Norton Security

[salem]

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.

[Gdetrailer]

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!

[Timmo_]

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.

[salem]

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.

[RickLight]

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

[pconroy328]

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!!!

[rk911]

BarneyS wrote:

rk911 wrote:
“i” stuff????

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

ahhhhh. gotcha. thanks

[BarneyS]

rk911 wrote:
“i” stuff????

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

[rk911]

“i” stuff????

[obgraham]

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?

[Gdetrailer]

BradBurns wrote:
Sorry, but this sounds very hopeless

I am not sure what or why you think this is "hopeless". :h

OP was getting a "free" A/V suite through their ISP and usually those "free" A/V software suites through a ISP are pretty darn crippled so in reality, they have done the OP of this thread a huge favor..

Not to mention Norton, MCafee, Esent are not much more than "bloatware" and often slug your computer speed..

MS offered their own A/V software back on Win7, Win8 and Win8.1, in fact you can STILL enable AND use the built in A/V software TODAY on the older OS versions along with Win10 (Win7, 8,8.1 and 10).. It is the same as the MS "Defender" that is built into Win10 and uses the same definitions.. And it is FREE!

Have seen minimal impact to any of my systems running Defender unlike I have seen with other paid versions..

Not "hopeless" by any means..

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..

[BradBurns]

Sorry, but this sounds very hopeless

[1492]

I also use the free built-in MS Defender in WIN 10, which is now among the top rated AV software. Was not always the case in the past. I'd also recommend installing separate on-demand scanning software for secondary checks. You also need to promptly keep your OS, browsers, and apps updated with latest security updates as AV software won't necessarily protect you against these vulnerabilities. A layered approach to security is always advisable.

I'd don't pay for AV software, as many of the top rated security apps have have had instances of serious vulnerabilities. This can be a problem, as AV software require elevated privileges to run on your system, which can allow a hacker exploiting a vulnerability to act as an admin, and potentially remote access, install malware, or keyloggers on your system.

[wildtoad]

Just a note: I rarely use my Windows Surface but still keep it current with all updates especially the built in security. Have switched almost exclusively to IOS based products. Regardless, the best security system is you and what you click on, reply to, download. One of the things a do is never open unsolicited email, even if it appears to be from someone or entity you do business with. Always validate the sender email address.

[salem]

Microsoft Security Essentials: I'll look them up. Thanks all.

[sch911]

Another vote MSE. Microsoft Security Essentials = Free. Third party windows security is history.