Norton Internet Security 2004 Expiring - Not Sure What to Do

Hi,

Advice needed by someone who uses my PC as a means to an end. I’m not interested in learning all sorts of new packages or studying security issues in minute detail in order to operate it. I use my PC to write and store documents, browse online, watch DVD’s, store pictures, play Chess, and operate a very old version of Quicken which doesn’t nag me about using online features like the newer versions.

I have XP SP1, a Pentium 4 CPU 2.66GHz with 1GB Ram, and Norton Internet Security 2004. Years ago I gave up on MS Windows updates (when SP2 became mandatory). However, I’ve been renewing my AV subscription annually. All these years I’ve been running online without incident. This year I went to renew my NIS 2004 and found that it cannot be renewed. The only option Norton gives is to upgrade to NIS 2010 or Norton 360.

I’m looking for info/advice.

Once my license expires will my Norton Firewall also stop working? If that’s true, I’m not inclined to switch to some other product. I don’t want to waste my time installing and learning a product with a completely different firewall. Or, will the AntiVirus expire and the Norton firewall remain OK?

If I were to install NIS 2010 on my machine, do I first have to uninstall NIS 2004? Or, can I just install over the top of it?

If I decided to just drop the Norton AV, do I have to uninstall it? If so, can I just uninstall the AV and not all of NIS?

Right now I already get nag messages from Norton about renewing once a day. Once it expires, will it hose me operating my PC in any way?

And if I can replace just the AV and decide to do that, what free product would be good?

I would appreciate some advice. Thanks!

 

First things first....good grief get caught up with your service packs and other Microsoft updates. SP2 plugged a whoooooooole bunch of holes, as well as added features. Running Norton 2004 vintage, on SP1....wow.

Unstall that 2004, follow up with a cleanup using SymNRT to get rid of the tons of stuff the normal uninstaller leaves behind, and go get Microsoft Security Essentials....a free.....and nag free...quality antivirus/antimalware program that's better than most pay for ones.

 

firewall will continue to function, av part will be useless. not sure what if any free or not AV (including NIS 2010) would run unless you have SP3 installed in. Considering the holes sp1 contains security wise hardly suprising. If you do decide to run some other AV you will have to remove you current one

 

Hi YeaOlde!

I agree, the OP needs to remove Norton 2004 using their own removal utility as well as your suggestion. Then he must update his MS xp OS if it were me I'd go all the way to sp3. Then defrag! reboot backup image PC.

Then just install MSE as you suggest or if he doesn't like that Avira with real time engaged. If he is behind a router maybe forget fancy FW he is not a high risk user.

Just my thoughts... cheers

 

My advice is to stay with Norton. It is set and forget at a high level. Yes it costs but if you are lax about updates (and the ones you are missing are VERY, VERY critical to web safety), it will likely protect you better than many other alternatives. Plus NIS 2010 runs very light. Tons and tons lighter than what you've been used to (Norton re-wrote the program in 2008 from the ground up.)

Norton Internet Security 2010 needs XP to be @ service pack 2. So you need to go at least that far for updates.

IMO, I would update to Service pack 2, and make sure all is running well.
Then buy or download NIS 2010 and have it ready for installation.
Download the Norton Removal Tool @ http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039
Disconnect from the web
Uninstall NIS 2004 from the normal Add/Remove Programs
After a reboot, run the Norton Removal Tool to remove and leftovers and reboot again
Make sure the Windows Firewall is on and then reconnect to the web.
Install NIS 2010, follow any instructions, and run the update process within NIS at least twice.

FWIW (Opinion)... Please reconsider your stance on Windows patches. You mention that you don't do much online but general browsing. One thing that has dramatically changed since 2004 are the most common ways of malware infections. Many users are now being infected by just visiting web pages. Emails are still an issue but the most common infections I see are not via email but the web. And while a good antivirus, antispyware, firewall may give excellent protection, nothing is 100%. This is why Microsoft issues many of it's patches (to correct weaknesses in the OS itself.) Patches are the key line of defense against exploits...

 

Han:

I agree your advice would work for the OP, BUT he asked for free AV.

 

True, but IMO, there is no free AV that can

"I’m not interested in learning all sorts of new packages or studying security issues in minute detail in order to operate it."

I have tried several different AVs. IMO, currently, NIS 2010 is the best choice for anyone wanting "set and forget".

 

As I recall, I was offered a free upgrade from Norton to from 2008 to 2009, and again from 2009 to 2010. I went to the norton website, accessed my account information and it was free. Of course, it wouldn't be of much use without a current av file subscription.

NIS 2010 is a great program - set it and forget it

 

Han:

I agree again!

This is why I tried to encourage the OP to go to stickies and learn how to drive the PC!

It is like his policy/lack of policy on windows updates. He should probably have a pro come in 1/quarter and update him set up his security backup etc. This forum may be of little use to him I fear. We have tried.

 

For a 'no brains' solution:

Download service pack 3. Don't get the service pack by seperate updates, but download the service pack 3 'for IT specialists' (not sure if they still call it that way). Enable Microsoft updates (more comprehensive than Windows updates), and download and install the updates. That may take some time the first time you do it, but it's worth it.

You may need an uninstallation tool to remove your current version of NIS.
When offline, uninstall the current version, install NIS 2010. Customize if you want.

Consider removing vulnerable software that you don't use anyway. Flash and the Acrobat Reader are vulnerable applications, and newer versions are not always safer. You have Java ? Uninstall it and reinstall an updated version. You can use Secunia's PSI to check your system for vulnerable software.

What browser do you use ? Make sure it's up to date.

Of course, nothing can fully replace good security practices.

You may be infected without being aware of it. Even if you are clean now, that may change.

For a good but long read: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=252253

 

Thanks everyone for the help! I have some follow-up questions:

1. With regard to installing XP SP2 or SP3, would installing SP3 also install SP2, or do I have to install each one sequentially? If I need to do one SP at a time, I do have an SP2 installation CD I never used. I didn’t use it back when I got it because I was concerned that my Quicken 2000 might stop working.

2. With regard to installing other Microsoft updates, do they still work? MS pulled support for XP – and I thought that this meant their updates wouldn’t work for XP. Can I still go to their site and apply them? Or are these updates only good for Vista and later? Can they foul up an XP system?

3. Installing NIS 2010 sounds like a good idea. I do want a good product that is set-and-forget. Once I disconnect from the web and uninstall NIS 2004 and run the removal program, would it be OK to stay disconnected to install NIS 2010? And then go online and apply any updates? I’d rather do that than first go on the web naked and then install NIS 2010.

Thanks again for your help.

 

Hello SecurityFan,

Sequentially, SP2 must be installed prior to SP3.

Yes - W/O SP3 installed, XP updates until June 2010.

With SP3, XP will be supported with Critical updates until 2014 - not sure of a month.

You can go to the MS download center or turn on auto updates and choose to either download the updates and then inform you that they are ready for installation or inform you of updates and have you download/install. In either case, you can choose which updates to install.

Auto updating w/o user intervention is the defualt option which I never liked.

These options are available in the Security Center which was new with SP2. So first - install SP2.

Yes, NIS 2010 should be installed while disconnected. The sequence: Unistall 2004 - Install SP2 - Install 2010. SP2's Security Center will recognize 2010, another new w/SP2 feature.

 

As you have SP1 you can install SP3 straight away. Some suggestions from MS how to do so safely
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717