (since they get bundled with new PCs alot)... The fact that anyone running something else seem to have less problems is much because they also likely have more experience.

Look at his page:

http://www.virusbtn.com/news/2008/09_02

You'll note that NOD32 isn't even among the best 50% in catching viruses...

Stay away from Norton and McAfee. Some of the worst problems I've seen with virus laden sytems were ones where people had these installed. The only reason that people really even have these is because most manufactured computers Dell, Gateway, HP etc have them installed OEM. They are quite garbage really and eventually they burn a hole in your wallet with subscription services, renewal fees etc. If these companies really wanted to propmote anything other than their own profits they wouldn't make you sign up for subscriptions just to stay protected.

STAY AWAY!

Of course if you like wasting your money and system performance just to get that good feeling that some big name corporate software giants taking good care of your PC then by all means go to Office Depot and pick up the latest and greatest Norton Super Internet Security/ Firewall/Antivirus/ Pop Up Blocker/Sytem Backup/ Memory Hog/CPU 100%/ Disk Fragmenter Version 6.0. While you're at it pick up about 4 GB more RAM, and sign up for their lifetime unlimited subscription for a measly $1000. Any company that feels they have to release a new version of the same software every year is pulling the wool over your eyes. Don't be a sheep.

 MajorGeeks has some fantastic freeware and open source AV progs that are maintained for you free of charge. Thats the way softwares supposed to be.

Of course if you wait long enough you can get Norton 2010 by far the best , but maybe a year after that 2011 will be ready and thats going to be even better! Damn though I should mention Norton 2012 is going to be the end all savior and rest assured you won't feel its outdated at least until they release 2013..... and on and on......

First off you're a sheep as I'm a troll. On to the point...

Perhaps the latest Norton Internet Suite software bundle outperforms any freeware version byte for byte, I admit error in tacking the performance but prove wrong the ideas about renewal fees on top of the initial purchase price.

That is the shameful problem of buying into the idea that you purchase software but never actually own it.

They own YOU.

When your subscription runs out after a one year term you are left in the dust waiting for the next version release, or until your HDD becomes so loaded with viruses that you have to reformat or rebuild if you are a clueless PC user. You I assume are not, but millions of people are clueless, so they just keep signing the check or punching in the CC number.

You took the liberty of editing out my my post because YOU know you have nothing to say against it, other than the performance differences which you are obviously well versed on. I posted and your response was attacking one point I made and it should be you that lays out all the data to prove what I said wrong.

A few questions for you Norton faithful...

1. How much does it cost for a lifetime subscription to updates?

2. Do you build your own PC or buy one in a store?

3.How much does the software cost when you first purchase it?

4.Whats the difference between Norton 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005 etc etc?

Heres some Performance Charts, Note: AVG is freeware. How much do you get for all your money from the Norton Gods?

Almost all of the main packages offer free trials so you can try them out for yourself - but be warned of the inability to perform a simple clean uninstall as discussed above.

I was sceptical of NIS2009 and tried most of the others before I read reviews and comparative analysis that included NIS.  Even after reading those very positive reviews I was sceptical - having been bitten by Norton before (not in a damaging way just in a system hog/take over your system way).

I decided I should give it a fair shot and it won me over.

I'm not the sort of person to get all emotional about any one utility product over another, I'm wont stay with NIS if it lets me down - I'll move on.  So far Im a happy punter in that it does what it says on the tin and does it quielty and efficiently.

To be honest you probably can't go far wrong picking any of the top - (NIS, NOD32, Kaperski, ...) just choose carefully to suit your personal needs.

I'm a degree qualified professional software developer with 20+ years experience (hence my earlier arrogance and stupidity) who has always paid for licences for the software I use where applicable - even when I couldn't afford to (I just did without).

Sorry, I wasn't getting at you or trying to start yet another "piracy is bad/no it's not"  argument.

Just stating my position and background.  Please, please no-one go there.

