Norton Internet Security vs. others

I have used NIS for the past several years. It's time to either re-up or check some of the other available products.
My ISP is cox and they offer free security. Is it any good?
Are any of the free programs good? I've looked at Kaspersky and Trend. Just looking for some advice.
Thanks for your help.

 

If it works for you, why not keep it? On the other hand, many of us don't like suites and just as many don't like Norton. I found in the past that it dug too deeply into the registry, was nigh to impossible to get rid of, and was a resource hog. The last IS I used was Norton 2004 and I vowed then never to use it again. You'll find that everyone here has different ideas. I use the paid for version of Kerio (firewall) and NOD 32 for my AV. I like the idea of separate apps. If you want free: AVG for your AV, Zone Alarm or Kerio free versions for your AV.

 

Hello Shammie and James

Well you will get a lot of different opinions on this.

Norton and Mcafee are the originals. From back in the days when DOS was king.

They have tried too hard to be the "be all" "do all ".

These 2 are at least in the top 5 or 6 as virus scanners and security suites. But! So are AVg and others.

They bury themselves deeply in the file system and registry both to try to do their job their way but additionally I think to force themselves on you.

I would say average computer user cannot properly un-install either of these programs.

I am A Sr. Systems Analyst and have been doing this for 27 years. Here is what I have seen on these 2 programs.

On a network I was replacing Norton with AVG. Since I was properly un-installing Norton and moving on to another computer, after a while some of the users that I had completed began to come by and ask me what else I done, as their systems were flying now.

All I did was remove Norton and install AVG.

But Norton does not un-install by simply running the Add/Remove process in control panel.

Norton is even aware of this as they have cleaner programs that clean up after normal un-install.

Actually these days I use 2 or 3 programs from Norton to clean up after a normal un-install. Plus 3 other programs other programmers wrote to clean Norton.

If Norton is un-installed and even if the Norton cleaner programs are run, a disk search will still find Norton and Symantec all over the disk. A registry search will still find hundreds of registry entries for these two.

The other cleaners in addition to disk searches and removals and a registry search and removal finally will get them. Usually only then will you see the full performance and system stability returned to normal.

Most that have had Norton and un-installed it are cruising along in ignorance that Norton is finally gone.

The performance loss is much more noticeable as the CPU speed of the system goes down. Is less noticeable on faster systems but is there.

I say all of this to clarify this statement: Unless you are going to properly un-install Norton just stay with it.

If you properly un-install it I recommend AVG as the best free, with several others just as good. AntiVir and Avast for example.

If you are using a Norton suite then there is the firewall and other security to consider.

If you are behind a Router (a router is not a firewall but by its very nature acts as a basic firewall) the Windows Firewall is usually sufficient for most people.

As opposed to being directly connected to a Cable or DSL modem. I do recommend a better firewall then.

If I got into firewalls in depth now this post would just be too large.

I will say that one of the older firewalls is still the best in ease of use and low CPU overhead. That is the Kerio personal firewall ver 2.

Is that enough info for you in one post.

Mike

 

James and mflynn,

Thank you for your help. I have downloaded norton removal tool from symatec. What other removal programs do I need? Thanks again

 

Shammie

I just read your message.

If no one else gets to you I will be back in and hour.

Do not begin with the removal tool. That is to be used only after XP Add/Remove.

I ave a pressing errand.

Mike

 

Hi Shammie

OK here you go, keep us posted on your progress as this may be a tutorial to others on how to do it properly and throughly.

This process can be run by anyone who had Norton and thought they were rid of it.

Prep: go to following site: http://basconotw.mvps.org/SymRem.htm

Slide to Download Tools section download all but the msifix.bat as it is dead. Just download these do not run. Get the 2004/2005/2006 Removal tools and the 2003 and earlier Removal tools.

