NOD 32 seems over complicated for a new user as is seemingly PG.

I have used NAV2003 which expired and I did not renew which was a blessing as I play online games and that programme just hogged resources.

Since then I have been using Zone Alarm Security Suite after upgrading my ZA Pro.

It has never found a virus so maybe that is good but the more I read about ZA AV the more I think then maybe its time to change. Now is probably a good time as the latest release of ZASS screwed my PC up bigtime in that the IM Secure locks up Messenger 7.0 and this conflict can be seen clearly in the number of posts in ZA Forums. I have been advised by ZA Support that if I wish to use Messenger 7.0 then to unistall ZASS and go back to ZA Pro for the time being which will render me AV insecure.

I have seen one comment in NOD 32 forums that states, "NOD is a good product, but the interface is a bit too complex for the typical home user. Microsoft may use it at their release labs, but those guys are high order geeks." Are Microsoft going to add AV to their latest release?

Looking at NOD 32 maybe it is the case that me being a "typical home user" I will mess up. Do I have to purchase a licence if I do decide to give NOD32 a go or can I go with the latest Beta (I did use ZASS Beta prior to purchase when I had no problems) and looking at all the Beta reviews the latest beta of NOD 32 seems as sound as a pound. I don't mind at all in spending money on something I can feel secure with and also that I find easy to use.

I will stick with ZA Pro as my Firewall as I find Zone Alarm to be basically easy to use and the software does all the hard work for me. It works so why not stick with it.

I have TrojanHunter paid for version, SpyWare Blaster (free), Ad-Aware SE Personal (free), SpyBot Search n Destroy (free) and have TrojanHunter Guard running at all times. The MS-Spyware seems to have some good reviews also but as yet I have not tried it.

I do have a paid for version of TDS-3, Wormguard 3 and Port Explorer but dont use them as I dont know how to really. Wormguard is not going back on my PC as it did cause me to have loads of problems after install. I can use the basic scan for TDS-3 but thats as far as it goes so maybe you can see that perhaps NOD 32 will be too much for me? Port Explorer looks good when loaded up but what I would need to use it for I don't know. I purchased all 3 as a package after trying out TDS-3. I have just performed a clean install of windows and have not installed any of the 3 at this time.

Many reviews also mention Process Guard as a must but again it would seem that if you say yes/no at the wrong/right time = big problems so again unless I am confident in my own abilities, which I am not, perhaps I should keep my money in my pocket and stay away from PG aslo.

I dont want to go back to Norton unless I get Norton Ghost that is. KAV and F-Secure also get rave reviews and I know these things are all personal choice. If I need to create special rules to use software forget it. Plug n Pray that it works is the name of the game. Load it up and forget it and get on with gaming and surfing is the only way to go once you have paid the dosh to protect your system.

Any views/links would be greatly appreciated on NOD 32 and PG in respect of easy to use guides and a yes or no as to the ease of use.

Thank you

NB I have also seen great reviews on Ewido so perhaps if I have the know how to use NOD 32 with ZA Pro, PG and Ewido plus, TD-3, TrojanHunter and Guard, Spybot, Ad-Aware, and SpywareBlaster and mayve MS-Spyware, I should be getting it just about right so long as they all run together and do not hog resources so as to mess up my gaming experiences.

 

Remember, there is a free 30-day trial of NOD32. Give it a shot and see what you think. Like you I had NAV2003 and when it expired I switched over to NOD with the trial version. Before the 30 days was over, I had already bought the full release. I have not had second thoughts about it.

 

Hey Cyborg

First at all - welcome here in the NOD32 section

Norton AV is good when it comes to complex fileinfector virus (polymorphic, methamorphic) because of Peter Ferrie and Peter Szor @ Symantec. Both are excelent senior virus researchers, i know them personally very well. NAV is limited in heuristics, unpacking and generic detections. That said it has problems with new variants of repacked malware without adding new signatures for each sample.

Right now we are improving rapidly trojan and backdoor detection for NOD32.
Lot's of trojans and backdoors are detected via heuristic / generic detection.
Best example is here the AGOBOT / RDBOT family which is very widespreaded.

Fell free to ask questions, Daddy Cool is here to help you

 

What's with the avatar Daddy?

You avatar says 'You are not authorized to view this avatar'

 

You have to send LowWaterMark a PM inorder to get access to my avatar.

 

LowWaterMark xe xe
Cool avatar!

 

Still WELL?

 

Cyborg i was user of NAV for years,also Norton internet security, systemworks etc.
Believe nod32 is one of the best, it will take u about a week to know the application and thats all. Dont worry, u will love it slowly slowly, u will see

 

Firecat, here is the link: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/member.php?u=1169

Write in the subject "Need access to Happy Bytes Avatar"

That is all. The administrator will aprove you then.

 

What's Up? A little Tussle going on with LowWaterMark?

 

Just be Happy!!

 

perhaps NOD 32 will be too much for me?

I think is not, is essential. I have also ZA Pro like you (full lisence).
Give it some time.

 

Cyborg i was using Norton internet security for the last 3 years. I switched to NOD32 ver:2.12.3 last November for both pc's running XP sp2, I used Blackspears configuration guide to set Nod32 to best and safest settings https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=37509
My son uses the pc for a LOT of online gaming never had any conflicts or slow downs,sometimes you wounder its still there. I am not that totaly clued up on the deeper side of things, but with the help of this very fine FORUM its Moderators and the people who write in you will never be without a solution to your problems

Cliff

 

Hi Cyborg. I can understand what you're saying. I was a little hesitant to try NOD also. I kept reading about how it was the AV for power users, that it was too complicated for the not too computer savy computer user. I'm not a power user, and I'm kind of a middle of the roader when it comes to computers, I decided to give it a try anyway. I have to admit, when I first installed it and took a look at it, I thought I had made a mistake. I wasn't sure I liked it. But I gave it some time and it really isn't that difficult to use. The hardest part for me was how to run a scheduled scan and have the GUI on screen during the scan. But I found Blackspear's settings, and it was a snap after that. You can get lots of help here from the experts if you run into any problems.

