Google pack is a collection of software from google that includes some software from others for free. They just added norton AV to this collection. I don't need it right now, but don't mind trying if I need AV software, though I hate symantec's software in general. The reason this might be better than the retail version is that google pack might install only the bare minimum that is required, unlike a lot of junk that the retail version installs. Please report your experience if you try this out now.
It used to be norton antivirus, but now it looks like norton "security scan".
On the minus side, I have no idea what "security scan" is, but on the plus side, when google pack offered NAV, it was only a limited-time subscription to the updates.
After that subscription period expired, Norton began to nag me like crazy to send them money. Drove me straight up a wall, so I uninstalled it. Maybe I'll reinstall it again, because this "security scan" looks like the updates don't expire.
kroxic
Member
posted: Apr. 4, 2007 @ 4:58p
While this is free. I am going to have to recommend to EVERYONE to not install Norton. I have to troubleshoot friends and families computers and Norton anything has never caused anything but trouble. If you want free security solution that works very well get avast instead. Its free for home use Avast
I have to agree wholeheartedly with previous poster.
Symantec is the devil's own software company. They buy companies who make superior software, then take that software off the market so you have to buy theirs. I was a big proponent of their AV software until about 8 years ago when it routinely starting missing old, common viruses. Now, I have nothing good to say about ANY of their software.
Try Comodo Antivirus, it is a little quirky, but free forever (including commercial use) and very effective. Comodo also makes a free forever firewall that competes favorably with the main contenders when tested.
skyfeng25
Senior Member
posted: Apr. 4, 2007 @ 5:12p
can't install the Norton security scan. dont kno whyc. can Any1 do that?
jaburg said: I have to agree wholeheartedly with previous poster.
Symantec is the devil's own software company. They buy companies who make superior software, then take that software off the market so you have to buy theirs. I was a big proponent of their AV software until about 8 years ago when it routinely starting missing old, common viruses. Now, I have nothing good to say about ANY of their software.
Try Comodo Antivirus, it is a little quirky, but free forever (including commercial use) and very effective. Comodo also makes a free forever firewall that competes favorably with the main contenders when tested.
Agree with NAV being not on par lately but I still use System works particularly one click system check to fix registry every week. Anyone can recommend an alternative to registry cleaning tool? I feel that my computer can not run clean and efficient without this tool.
tyrone3971
Cranky Member
posted: Apr. 4, 2007 @ 5:56p
OBman said: jaburg said: I have to agree wholeheartedly with previous poster.
Symantec is the devil's own software company. They buy companies who make superior software, then take that software off the market so you have to buy theirs. I was a big proponent of their AV software until about 8 years ago when it routinely starting missing old, common viruses. Now, I have nothing good to say about ANY of their software.
Try Comodo Antivirus, it is a little quirky, but free forever (including commercial use) and very effective. Comodo also makes a free forever firewall that competes favorably with the main contenders when tested.
Agree with NAV being not on par lately but I still use System works particularly one click system check to fix registry every week. Anyone can recommend an alternative to registry cleaning tool? I feel that my computer can not run clean and efficient without this tool.
The reason your registry goes foobar in the first place is because you install a Norton product. Unless you're installing a bunch of non-trusted source apps there is no need to clean the registry.
However, if you're the type of person who has 7 installs of AOL, Norton, McAffee, and Porn Dialer then you might need to clean it up.
It's hard to tell from the limited information on the Google website (and Symantec's), but I don't think that Norton Security Scan has automatic scanning like NAV does. I believe you need to set a scan schedule to do a system scan, versus having the software run in the background and alert you went a security threat is downloaded via email or the web.
weinberk said: It's hard to tell from the limited information on the Google website (and Symantec's), but I don't think that Norton Security Scan has automatic scanning like NAV does. I believe you need to set a scan schedule to do a system scan, versus having the software run in the background and alert you went a security threat is downloaded via email or the web.
Can anyone confirm if this is the case? You mean it could let the threat pass through (and allow it to do all the damage) as it would report it later in the scan anyway? I don't think any decent AV software will do that as long as it is active when the threat occurs.
jaburg said: I have to agree wholeheartedly with previous poster.
Try Comodo Antivirus, it is a little quirky, but free forever (including commercial use) and very effective. Comodo also makes a free forever firewall that competes favorably with the main contenders when tested. I love Comodo's firewall but have read some horror stories about their free AV. Id stick with Avast or AVG if you want free. Hopefully in time Comodos AV will mature. There is a reason its still in Beta.
haridsv said: You mean it could let the threat pass through (and allow it to do all the damage) as it would report it later in the scan anyway? I don't think any decent AV software will do that as long as it is active when the threat occurs.
That's what I mean - and I agree that it is odd that this >>might<< not auto protect. I'm just going by what it says online. It gives me the impression that this is a manual scan tool only. I hope to be proven wrong.
