Opinions/advice, please

[Ree]

I know this has been asked before, but I need some opinions.

We have 3 computers. Two of them are brand new laptops at Christmas, both with Windows Vista, and the trial subscription to Norton has expired on one and is about to expire on the other.
My computer is a PC with Windows XP, and my Norton subscription runs out in a few days.

Last year, I considered not renewing my Norton, and installing AVG, because I have used it in the past on our old computers.

I went ahead and renewed the Norton, because I honestly wasn't sure how much of a hassle it would be to remove it and install AVG.

Now that I am looking at a renewal for 3 computers, though, AVG is looking better and better to me.

Any suggestions on what I should do here?

[lordlundar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvDzarJOJNQ



Seriously though, the best approach is to download symantec's uninstaller and your AV of choice. Use the uninstaller to remove norton and install the new AV, then reconnect and update.

[Taurus52]

The best I have found

If you are on dialup go w/ the AVG
If you have a hi speed connection use Avira found here:
www.free-av.com
The paid for version is always in the top three at http://www.av-comparatives.org/
They use the same engine in the free version and it has better scheduling options than AVG free

[CrayWolf]

Personally, I like Avast. Seems a little more polished than AVG. You do need to "register" it once a year, but registration is free, and they've never sent me an email about anything else other than the registration.

http://www.avast.com/

[Der Cute]

Also download CCleaner, it has a registry cleaner that will remove any left over parts of Symantec from the registry. In case you ever decide to install Symantec again.

CCleaner is a good utility overall to have period. Cleans out temp files, cookies (you can tell it which ones to delete and not delete), orphaned files, just good maintenance.

Cutenoob

[XXDarrienX]

I have used Norton but I prefer AVG or NOD32

[Ree]

One of the things that is really annoying me about Norton is that I keep getting the popup message that my definitions are not up to date.
I click to update and it tells me I have to renew my subscription to get the updates.

My subscription has not expired yet, although it's close, and I paid good money for a year's worth of service. That is not a full year if it stops updating about 2 weeks before the expiry date. (Yes, I have been getting that popup message since last week.)

Renewal is not cheap. I think it's disgusting that renewal costs about as much as the original program.

[LostMyMind]

Just dump Norton like a hot steaming pile of dog cp

Get AVG or Avast as lordlundar stated. If you really want a firewall other than Window's default one. Then get comodo firewall.

They all have free versions that are exactly the same as the paid version. (Mostly the paid version are for businesses.)

[lordlundar]

Get AVG or Avast as lordlundar stated.

Wait, what? I said to get one of those specifically?

<runs to check>

Nope!

(I don't mean any offense LMM, just poking some fun)

[LostMyMind]

Yep, you said get an AV of your choice. Since Ree ask for free, those 2 are really the only choices (ignoring the free bad crappy AVs)

(poke fun back )

[volatile]

To remove norton go to this link and download the removal tool and run it.

http://service1.symantec.com/Support...05033108162039

[lordlundar]

Since Ree ask for free, those 2 are really the only choices (ignoring the free bad crappy AVs)

I'll argue it when I can come up with something else.

Give me a couple of years.

Or a decade.

[Mr. Rager!]

Eliminate Norton, go to Futureshop, buy and install Trend Micro PC-Cillan Internet Security Pro 3-PC version.

That's what I recommend to just about anyone who comes into my store and haven't had a complaint. In fact, I've converted a lot of die-hard users of other Internet Security Suite users.

A lot of people go with free, and I don't recommend it. You lose a lot of great features that can definitely come in handy at some point.

But, if you want to go free go with AVG and Webroot Spysweeper.