 

Hi Cyborg, it is usually mentioned in magazine reviews that NOD32 is not for the average home user, but I'd say that the best things in life need a bit of work on your part.

The current beta version is free to download at the moment, but after what has been posted on here today I'd say it is about to go full release. Once that is done you will have 30 days (i think) to try it out and get to know it.

Blackspear has a great thread on here that will help you configure the settings, and as i understand it this will be updated once the new version is released to take into account all the new settings and features. I find NOD32 a great "set it and forget it" anti-virus. You can tweak it if you want to, or you can leave it to do its job - and it does a great job!

From your post, you seem to have a lot of different security apps, and i must admit i don't use them all. I know NOD32 and ewido work well together (for me at least), but again I know Blackspear has some good links to layered security configurations (I'm about to go to bed, and he is about to wake up so i'm sure he'll fill in the links! - he's good like that).

In summary: NOD32 is an excellent AV, low (as ever) on resources, great heuristics, frequent updates, great support and the 'set it and forget it' factor. Give it a try! ...plus you have the invaluable help and knowledge from the Wilders community!

all the best, lee

 

NOD is not complicated at all. The magazines seem to want you to think that. I had Norton and there is no way I would go back. Try it you will love it.

 

altho i do consider myself a power user, i was able to figure out the nod32 interface quite quickly. if u read blackspears post and read the nod32 help file, i am sure u will find all the info u need to run and update nod32. it is an AV well worth the purchase and after trying the trial, u will see how great it rele is. and btw if u dont rele use TDS-3 or wormguard, may i have ur license? nah, im just pulling ur leg.

 

Since you say this, I will *not* tell you to look at Blackspear's settings, since that would fall into the category of "special rules".

That having been said, out of the box, NOD32 comes with what could be considered a "medium" setting (Blackspear's would be "strong"). The default settings are generally good enough for the typical home user. Much of NOD32's perceived complexity comes from how much you can customize it and its sometimes quirky interface. From what I understand, NOD32 3.0 is supposed to address some of these issues, but that will not be out for a good long while.

Out of the box, NOD32 is configured to scan executable files on the hard drive as they are opened or executed. It is also configured to scan incoming HTTP and POP3 traffic (web browser and normal e-mail). It is set to check and autoupdate its virus definitions and program components every hour from Eset servers. For those new viruses without signatures yet, NOD32 uses heuristic detection which is definitely among the best out there, if not the best.

NOD32 has a bunch of modules (installed automatically) with cool-looking acronyms. Here is what they do:

AMON: (application monitor?) Checks files as they are opened or executed. This would the "realtime scanner".
DMON: (document monitor?) Checks MS Office files.
IMON: (internet monitor?) Checks incoming HTTP and POP3 traffic for viruses on the fly.
EMON: (e-mail or Exchange monitor?) Checks Microsoft Outlook e-mail for viruses within the mailbox. This is useful if you use mail that uses something other than standard POP3, like IMAP4, encrypted e-mail (like Google gmail), Microsoft Exchange, etc.

Again, these already come set up with "medium" settings, so as a standard user, you can just use it out of the box as is. It is definitely worth giving the 30-day free trial a shot.

 

Hi Cyborg I really don’t think you will have an issue. I would start with the Nod32 BETA, and have a wander through Extra Settings for Nod32, this will give you a guide to tweaking each module if you so desire. The Beta is stronger straight out of the box, so initially you could leave it as is…

In regards to links and layered defences you may want to take a look here. As well there are discussions here and even more here.

Hope this helps...

Let us know how you go.

Cheers

 

Allow me to tell you how this non-techy person looks at it.

NOD is NOT the friendliest. If someone would simply type instructions - you don't have to redesign the interface - it would sell a zillion. Ask ME, I'll do it for them, for a modest fee.

NOD can be customized. You can make it scan more or less thoroughly. All you need to do is to create a "profile" for when you want to do a manual scan on a particular file. For this "profile" you tighten down all the screws and bolts you can find. (Blackspeare shows you how.) Now you have the "default" profile (the one which was there when you got NOD) and the new custom profile. The default profile will run all the time you are surfing. When you go to do a manual scan, the "custom" profile takes over and really takes a microscope to the files.

Yes?

 

NOD32 is easy to learn. Just configure it once and you don't need to bother it again. i tried it for a month and I just bought it because it is good. Should not be wrong going with it.

 

Yes I agree NOD is quite easy to learn. Norton's interface traumatizes me. The NAV interface wants to make ya believe that its idiot-proof or something. But its crap.

NOD's interface is nice for me - no bright yellow to ruin my eyes, simple colors, not too many HTMLs and nice implementation, especially in the 2.5 Betas.

 

Thank you to all that contributed. I am pleased with the response and there are some great tips and excellent links to look at to advise me further. As always with the Wilders Forums you get the best of advice and quickly.

I will load up the beta as it appears to be only a beta in name now and just run it "straight from the box." I will look at tweaks when I am accustomed to NOD 32 and make sure I do a "system restore point" before I do mess with things.

If I decide NOD 32 is not for me, and I guess the same would apply also to PG (memo to me - go to PG forum and ask for same advice), what software do others use to clear up the registry and or remains of any uninstalled software?

Paul Wilders, before I start a similar thread in the PG forum, in which I will basically be asking for similar advice should I link this thread and if so how?

Would I be better just starting a fresh one?

Great work guys