Freeware edition of Norton 2011?

They already have build their reputation, i don't really think they need a free product

 

I think they need one to eliminate people from using cracks and all that .. but its just IMO

 

Even with a free version, i see lots of people trying to crack Avast! (Seriously )

And Avast! IMO is one of the most generous companies out there

 

))))
my thoughts aswell. maybe on the brink on earth destruction... )

 

I think the same can be said about all the big and medium size boys.. CrackAfee, Kaspersky, ESET, FSecure, Panda

 

completely agree

Avast people are most generous

 

agree with that..............in fact having a free AV as good as that..........you are jeopardising your paid product's sales...

 

Okay...since that other guy most likely works for Symantec, I believe that is slightly good news. Alright then, "Symantec Guy", no reputation system in free version. Got it. I thought having it in the free version would make the rep system even smarter and stuff. Guess not.

And to eliminate the other free competitors to let them know Symantec/Norton is superior in both free AND paid categories when it comes to defending a PC from malware.

 

One of the ones you mentioned has a free one. Two of them have very popular online scanners used in malware removal.

 

This will not happen
At least not in the next few years

 

Lets not forget, Symantec is giving Norton Power Eraser absolutely free.

 

True, but it's not an AV
More like an emergency scanner

 

Well its more than enough from Symantec...

 

Nice idea but I doubt they'll be interested...see these for example:

Symantec: it’s dangerous to rely on free antivirus
Norton Video Pokes Fun at Free Antivirus Programs

 

Those vids are outdated since they took place back in 2009 and the AV landscape has changed since that time frame. For example, many free AV solutions have more features and therefore provide more than "basic" protection. Also, they mainly use MSE as an example in those links. Since it was release out of beta, and with the new MSE 2.0, I doubt they would make the same remarks about free protection.

AVG Free 2011 now has rootkit protection and a behavior blocker.
Avast! 5 has file, behavior, web and network guards; plus a boot scanner and self-protection.

The only free AV that still has only "basic" protection (VERY limited) is PC Tools AV 2011, which I hope gets more features in the following version (and a new GUI). Avira Personal has basic protection but it has more features than PC Tools, and just so happens to be better in many ways. COMODO's solutions are all free, and their products are getting better and better (need to reduce CPU/RAM usage IMO, my new netbook can't handle the resource drama)! These days basic protection isn't as limited as it once was (excluding MSE and COMODO) and so they can't use the same lines. Anybody agree? And I don't recall Symantec saying anything when MSE 2.0 was released?

Its true, "we get what we payed for" (except with Mcraphee or Kingsoft), but it doesn't mean basic protection isn't enough for those who can't efford it or are too young to pay for it. Or when our AV subscription expires and we download a free solution until we have the money to extend our subscription for another year. Plus, there are other third-party prevention solutions that we can use (WOT, WinPatrol Free, SpywareBlaster, Threatfire, AVG Linkscanner, Immunet, etc) along with our "basic" AV solution to protect our PC.

 

Norton isn't anything too difficult to bypass. I've had to fix many computers with Norton installed. There are a lot of ways to protect a pc. As far as pc protection goes, it isn't true that you get what you pay for, just ask kees1958 or mechbgon or anyone on the ms technet forums. I've yet to see a real security expert who isn't marketing something say you must buy something to protect your pc.

 

The OP was talking about a full-featured AV product, not some dumbed down POS.

Norton has an awesome free scanner Norton Power ERASER. Try it!

Online scanners are about as useless as a baby's soiled diaper. Throw them in the trash. They can't scan in safe mode, they can't detect rootkits. They sometimes need a functioning browser, which in many infections is the kiss of death. Don't know if you've noticed, but do you see online scanners ever being used in any Security Cleanup forums ?

All they really are is a marketing tool.

 

Hey,

For a company that hit the cry to heaven two years ago, when Microsoft announced it would convert the old Windows Live OneCare on a free antivirus, I would think that I could more easily travel to the Moon than Symantec making available any of its antivirus products for free.




Regards,



Carlos

 

I could see Norton offering a free, basic antivirus program. But it would have to have ads and I suspect Norton would advertise their other utility programs, such as Norton Ghost, System Utilities, maybe their mobile devices security packages, etc.

 

@WinDefend

LOL. Seems like I didn't make myself clear.

Anyway,I know of the freeware options and I am of the same mindset as you - free isn't bad. In fact, it can be really really good...I personally tend to favor vendors that provide a free for home-use version. I didn't say otherwise.

My point is do you really honestly think a vendor like Symantec that has just "bashed", "condemned", "whatever-you-want-to-call-it" the 'free AV market' would jump into that same market they've just criticized or 'attacked' some time back? Wouldn't that sort of hurt their ego, going back against their very own words? Why would they want to do that when there do exist customers (be it theirs or of an another company's payware AV, IS or suite) that are heavily opinionated that 'free isn't just good enough' and you 'get what you pay for'? Why should they take the risk - especially more so seeing that this isn't an overnight kind of decision.?

That's my initial point/message. I doubt they'd do it no matter how much I'd like to see to the contrary. As much as I hate to say it, I just feel it's like a piping dream....one that's nice and sweet but quite impossible to achieve in the nearing future at least.

But please don't take this to heart or let it dampen your spirit. That's not my intention. I'd very much appreciate if you can inform me and the rest here if there's signs of Symantec showing much more interest in what you've suggested.. I'm posting here only to share my opinion of how I see things currently...

 

Lol, people have no hope these days so of course my spirit has been dampened. Symantec has already ruined their reputation by "bashing" the free AV community (others like Mcafee have done it but Symantec has taken it a little too far). Maybe a limited free version or just a simple on-demand scanner could be a little "sorry" present, and such an invention would place Norton all over the news. The AV community will go crazy, competing companies will be shocked, the media will be on Symantec's doorstep and poor Noob will go insane and fall unconcious. The downfall is that Symantec will have to say something "nice" for once without making things worse than what things already are. Unlike every one of these hopeless members, I am not afraid to speak my mind by trying to make this hopeless dream a reality. Somebody on this forum made a comment that companies like Symantec and F-Secure should think about making a free AV solution and I posted this to encourage this dream (I don't honestly don't care much about Symantec).

Or Symantec could try any of the two following ideas:

1) Symantec could make a free edition that is limited to only its customers. For example, when a customer's product expires it goes into "limited free mode" and only relies on its signatures and other basic functions to detect and remove viruses. This free mode, however, loses its functions after 3 (or 6?) months. It gives the customer some time to renew their subscription without being fully exposed to malware. Result: Symantec keeps some of its customers, they get more attention and customers from it. They also do not have to worry about ruining their already wrecked reputation.

2) They could try what Panda is doing and make a cloud-based antivirus with limited features. It could solely rely on cloud signatures and (maybe, just maybe) basic SONAR. Has local sgnatures handy too when connection is lost. Result: Large cloud community of free users can help build Symantec's local and cloud databases, etc, etc. But this has the same effect as making a "regular" free (but limited) AV solution, though the impact wouldn't be as worse but still the same answer. (Answer: No)

 

What reputation has been ruined?

Here are the on-demand scanners: Norton Power Eraser, Norton Security Scan, NortonLive PC Checkup, Symantec Security Check.

 

They have yet to create an on-demand scanner that scans AND removes found threats, that can be used for everyday pruposes. NPE is an emergency scanning tool like one of the users in this topic has already mentioned.

As for your question, I refuse to comment. Why? Safeguy had basically already answered it for you.

 

It actually would remove a virus but not spyware. I used it till they seem to have killed it.