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General discussion

Norton Antivirus

May 9, 2017 5:38PM PDT

Ratings of Norton vs others

Discussion is locked

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Rating of people vs antivirus.
May 9, 2017 5:53PM PDT

If you think AV will save you, you're wrong. If you choose to install something, AV doesn't matter.
Dafydd.

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I Use This Ratings Tool
May 9, 2017 7:26PM PDT
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As said above, most AVs won't save folk today.
May 9, 2017 8:33PM PDT

The modern threats are not blocked by most of them. And I've had folk "follow the install instructions" in something they torrented that read "turn off the AV to install."

The best protection is still you.

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Do I need a.v. software only to browse email?
May 16, 2017 8:38AM PDT

I currently have Norton a.v. but am considering dropping my subscription. My current laptop is a Mac, and I now use my desktop (running XP Pro) only for emails which I get from Microsoft Live by logging in on the web. My browser is Google Chrome. My desktop is old, loaded with legacy apps, and I cannot upgrade my Microsoft a.v. protection any more since XP is no longer supported.

If I do not click on any unsolicited links on my desktop, what level of risk would I be at if I drop the Norton subscription?

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YES. Here's why.
May 16, 2017 8:51AM PDT

The recent worm was also in emails and would automatically run and infect the PC. So sad but true you need something today.

That said I'm using the fully patched up Windows 10 and its own Defender. To beef up the browser security I'm using Ublock Origin and testing another security addon.

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New question about Norton a.v. software
May 17, 2017 2:42PM PDT

OK, I've been paying for Norton a.v. for several years now. Last renewal was June 2016. I've checked Norton website to see how to tell if the a.v. is active, and they say to load the Norton (Symantec) panel and look at the status field. But I cannot find any such panel; using search, I bring up about 20 Norton files but none is a shortcuts or a panel. In fact, most are older than 2014.

I switched to Google Chrome as my preferred web browser in 2014. Is it possible that even though I've been paying for new subscriptions, since I am not downloading them through M.S. Windows, they are not being installed? And therefore, I have no active a.v. software?

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There Should Be A Norton Icon Showing in The System Tray
May 17, 2017 4:05PM PDT

Look in the lower right corner of your computer to see the system tray icon for Norton. That's where you should be able to bring up the Norton panel. You can also look in the Windows Control Panel-Action Center to determine if an antivirus is activated and running. On my Windows 10 comp, I simply type "Security and Maintenance" in the search line on the bottom task bar, hit Enter, then click on the drop down arrow next to "Security" to see if my antivirus is operational.

If it's not there, then why not uninstall Norton completely, (Remember to use the Norton Removal Tool after performing the standard uninstall from the Control Panel)then use something else like the free Windows Defender, Avira, or Avast?

Hope this helps.

Grif

Post was last edited on May 17, 2017 4:07 PM PDT

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No Nuttin' Norton
May 17, 2017 6:11PM PDT

Grif: nothing in the tray. I also had tried scanning the "start" menu and the control panel for relevent subtopics. Nothing anywhere.

Here's what troubles me about trying to download Defender et al. As soon as I try to access Microsoft's downloads, I will get a warning that my O.S. is out of date and don't I want to upgrade? And the answer is, no I don't want to upgrade my O.S., I just want to add an a.v. app.

Since my portal to the web/internet is now Google Chrome, doesn't Google provide an a.v. that will recognize the Google browser on my pc and happily download?

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No Google Antivirus,,, But.....
May 17, 2017 8:04PM PDT

Post was last edited on May 17, 2017 8:06 PM PDT

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Norton
May 17, 2017 9:14PM PDT

If norton is active you must remove it before loading another av.

In the control panel is there an
Action center/security center?
Add/remove?
Programs and features?

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No Norton/Symantec to remove
May 18, 2017 10:08AM PDT

I've looked in the Add/Remove Programs panel and there is no program with Norton or Symantec in its name. Which just confirms, I don't have Norton a.v. installed, despite having been paying for it for several years. I used to, I remember setting the different options in their panel, but no more.

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It is possible to pay but not have it installed.
May 18, 2017 10:21AM PDT

But just in case, always run the Norton Removal tool. Link follows.
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v60392881_EndUserProfile_en_us

I can't see from the discussion so far what you want to use here. While I use Defender, my OS is all patched up, I added some browser security and don't torrent or download anything today except from my known sites like Ninite.com.

Ninite.com has a few free antivirus offerings which are free if you like.

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So I see...
May 18, 2017 10:42AM PDT

but what puzzles me is that it used to be installed, and I never (intentionally) uninstalled it. Am trying as I write here on my laptop to install avira.

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2 steps. Only 2.
May 18, 2017 11:11AM PDT
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Avira
May 18, 2017 5:54PM PDT

Did you check if that av supports xp?

Looks like avast will if you have sp3.

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Sorry QLatite, Newest Avira No Longer Supports XP
May 18, 2017 7:46PM PDT
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Current status
May 19, 2017 10:02AM PDT

As of this morning: tried to run Norton uninstall, got a fatal error. Did install Avira but now have lost my Netgear adapter and Canon printer connections. Have tried to uninstall and reinstall each, no success. At the moment am connected to internet via ethernet cable, so still have email. Is there a link to uninstall Avira?

For the long term, I'll be getting a new desktop.

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Losing connections?
May 19, 2017 10:11AM PDT

I worry you are installing one of those SUITES that include a firewall.

I run into a lot of folk that install a firewall then tell me the WiFi printer and more fails. Well, that's a firewall for you as you must allow connections.

-> True story. Owner installed a suite+firewall, set it to maximum protection. No internet, no TV, as primitive as can be. (three hour tour.)

What OS is this?

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Original post
May 19, 2017 12:22PM PDT

In my original post on May 16, I include my O.S.

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So XP Pro.
May 19, 2017 12:41PM PDT

Just a tip. Go ahead and answer if folk ask. Make it easy on everyone.

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So XP Pros
May 19, 2017 7:25PM PDT

Here's another tip. Read a poster's entire log before giving advice.

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Tip back at you.
May 20, 2017 7:43AM PDT

The OS was not up front but down a few.

Help others help you. Make it easy. Make it hard and they will get the wrong message.

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Manual Uninstall Of Avira Free
May 19, 2017 3:18PM PDT
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Yes here's why....
May 16, 2017 8:55AM PDT

Thanks, Profitt