Norton Security

RickLight wrote:
The IT security pros i know say use 3rd party AV. Norton has bailed me out several times!

In my organization, all staff are allowed free 3rd party AV software for personal devices, which is included in our enterprise license.

However, everyone in my IT office including myself all use MS Defender on our personal PCs. Based on our own office experience, and concerns about our AI based AV app.

What's funny was when I first installed Office 365 (v19) suite on my personal desktop, we're allowed 10 free licenses on personal devices, I forgot to uncheck "apply my organization policy to this computer". I didn't realize that this included installing my company AV software. I quickly found out I couldn't uninstall it. So ended up re-imaging my desktop PC, so I could re-enable Defender.

BradBurns wrote:
Sorry, but this sounds very hopeless

You're best protection is to be vigilant, and practice layered security approach.

I guess you didn't read my post, GDE. I specifically agreed that "stuff happens". I only stated that the whole computer experience is a lot smoother having switched from the company started by one "egocentric guru", to the company started by "a different egocentric guru".

Beyond that, your checkoff list of vulnerabilities has exactly Zero to do with which operating system one uses.

obgraham wrote:

And for those touting "i" stuff, yeah, they to can get virus's, keyloggers, malware and are not "exempt" and you shouldn't throw rocks at non "i" products because some day, one of those rocks may bounce back and smash your "i" products glass house..

It's not a question of "touting", we all know stuff can happen. I can say, however, that after over 25 years on Windows stuff, I switched to Mac. Virtually all the issues I had with Win -- slow startups, hangups on shutdown, browser incompatibility, progressively slower machinery, and nefarious junk being attached to my computer -- all went away, once I got past the MS mindsets and learned the Apple mindsets.

Will it last? -- who knows?

I have had well over 30 yrs of PC/Windows/DOS/NT and many older OSs "experience" than I care to list.

In all of that time, I have only twice been hit by a virus/malware. Have spent many yrs of my life being online or having some sort of online connection as part of my job. I think getting hit twice in 30 yrs using non "i" products is pretty reasonable and should be expected..

Just because you bought into the "i" thing doesn't mean you will make it through your entire life without getting hit by a virus/malware.. Lots of online "i" forums with same issue with virus/malware issues..

You can bury your head in the sand, run and hide but eventually luck will run out on you as long as you have your "i" product attached to the wobbly web.

For many of us doing real work with real companies, we can't duck and run or hide our head in the sand because well over 95% of the worlds softwares runs exclusively on a PC platform using some form of Windows..

Pretty much everything you use or buy has been touched by a process that was exclusively run on a MS software platform..

Do you bank?

Use a ATM?

Have you been to a DR?

Hospital?

How about your electric Co?

Water bill?

Grocery store?

Gas station?

Own a car?

All of the above and more will be using a MS windows platform somewhere in their business..

Those are just a few examples of what IS "running the world"..

On edit..

It is also worthwhile to mention the "i" company DOESN'T make/sell "server hardware", nor do they make "server software"..

Without servers, your "i" products would be 99.9% useless and there would not be any such thing as "the Internet"..

You should be thanking the Non "i" products for at least the fact that you can "connect" to the Internet..

SPRey wrote:
PC Matic here, 5 devies (2 laptops, 1 pad and 2 smartphones) for an affordable annual price.

And no Google or Microsoft snooping :).

I respect my privacy, just wish big tech reciprocated.

:R

Don't know who you are, but that one is a funny one for sure..

So, now you have to PAY a "third party" to "snoop" around on your PC..

Your "privacy" was compromised the very second you hooked your PC to the "Matrix" (Wobbly web, Internet, Skynet, Cloud, whatever you wish to call it).

Every single piece of software now days IS "phoning home" to the mothership that it comes from and spying on you.. Third party A/V has "privileged" access to the contents of your entire drive..

Just because PCmatic comes from a company in the US doesn't mean that it DOESN'T rummage through your personal information (Read MS IS A US BASED CO AND THEY DO!) and send information of your surfing/buying habits. In fact they MUST send that information home in order to be able to react to virus's and such.. Not to mention the surfing/buying habits information is like gold to them.. They sell that info!

Defender works fine, I am sure "PCmatic" may work fine, however, do realize that ALL A/V software has limitations and virus's, keyloggers, malware, ransom ware and so on can easily get around A/V software..

YOU are the the MAIN LIMITATION TO A/V Software and th first line of defense, not the A/V software.. Most all of the junk you don't want will typically depend on YOU clicking or opening something you shouldn't.. A/V software will never tell you this, if they did, they wouldn't have a business model for long..

I have cleaned a lot of PCs for people, typically they are loaded with virus's they got from all of those "free" coupon or "discount" offers that they clicked on or emails that they shouldn't have opened.. If there is a "free" or highly discounted offer out there, folks WILL click on it!

PC Matic here, 5 devies (2 laptops, 1 pad and 2 smartphones) for an affordable annual price.

And no Google or Microsoft snooping :).

I respect my privacy, just wish big tech reciprocated.

Pconroy: After spending quite a bit of time today trying to figure out how to download MSE, I realized exactly what you said. Windows Defender is already there. Thanks,my friend.

The IT security pros i know say use 3rd party AV. Norton has bailed me out several times!

salem wrote:
HP has terminated their agreement with Norton to provide free protection for HP users. Would you suggest renewing the subscription or use one of the free downloads. If the free ones, which ones? Thanks FWIW, I've been trouble free with Norton.

If you're on Win 10 which odds are high you are - do nothing. Microsoft's built in virus protection, called Defender, is fine.

Norton, McAfee are largely a waste of money. You're paying for something no better than what you already have.

I'm not a Microsoft fanboi at all.
But they've done a good job on their security (largely because they have to.)



And if someone calls with a thick accent claiming to be "Steve from Microsoft" wanting to sell you something - hang up!!!

BarneyS wrote:

rk911 wrote:
“i” stuff????

You know - IPhone, IPad, etc. etc. etc. :B
Barney

ahhhhh. gotcha. thanks