I don't care what version you now have get the cleaners for all versions

Once you have them we begin:
1. Thru Add/Remove un-install all Norton and Symantec entries.
2. Reboot check Add/Remove for any Liveupdate or LiveReg and remove these
3. Run Symclean
4. Run Rnav2003. Run it for each version do not reboot after each as it suggests.
5. Run the others (except the reg file) that you downloaded in any order decline the reboots if you can
6. Click and OK the symmsicleanup.reg
now reboot

Back to desktop
Do a search (set advanced search to include hidden system files) for
norton*.*
and delete all entries
same for syman*.*

You would think you would now be clear of Norton but no.

When you run the below in the registry cleans you will still see many many references to Norton and Symantec. Just watch for them. These are general cleans and will clean up other bad registry items. Remove all found.

Download install and run the below:

Best free cleaners:

DCleaner http://www.majorgeeks.com/DCleaner_d4790.html

ATF-Cleaner http://www.atribune.org/content/view/25/2/

CCleaner get the slim version http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds.aspx

EasyCleaner http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/files/EClea2_0.exe

Dcleaner and ATFClean are purely disk cleaners. CClean also has a registry cleaner (issues), run this also as many times as it takes to come up clean.

EasyClean does it all but stay away from Duplicate file cleaning (especially Windows OS files) unless you are sure of what you are doing.

When finished you will be rid of Norton/Symantec


Get back to us.

Mike

 

Hello Shammie

I missed an important step.

Download:
Regseeker http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/RegSeeker/1035382760/1

Run it before the other cleaners at the bottom of the last post, this way

Regseeker
Find in registry
norton (delete all)
then new search
symantec (delete all)

then select
Clean registry (this is a general clean and will find other bad registry entries as well) delete them.

then proceed with other cleanups

Mike

 

I messed up posts #6 and #7 so bad I rewrote it correctly. Use this and disregard 6 and 7 above.

Hi Shammie

OK here you go, keep us posted on your progress as this may be a tutorial to others on how to do it properly and throughly.

This process can be run by anyone who had Norton and thought they were rid of it.

Prep:
Download and install : Regseeker http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...r/1035382760/1

Download but don't run Symclean ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/englis...ols/SYMCLN.EXE

go to following site: http://basconotw.mvps.org/SymRem.htm

Slide to Download Tools section download all but the msifix.bat as it is dead. Just download these do not run. Get the 2004/2005/2006 Removal tools and the 2003 and earlier Removal tools.

I don't care what version you now have get the cleaners for all versions, if you are notified of an expiration you will be sent tp a page to get the updated file, do so!

Once you have them we begin:
1. Thru Add/Remove un-install all Norton and Symantec entries.
2. Reboot check Add/Remove for any Liveupdate or LiveReg and remove these
3. Run Symclean
4. Run Rnav2003. Run it for each version do not reboot after each as it suggests.
5. Run the others (except the reg file) that you downloaded in any order decline the reboots if you can
6. Click and OK the symmsicleanup.reg
now reboot

Back to desktop
Do a search (set advanced search to include hidden system files) for
norton*.*
and delete all entries
same for syman*.*

Then

Regseeker
Find in registry
norton (delete all)
then new search
symantec (delete all)

You would think you would now be clear of Norton but no.

When you run the below in the registry cleans you will still see many many references to Norton and Symantec. Just watch for them. These are general cleans and will clean up other bad registry items. Remove all found.

Download install and run the below:

Best free cleaners:

DCleaner http://www.majorgeeks.com/DCleaner_d4790.html

ATF-Cleaner http://www.atribune.org/content/view/25/2/

CCleaner get the slim version http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds.aspx

EasyCleaner http://personal.inet.fi/business/ton...s/EClea2_0.exe

Dcleaner and ATFClean are purely disk cleaners. CClean also has a registry cleaner (issues), run this also as many times as it takes to come up clean.

EasyClean does it all but stay away from Duplicate file cleaning (especially Windows OS files) unless you are sure of what you are doing.

When finished you will be rid of Norton/Symantec


Get back to us.

Mike

 

Mike, the links for Regseeker and Symclean bring up a 404.

These links work.

Download and install : Regseeker http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2579.html

Download but don't run Symclean ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/products/norton_systemworks/ver5.0/tools/SYMCLN.EXE

For msifix.bat this link works.

ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/linked_files/tsgen/MSIFIX.bat

There are additional instructions that should be considered here.

http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/history/topic/111599-1.html

 

Thank you very much Whiskyman.

Everything should be here to get rid of Norton.

Mike

 

Sorry that it has taken so long to respond. I have deleted norton from my system. Thank you for all of your help.
I will warn others reading this post to be very careful as I deleted several programs and files. I'm not sure how but was able to use restore to regain the programs but lost all my pictures and all files in "my documents" except for the folders. Anyway , below is a new hijackthis log can you check it for me? Thank you!!

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 5:12:26 PM, on 2/15/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16414)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\bgsvcgen.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Corporation\Picture Package\Picture Package Menu\SonyTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Corporation\Picture Package\Picture Package Applications\Residence.exe
C:\Program Files\Sunbelt Software\Personal Firewall\kpf4ss.exe
C:\Program Files\Sunbelt Software\Personal Firewall\kpf4gui.exe
C:\Program Files\Sunbelt Software\Personal Firewall\kpf4gui.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpsysdrv] c:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KBD] C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Recguard] C:\WINDOWS\SMINST\RECGUARD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PS2] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ps2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StorageGuard] "C:\Program Files\VERITAS Software\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe" -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [!AVG Anti-Spyware] "C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe" /minimized
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update Detection] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\WkDetect.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Picture Package Menu.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Picture Package VCD Maker.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: PartyPoker.com - {B7FE5D70-9AA2-40F1-9C6B-12A255F085E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: PartyPoker.com - {B7FE5D70-9AA2-40F1-9C6B-12A255F085E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://secure.overture.com
O16 - DPF: {0EB0E74A-2A76-4AB3-A7FB-9BD8C29F7F75} (CKAVWebScan Object) - http://www.kaspersky.com/kos/eng/partner/default/kavwebscan_unicode.cab
O16 - DPF: {200B3EE9-7242-4EFD-B1E4-D97EE825BA53} - http://h20270.www2.hp.com/ediags/gmn/install/hpobjinstaller_gmn.cab
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1152884892985
O16 - DPF: {6E5A37BF-FD42-463A-877C-4EB7002E68AE} - http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/housecall/applet/html/native/x86/win32/activex/hcImpl.cab
O16 - DPF: {7B297BFD-85E4-4092-B2AF-16A91B2EA103} (WScanCtl Class) - http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/webscan.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://acs.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5free/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {F73BE1F4-82AA-4405-AB81-FAFB5A122359} - http://stores.homestead.com/storeadmin/utilities/pssbedit.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{28BFAFD1-2819-4B4E-AC77-051779D71AF7}: NameServer = 192.168.254.254
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\{28BFAFD1-2819-4B4E-AC77-051779D71AF7}: NameServer = 192.168.254.254
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: B's Recorder GOLD Library General Service (bgsvcgen) - B.H.A Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\bgsvcgen.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall 4 (KPF4) - Sunbelt Software - C:\Program Files\Sunbelt Software\Personal Firewall\kpf4ss.exe

 

Kis

Users opinion differs:

I use kaspersky internet security and in my opinion it is a very very good program for security.Just give try on trial version.

NoD 32 and bitdefender is a another very good antivirus programs if you want to use unbundled security software. it takes little resources especially nod32 (very little resource) when compared with Norton.

 

Which Antivirus ??

Hello all,
Mflynn has sound suggestions for alternatives, but like posted already - everybody has an opinion on this subject.
I use Trend and have since they debuted with PcCillin95 (for Win95).
Previously I had McAfee for my DOS machines..
For 2007, they have an internet security package that will protect you against spyware, virus, and offers a firewall and anti-phishing features as well.
It's customizable and maybe a bit daunting for a new user but very comprehensive. It also doesn't hog your computer resources.
I have tried AVG and like it - but it's only an Anti-virus package.
In my past experiences, I have "caught" (and supressed) viruses where my friend's computer (protected with Norton) was infested.
Being a good friend, I cleaned it up but for some reason Norton remained the "popular" choice for Anti-virus.
Anyway - my two cents.