My reasons for having a dislike of Norton/Symantec products are because of personal experience.

The fact is that I've always used Norton or McAffee in the past on all my previous builds.  McAffee for instance was a literal nightmare to recently remove from my laptop after receiving it as part of the bundled software when I first bought it. Eventually I did a complete reformat to rid my HD of all its little trails just so I could reinstall from scratch. It may not be the case for some folks but I thought to myself, who needs viruses when theres software like this?

As for Norton...

As software goes I believe in paying for quality software 100%. From personal experience many of Nortons past attempts to release multi-app Suites, failed miserably in that once installed, components were a bitch to uninstall even when you didn't want them all.

Norton 2005 Internet Security was my last purchase from Symantec, Heres a quick link detailing some of the fun and easy to use aspects of its "features". How about that from a company that posted a annual profit of over $500 million. My point is that "most" people choose the name brands because of their comfort while failing to realize that there are respectable free programs out there that are maintained and licensed by people who are not in it for profit. I have a hard time trusting giant companies that make record settings profits while leaving their customers picking up the tabs when they try to perform what should be simple, routine procedures.

My last word. I am sorry for making my post in a way that was inflammatory to people who do not choose the alternate routes like listed  above when finding the software. I support quality products, I just don't like the idea of software giants that habitually release what are seemingly downgraded products at the expense of their own customers.

I use Ubuntu for my O/S. A solid open source Linux. No more Micro$oft.

Sins is a great game btw and I did purchase it. I even have the box and shit..

[quote who="CrowB@R" reply="17" id="1988763"]
Norton 2005 Internet Security was my last purchase from Symantec, Heres a quick link detailing some of the fun and easy to use aspects of its "features". How about that from a company that posted a annual profit of over $500 million. My point is that "most" people choose the name brands because of their comfort while failing to realize that there are respectable free programs out there that are maintained and licensed by people who are not in it for profit. I have a hard time trusting giant companies that make record settings profits while leaving their customers picking up the tabs when they try to perform what should be simple, routine procedures.
[/quote]

There's this company named Microsoft that makes an OS. An OS should be a simple, routine procedure too... With the same reasoning you really should be sitting with a linux/OSX computer now and yell on us to switch...

It's as foolish to judge any software by how it worked 4 years ago as it is to judge a new computer that way. It's a mistake ALOT of people do, both regular users and experts.

But Merry Christmas! It has been a good year (for me, I hope for you too), and may your next year be even better.

Yes.

However it's off-topic so if you wish to be yet another to attempt to debate it...start a thread.

The reason so many Norton/McAffee systems will be found to be compromised is their 'popularity' in the market place, so it'll be down to the greater likelihood of more people using their systems without due care.

Norton in particular had a history of being resource-hungry and also being a bitch to remove if wanted.... too much dross.  When it also managed to disable BITS it was time to seek other/better AV proggies....my choice was BitDefender so I won't be going back.

...and my Drive Image 7 is PowerQuest....before it was bought by Symantec...

Those of you who knock Norton products do so in because of experiences in the past and what you've been told by other people.............forget the past...........re-evaluate.........bring an open mind to the table.......and go try NIS 2009 before you 'knock it'. Like many people, who kept an 'open mind', I have been really impressed by their 2009 product and if you look at some of the other 'tech' sites around the internet you'll find that I'm not the only one. Norton even found a pretty dormant dialer on one of my machines that the so called 'top guys' ESET and Kaspersky completely missed. 

I've been using AVG for years..never had a problem and find it very easy to use. For work, I supported them and picked up the multi license for my business.

Bottom line is, 99 percent of it is being a smart end user, knowing what sites you're going to and what you are downloading , as well as being careful with email. DO NOT OPEN attachments unless you are absolutley sure of it's contents, like a work email that you are waiting on etc..and make sure the definitions are up to date. In all honesty, new viruses(they are getting less common if anyone has noticed) will usually get by AV software, even with decent detection capabilities, this is where being a smart end user comes in...