Norton Alternative

I sent this to some friends who don't know much about computers. Thought I'd share it with you guys.

If you get this offer
http://analyzer.securityfocus.com/downloadnis.asp , from Symantec (a/k/a Norton), in the interests of privacy, I would suggest you ignore it. It is presented as a way you can contribute to solving cyber crime, but I have my suspicions. Symantec is awfully interested in collecting (perhaps marketing) user data. This "free download" gives them free reign to report any info from your computer for whatever reasons they deem. Norton writes itself deep in the Windows registry, and the software can override Windows (one of the few programs that can "boss MS). By default, all Symantec sites are trusted, and it can call home at will, or be summoned from a remote computer.

I was a little concerned when they started the new registration process, and then goofed up the "new and improved way to keep prices down" technology to "reduce piracy ", resulting in hundreds of thousands of their customers being unable to run live update, until they downloaded a patch from LU that allowed their Norton to function normally again. Yes, you read that correctly. A classic catch-22. The novice user would have been overwhelmed, and prob did it wrong- or worse- "Oh, I'll just shut this bothersome thing off... "

I love Norton, and have trusted them for years, but a new product has come to my attention: Arie posted it immediately, but here is a reminder.

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24796&highlight=Computer+associates

It's a free year, folks, written by one of the most respected companies, and with Microsoft's endorsement.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/partners/antivirus.asp

It's worth a look to anyone who needs a comprehensive Internet Security program, which is anyone who is online. Period.

Johanna
NKO USA

 

I have never liked Symantec. Norton products used to be about the best around, back when Mr. Peter Norton still owned the company (anyone here remember that?).
Since then, it's become just another huge piece of bloatware, and the only product I still use (and defend as the best around) is Ghost.
That "new" program from Computer Associates, is a resurrected version of InocculateIt PE. Sure it's good. Anything is better than nothing.
I suggest you dig deep into any (decent) motherboard CD that you have laying around. You'll probably find a good version of Panda or Trend's PCCillin that you can install and use free.
Please don't even attempt to use/install McAfee!!!