I think that I'm the third naysayer. I've used Norton on my machines over the last five or so years. Never really had a problem, per-se, but I have had some annoyances with the program (i.e. at game start-ups for the first time where it asks if it can go online, and it tends to be a little slow to ask permission to use networks). I am willing to live with these, as I have never received a virus on one of my computers while Norton was in place. My dad did, however, and Norton was able to clean off the virus from the machine with a single click.

Well, you're not really naysing my major points, which are:

1. Will the product changes negatively affect my protection?

2. There's a noticeable performance improvement on both machines where I've done this conversion so far.

1: Yes, although unless you're engaging in risky activities with your computer, you probably won't notice it. Most worms and such require a user's stupidity to be what initially launches them.
2: The speed increase comes as a result of the lack of CPU usage and memory usage incurred by Norton running background scans on your computer. Going back to number 1, this is a loss of a layer of protection.

In all honesty, eliminating Norton probably won't affect you too much. Norton allows you not to worry about viruses and the like by effectively putting your computer on auto-pilot. So long as you're willing to manually put in the time to run most of these freeware programs, you should be fine. Of course, you leave yourself a nice gaping hole in your e-security if you neglect to remember to do this.

I don't understand. Both freeware products are fully automated, with the exception of ZoneAlarm prompting you as to whether you want to install a newly available update.

But once they are installed and running, what's not covered, other than cases of blatant ignorance or stupidity?

I've got one person using Outlook Express as their email client.

Can anyone recommend a good quality anti-spam program for Outlook Express that does not require you to route your email through the software company's servers and does not base itself on replying to senders to force them to conifrm they are who they say they are?

I would suggest Mailwasher.

Norton Internet Security does the job

;)

The best against spam. Is using the phone instead.

Never fails. :|\

Norton is definately a hog. The only reason I can think of not to uninstall it is it may cause problems. Not sure if this is true or not, but I heard new versions of norton replace a few windows files so if you uninstall it, you get errors at boot up. Getting rid of it will surely help performance.

In 10yrs of playing with thousands of computers Norton Vs Mcafee, Norton wins hands down but I think everyone here has some pretty good advice.I could count on one hand how many times I have had customers un-install Norton mostly only because of a bad install of it in first place...but Mcaffe I could not count how many times I have had to Un-install it because of some issue..mainly because of it blocking internet access in some way....From my experience is is not the program itself but the "Combo" programs Norton and Mcaffe included...The all in one Virus/Firewall/Spyware/Toaster Oven just seems to create alot of problems....same with combo modems/routers...if one screws up then you may be kinda screwed on the whole thing....I dont like combo deals except on my lunch order...

I use ..

Norton Plain White toast virus protection

Zone Alarm Free Version...and limit and monitor which programs have a free reign...

Router...

Hijack-This

Spybot

Adaware

CWS Shredder

and top it all off with an occasion free virus scan from Trend Micro's online scan....

Microsoft's Outlook express is a favorite target of hacks....But I use it all the time if neccessary with no problems...I just delete the garbage without even realizing it anymore without opening it.


I bulit this computer probably almost 5 yrs ago now and never had to do one format or had any major incidence...norton has caught many a viruses trying to slip thru...but I have seen cases where Norton has "Not" found something that Trend Micro has....hence the double scan occasionally....defrag once in a while...eat your veggies and most will be ok....

Bigest thing I teach people is...Computer will fail...count on it...thats why that DVD burner needs to be used for more than mp3's... :)


I use as much as 6 huge graphics programs at a time and never have any performance issues...Firewalls set too high...security set too high...visiting too many porn sites and clicking yes blindly to every pop will just kill any machine....Peace AL :)


Norton...Um...Good :up:

i still use norton but i do use other freeware out there but cant remember where i got my scanner from :x

My list

Norton 2006 Anti Virus & Firewall and once a month free on line scan for that I use Bit Defender

Check my ports on line at Gibson Research Corporation scrow down to the section ShieldsUp

Freeware I got -

Microsoft AntiSpyWare

Spybot Search and Destroy

Ad-Aware SE Personal

Cwshredder

Ccleaner

G-Zapper

One of the best places to pick up Freeware is here - http://www.filehippo.com/

And of couse update my Windows as well. A PC is like a car take care of it.

The anti-Norton sentiment is rather surprising. Norton was touted as the best for a long time.

Last I heard, Symantec Anti-Virus (The corporate version of Norton) is considered the best.