What to replace Norton Antivirus with?

Think it's necessary? If so what should i replace it with?
also here's my setup what do u think:
Ewido Security Suite (need to update it now)
Process Guard
Qwik-Fix Pro (trial)
Norton Antivirus
and scan with spyware doctor,adware and hijackthis every like 2-3 days

 

As far as another antivirus is concerned, Is resource usage a major concern or do you have a newer computer that can handle a little heavier av. Oh and by the way you might want to hold off on the Hijackthis scans as a regular scan. It is a very powerful tool that if used incorrectaly you can totally disable your computer, It should be held in reserve in case of an emergency situation and then under the guidance of a HJT expert. This is just a suggestion but it is good advice. Now about that antivirus, what are your requirments for one.

bigc

 

Anything

 

Hi Hpnotiq,

I personally hate Norton AV!
I can't conceive that an AV eat all of my computer resources...

I think that NOD32 and new coming version of avast! could be perfectly replace your correct AV.
They are very good and have a great support.

Did you have the plus version of ewido? It's a very good program

Also use the Spybot-Search & Destroy, SpywareBlaster and a registry checker like WinPatrol (all free ) to improve your spyware detection and immunization

Also take look to Host File Manager and IE-SPYAD.

Regards

 

thats good because almost any av is better than norton. I run a small computer store by a university and i get allot of students in here with virii all over there systems and I think I can say all but maybe 5 at the most have been running norton. I think there have been a couple running avg and maybe a few running mcafee all the rest have been running norton.

 

I've been clean for months with:
- Micro Trend IS2005 AV+Firewall combo.
- Trojan Hunter.
- Spyware Doctor.
- IE with customized privacy and security settings.
- SpywareBlaster immunization.

No conflicts or problems.

I use the usual battery of scanners such as AdAware, Spbot, etc., but all scans are clean.

Hope this helps!

 

I work at a University and most of the student laptops I see ( hundreds in a year) all have Norton/McAfee Installed (or no AV at all !!!).

The only other AV's I have seen on some machines are Panda or one of the free ones.

This is simply because either this is the AV that came pre-installed with the laptop or Norton/McAfee are the only retail products available here.

If you talk to them about security, none have heard about, or interested in alternative AV's, such as KAV. They are much more interested in obtaining music/films via P2P or playing the latest games than securing their computers.
The only comment I have heard from them concerning Norton is that it can slow down their game-playing.

So most infected Student machines would probably have Norton/McAfee as the only installed AV rather than say Dr Web which none of them have ever heard of! Therefore, most infected machines would be Norton protected.

Further with students file-sharing over a University network, even KAV and a good commercial AT would find their hands full, never mind just Norton!!!!

A little harsh I think, as it has improved in both virus and trojan detection of late.

Hpnotiq, if you like Norton, it runs well on your computer and it has protected you so far, stay with it

 

There are a lot worse AVs than Norton (2005) out there. Norman, Clam & EZ to name a few.

 

Well I have a HP Pavilion 540n 256mbRAM, 40gb HD, 1.6ghz
What do you recommend I get, and do you recommend me taking anything off the list? i dont want anything unnecessary on there.

 

Well I think VC summed up that part well. The AV you need will depend on your surfing habits. If you are a risk user (P2P, Porn, dodgy software) then KAV is a must (personally for me a must regardless) if you are a safe hexer then maybe Bitdefender or Nod.

Trial a few and see how you get on.

 

If most of the students at an university were using KAV or NOD, then all the pcs that you would see being affected by viruses would be pcs running KAV or NOD. (And if these young-uns are as stupid as I was when I was that age ... "Nothing can hurt me!")

Acadia

 

Main problem of Norton is that they use separate detection for normal malware and separate for spyware. So until you use On-Demand scan every **** will pass by Norton like there is no protection. And this is very very bad. Even avast! is better in this area since it doesn't make any difference between On-Demand and On-Access. Detection is the same for both. And because this is Norton you'll have to wait until NAV2006 to get such feature (sux real bad and it's not even guaranteed).
I have an original 1 year copy of NAV2005 and it's just sitting on my desk just because of this stupid separate detection. I liked almost all other aspects of NAV2005,but such thing is unacceptable for me.

 

what is KAV?

 

Kaspersky Anti Virus

http://www.kaspersky.com/

Acadia

 

RejZoR,

Can you expand on this? Are you saying that the Norton Monitor is far behind the on-demand scanner for detection of all malware?

Or that there is a difference between virus/trojan detection and spyware detection between the RTM and the scanner?

 

With these settings you will not be overheaded...
In my opinion is a must have for all the users because the problems with the security and privacy that now, and in the future, the Internet offer to us...

On-Access scanner:
Process Guard + Firewall + NOD32 or avast! + ewido security suite plus (if you have the plus version) + WinPatrol

On-Demand scanner:
NOD32 or/and avast! + ewido + Spybot-SD + Ad-Aware + Spyware Doctor + HijackThis

Immunization (Don't use any resources):
Host File Manager + Spybot-SB (immunization feature) + SpywareBlaster + IE-SPYAD

 

Im using black Ice. As for spyware I use Pest Patrol, Spybot,spysweeper, adaware Se. I also use netscape its more secure for a browser.

This Spystopper program from Info Works stops alot of stuff.

also have spyware blaster and spyware guard. clean machine.

 

Actually in my case the systems that go with nod dont come back to my shop. The ones with norton continue to be exploited and I get to visit them again unless they change the computing habits. Not to mention the load that norton puts on the system that alone is enough to get rid of it.

For further reference I also have a service contract with the local wilcox farms plant and they use mcaffee and I dont see anywere near as many problems. Most of their issues is because they use exchange server rather than the av they use.

 

What should i remove from my setup?

 

the antivirus to have is either KAV or NOD(whats the whole name)?

 

Only Norton!

If you don't have the plus version of ewido, use the on-access scan of Spyware Doctor...

 

on-access meaning leave it in the system tray all the time?

 

Norton missed lots of stuff with Real-Time protection while the same malware was detected with On-Demand scan.
So basically you get only virus/worm/trojan protection while spyware is well, when it's detected On-Demand it's usually too late and Norton won't be able to clean it(it won't give you any warning for RT checking). I don't see the point of such difference between RT and OD scan but thats what i first noticed when i tried NAV2005... Big minus since lots of stuff cannot be strictly classed as normal malware or spyware (Trojan Downloaders,Browser hiJackers itd).

 

My personal impression, having Norton up to 2003/start of 2004 on my home machines and still having Symantec corporate at work, is that a number of problems are tied to the general instability of the LiveUpdate module. At times the update functionality is lost, while at other times it seems to compromise the basic program. Either way, vulnerability follows. Basic detection seems fine when things are up to date, although there is that system drag issue... It also doesn't help that being market leader paints a nice red target on it's back - it will be the prime target to defeat.

Blue

 

Yes, to ensure the access protection.