Two days ago I installed Norton 360 version 3.0 All-in-One Security. My laptop slowed to 1/4 its previous speed. I just un-installed it this morning and it is back peppy and working fine again (as peppy as a satellite Internet connection can be). I read reviews of this happening to other users on Amazon.com but the software got good reviews in Consumer Reports so I got it anyways. This virus protection is worse than actually catching a virus.

This is generally true of all Norton products.

15 years ago Norton made really efficient, lean programs. Now they help lead the bloatware parade.

I can't even remember when I last used a virus scanner. Must have been 9 years ago or sth.

Yeah, please make this a Windows vs. Linux debate...

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Rofl.

I had a similar problem. My computer's motherboard died so I inherited my dad's old laptop. The Norton package installed on it would gradually build up CPU usage over the course of ~60 minutes until it was at 99% and I couldn't even browse the internet. I did a quick search and apparently this is a known problem, especially on older machines (I have 1Gb RAM and a 1.7Ghz processor). So I uninstalled Norton and the laptop works fine now.

http://distrowatch.com/

markal Wrote:15 years ago Norton made really efficient, lean programs. Now they help lead the bloatware parade.

Not even sure 15 years back is far enough. Peter Norton sold the franchise to Symantec in 1990 (70 million dollars is a huge temptation). He hung around for a while (doing whatever retained 'consultants' do), so maybe 15 years is about right. But nowadays, clearly, there is nothing 'Norton' about 'Norton'. Nothing at all. And that's been true for a long time.

I would expect that one of these not-too-distant days, Symantec will finally abandon the 'Norton' name, simply because it has about zero caché with a growing number of young people, who don't know Peter Norton from Ed Norton.

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There are some good free alternatives like the Home Edition of AVast. After installing you can go in the settings and disable all the "resident protection", that leaves you the ability to right click files/packages in the explorer and select "Scan with aVast!".

We all seek to save a few bucks where we can. But keeping my computer virus free is so important, in so many ways, that it's one area where I will spend whatever is necessary for the right product.

None of the free products really cut it.

I use CA Anti-Virus, and pay for it every two years. There are other quality products.

onafarm Wrote:We all seek to save a few bucks where we can. But keeping my computer virus free is so important, in so many ways, that it's one area where I will spend whatever is necessary for the right product.

None of the free products really cut it.

I use CA Anti-Virus, and pay for it every two years. There are other quality products.

Been using the free version of Avast for 5 years. I don't do stupid things like clicking on unsolicited email links, but I download a *lot* of stuff, and Avast has never let me down.

I don't know on what basis one could say what you said above "none of the free products ...".

I'd say you are way off base.

When you pay for something, you automatically think it's getting you better protection. Logical, I suppose, but definitely not true. Been using Avast for years, and have never had any problems. Runs quietly in the background, and catches everything.

I use nod32 because it never takes up a lot of resources.

Solution: Don't use windows.

bombpersons Wrote:Solution: Don't use windows.

Which of course necessitates *OTHER* "solutions", such as "Don't use essential programs that only run on Windows" or "Put up with emulators that may or may not run said program(s) and are likely to suck up all but a supercomputer's resources even if they do".

Seriously. Get OFF the "Don't use Windows" kick. It was old a decade ago, and as much as you might like to think otherwise, it is NOT, repeat NOT the end all to be all of answers. People who maintain otherwise don't really have much of a clue.

Well, to be honest I still dual boot windows XP just incase (usually for playing games), however I use Linux (Ubuntu) 99.9% of the time. Pretty any program you will ever need has a Linux port, or equivalent and even if it doesn't wine runs 90% of things you'd need. And if push comes to shove you can still use something like virtual box if you really needed something to work. So you don't need to give up anything if you switch to Linux.

Pls see #5 and #6 above

bombpersons Wrote:Well, to be honest I still dual boot windows XP just incase (usually for playing games), however I use Linux (Ubuntu) 99.9% of the time. Pretty any program you will ever need has a Linux port, or equivalent and even if it doesn't wine runs 90% of things you'd need. And if push comes to shove you can still use something like virtual box if you really needed something to work. So you don't need to give up anything if you switch to Linux.

For many users, probably true. For many others, not close to true. I run a lot of financial software that will *only* run on Windows. The developer(s) have absolutely no intention of ever porting.

Actually, I would be switching *back* to Linux, not switching to it. I made a concerted effort to keep Red Hat as my primary OS back when the current version was called Picasso. So Linux would not exactly be a new discovery for me. I just got tired of having to run emulators, and then every time my software was updated, having to wait for some emulator fix. And of course Windows eventually solved a lot of its major problems.

I'm also now wedded to Nikon digital cameras, and the software that works with Nikon RAW files. Yes, you can do it in Linux, but you have to rely on someone other than Nikon to manipulate proprietary RAW files -- files that can change with both camera models and firmware updates.

Linux is a very good OS, but it is not the "solution" to Windows computer security.

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thorstenu Wrote:Yeah, please make this a Windows vs. Linux debate...

*cough* *cough* ^_-

PS: Amiga OS all the way!! (try it in Firefox3+, or IE)

I'd like to agree with Avast! as being excellent.

I used to use Avast!. Pretty good, never got a virus.

Thank you avast, for saving me from the RTK website hack