Replacement for Norton 360 out of free security software on PC Advisor DVD

I would like to get rid of Norton 360. I recently bought it as a £30 deal with my my new PC, but it doesn't catch everything. Spyware Doctor starter edition picked up a couple of Trojans it missed.

PC Advisors DVD has several free full security programs; BitDefender Total Security (6 month version), PC Tools Internet Security (12 months), also PC Tools Threatfire (I know there is a free version of, not sure which ones offered) and Guardian Intrusion Detector.

I will install Threatfire, but am not sure which security suite to use. I have looked up test results for Norton and Bitdefender and Norton does seem to have scored better, although Bitdefender scored well in areas Norton didn't. Is PC Tools Internet Securtity any good, and has anyone tried it, or is BitDefender worth trying?

 

Stick with Norton. The other products have a way to go to catch up with Norton's product.

Then use either:
www.superantispyware.com (paid or free version)
www.malwarebytes.com
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/download/ (A-Squared Free)

The above three will cost you nothing if you want to update and scan manually. All will be lighter than spyware doctor and should cover all your spyware needs.

If you stick with Norton and choose one of the above, cost to you for better protection (than your suggested combination) = $0

 

Also, can you update your Norton product so it's the new/faster Norton 2009?

 

Nor will any other antimalware tool. That's not a reason to ditch a security tool. You won't find one providing 100% security.

What if the next misses something? Ditch it? What about the next one?

Understand where I wish to go from here?

That's why people should use a layered security. And, I'm not referring to a colection of antimalware products.

Bet on prevention.

 

I do use the first two. SuperAntiSpyware is great! I also am currently using Avast free as an on demand scanner, plus I use Adaware free, Winpatrol, Spyware blaster, Hijack this etc. Is A-squared free a better alternative to Avast? Avast didn't pick up these trojans that PC Tools did.

 

The 'trojans' might just be a false positive, and may really be say a legitimate program that is flagged by PC Tools.

All programs experience these.

Avast scans in real time, not just when you activate the 'full system scan'. Which means if you have it running on its default settings, it shouldn't be running with another AV.

A-Squared Free is a full anti-spyware, that includes the Ikarus anti-virus engine. It will only run on-demand.

Avast (signature scanning), ThreatFire (analyse suspicious behaviour), A-Squared Free or SAS or MBAM (as a second scan and for spyware) would be more than enough for most users.

Installing too many programs, you might see a lot of blue screens and your computer will be cruising at the speed of a snail!

 

I thought my Norton 360 was up to date, unless I am missing something!

 

Thanks for your replies. When I installed Avast, I altered the settings so it only has ever worked as an on demand scanner, also I have a lot of disabled startup programs, as I have never liked unnecessary programs running in the background so I haven't had any conflicts there (I had enough blue screens with my old Win me PC!) and after trying Dr Webb a couple of times I have had my fill of FPs. From what you have suggested I will try A Squared free, and/or perhaps Threatfire and keep Norton 360.

Many thanks!

 

Someone with Norton will be able to help you out.

Just checked site and it is current. As long as your program is up-to-date, as in Norton 360 v2.0, all good!

 

I would suggest u to try Norton Internet Security 09 its got very good reviews
i think u can also use ur Norton 360's key to evaluate NIS 09

 

AFAIK, Norton 360 v3 will use the 2009 engine, which is way better than previous ones. Like others have said, I'd stick with Norton. When the new version is released, you'd be surprised at how far Norton has come since its bloatware days.

 

Will do. Live update doesn't update the version no, so I had to manually update from version 2.05 to 2.2.0.2 on Symantecs website. Hopefully this will be better, but I will look forward to version 3!

 

Yes. It is a bit slow but it's very good.

 

360 should be releasing version 3 before long. If you still have the license at that point it may be time to give it a 2nd look if you choose something else for now.

 

Norton users keep my pension growing.

My best advice would be to back up first (I've seen 360 trash 2 computers while removing), then uninstall Norton using Add/Remove, then reboot & use the Norton remover to fully remove the software. Then remove Spyware Doctor & any other security you have. Windows Defender can be turned off & also stopped from loading by using something like WinPatrol.

Reboot & run a Malwarebytes full scan & use CCleaner to clean up a bit. Then use Avira (paid) & Malwarebytes (paid) or use Eset AV (not the smart security version) & PrevxEdge (paid) with Malwarebytes as an on-demand scanner.

Both options with Firefox as your web browser & consider adding the NoScript attachment.

 

Interesting! It can't be worse than Norton System works and Internet Security 2002, can it? That was a system hog. Looking in Task Manager was scary, and it definitely can't be worse than Panda Platinum which wrecked my computer so I had to do a complete reinstall when I tried it a few years ago.

Due to these experiences I have since used AVG or Avast from then till recently without any problems. I just thought I'd give Norton another go. From comments I have received I will see how version 3 fares, as I still have a paid subscription, and if I don't like it maybe try Avira as you have suggested, or PC Tools Internet Security as I have got a free copy.

Thanks for your comments.

 

Top right hand corner, click help&support; then version, and check if you have v1 or v2.

v1<v2

I tried v3 .. and honestly it seems like a patchwork. It's just NIS/NAV09 with a bright yellow color scheme. To complicate things, it doesn't have the nice long settings menu; they are all strewn out all over the place. It feels light; about the same as v2, except for the LiveUpdate feature, which now doesn't bog down your system every time you run it. It just feels like a soggy biscuit.

So, I'm kind of .... ehh .... with v3. Doesn't seem promising; however I'll give it another go. Why not just stick with a free AV, unless you still have subscription on your Norton product? Or try NAV09.

 

Thanks for your comments. I'm interested in all input I get. I know what version no I'm using . I upgraded Norton 360 manually from v 2.05 to 2.2.0.2 on Symantecs website about 12 days ago. I am waiting for Norton 360 v3. How long have you been using v3? The faster LiveUpdate feature would be a def improvement, but I think I'll need to see for myself. As I've still got 10 months subscription, I will see try what further updates are available. If I'm still not happy I will try something different, either one of the free suites I've got on disk or perhaps Avira.