Symantec is the devil's own software company. They buy companies who make superior software, then take that software off the market so you have to buy theirs.
Sorry, but this statement is so absurd it's beyond belief. Microsoft did this for years, and then took the superior software and incorporated it in their software. I doubt if they have stopped doing this, since it's a great way to get developed software cheap.
This sounds like a story you would find in the National Enquirer. Nobody but the Bush administration would be stupid enough to spend millions and flush it down the toilet.
By the way, the Google packages have lots of super secret spyware, so don't use the packages, download the components individually.
kg4dkf
Thrifty Member
posted: Apr. 5, 2007 @ 6:49a
THis is a "lite" version with 1 year of updates (no idea if you can simply reinstall after that year). It became free over a year ago, so it isn't a new deal, and it isn't the full version, so it isn't really a great deal either. It is worth getting if you have nothing else, but be carefull installing it with other antivirus software and getting a free with rebates full copy is a much better idea.
kg4dkf said: THis is a "lite" version with 1 year of updates (no idea if you can simply reinstall after that year). It became free over a year ago, so it isn't a new deal, and it isn't the full version, so it isn't really a great deal either. It is worth getting if you have nothing else, but be carefull installing it with other antivirus software and getting a free with rebates full copy is a much better idea. The description clearly says the updates are unlimited. And according to this google blog, they just added this package, but they might not be telling the complete truth as pointed out by lorcha, it is probably just a name change to create some marketing material. However, don't forget that it is a basic antivirus software (which is why it only detects other threats such as spyware but not remove them) and so should not be compared with the norton internet security. For a long time I ran with just norton antivirus and even when I bought the NIS pack, I preferred to install only the antivirus part (the later versions make it impossible to do this).
To the statement that symantec's software is devil's software, I think it is a bit overstatement and irrelevant to this discussion. It is true that their software is bloated and there is a general impression that the software becomes less stable and usable once it is bought by symantec and integrated into their suite, but it doesn't make the basic norton antivirus software (again, I am not referring to their NIS suite) a bad software. It may not compare to the best of the suite (Kasperskiy) but I think it is still better than a few completely free AV softwares out there. I have heard some horror stories about these free AV softwares missing important viruses and users realizing that only after their system has been compromised. Here is a thread with some information on free AV solutions: Link1
In general look for posts by Sudhakar2k on antivirus, I find a lot of good information from him: Search
taf said: You may not like the software, but to say Symantec is the devil's own software company makes it seem like you may be prone to exageration at times.
disposable said: This sounds like a story you would find in the National Enquirer. Nobody but the Bush administration would be stupid enough to spend millions and flush it down the toilet.
You can't really be as naive as that sounds. Are you 10 years old or did you just sleep through History class in school?
Don't make political comments based on ignorant and blatantly untrue statements. Here's the reader's digest condensed version: The american welfare state was begun by Franklin Roosevelt (Democrat) when he signed into law the Social Security and Welfare laws. The US welfare system rapidly turned into a charity that rewards poor women for pumping out huge litters of illegitimate children.
You are probably also one of those idiots castigating Bush's war policies - you better look back at FDR's reign for some precedent on that too.
LustfortheMoment
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Apr. 5, 2007 @ 1:07p
Thanks. I've used NORTON effortlessly for years.........
jaburg said: Here's the reader's digest condensed version: The american welfare state was begun by Franklin Roosevelt (Democrat) when he signed into law the Social Security and Welfare laws. The US welfare system rapidly turned into a charity that rewards poor women for pumping out huge litters of illegitimate children.
You are probably also one of those idiots castigating Bush's war policies - you better look back at FDR's reign for some precedent on that too. You seem too dismissive of people who don't agree with your personal opinions on anything. If you can't add something constructive then move on and don't post because it's hard to believe your opinions when they sound so elitest, snobbish and/or racist.
Googlepack sucks. It installed "spyware doctor" on my Vista machine when all I wanted was their screensaver. Now the damn spyware doctor keeps crashing, and even its uninstaller crashes.
avian2
Broke Member
posted: Apr. 8, 2007 @ 12:44p
My opinion of Norton AV is that it's pretty resource intensive - maybe that means it's doing a good job but I prefer the free stuff; my favorites being:
Ad-Aware standard edition personal for spyware link Avast for anti-virus link Zonealarm for firewall link
and to run Hyjackthis occasionally.
I'd resist the urge to try the ZoneAlarm free trial as it doesn't play well with Avast.
shilly
Shopaholic Member
posted: Apr. 14, 2007 @ 7:12a
taf said: You may not like the software, but to say Symantec is the devil's own software company makes it seem like you may be prone to exageration at times. I think that the Devil owns Symantec AND MusicMatch (Since Yahoo bought MM). Try to completely remove either from your system without causing all kinds of issues with your system.
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