anything as good as Norton?

I have an office network which includes a couple of XP boxes that my kids use and my XP box which is the gateway. I got hit by one or more nasty adware and/or viruses last week. Applying all the MS patches, running Spybot S&D, HijackThis, and F-prot on all windows boxes with the internet and lan disabled still didn't completely do the trick.

What did finally seem to work was a trail version of Norton AV.

So my question is should I bite the bullet and purchase Norton or are there other freeware solutions out there - prefereably open source - that might be just as good.

FWIW I don't mind a little experimentation - if I try something else and end up infected again could always go back to Norton. I look at it as a learning experience. Hmm, hope don't end up eating those words one day.

Marty

 

You're going to get a variety of responsers (I guess you know that). I've used Norton/Symantec for years but only recently switched to Trend Micro. I love TM's new security suite. I find it much less resource demanding, easy to set up AND the real kicker is I receive definition updates not only daily, but something two...three times per day. It's quick to scan my drives and on Shields Up and such testing sites presents my box as completely invisible and thusly protected. Besides, the price was right... free for 90 days and then only $49.

 

Ya see, Marty! lol

Actually, if you go to the MS Windowx XP newsgroup you'll discover that nearly every MS MVP will not use Symantec products. Instead most of them (i.e. Kelly, Alex Nichol...) recommend AVG or Etrust (the old Innoculate It). A few still swear by Norton and some even go with McAfee but these latter two are not the preferred AV programs. It seems to me that you really can't go wrong today. Check out the VBulletin website if you like and make whatever choice you're comfortable with making. I'm sure whatver you decide will be just fine.

 

Thanks to all, this gives me more to go on.

Darned nasty computer thingies.

Marty

 

try this for up to one year
http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/

I have it on 8 machines and love it