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General discussion

Norton Problem with AT&T Broadband

Recently I downloaded Norton Anti-Virus and Spyware which AT&T is now including with it's service Free. Boy am I sorry. I couldn't get on line, service was extremely slow, kept getting cut off, and started calling AT&T. They gave me various ideas such as pulling all the plugs and cables, software changes, even to making an appt. to send out a service person, then cancelling the appt. because they said they had found the problem (they didn't), then they suggested I needed a new Modem/Router approx $90. This went on for a couple weeks or more.........

At that point I decided I'd try uninstalling Norton since I've had problems with them before and, wow - what a miracle. It works perfectly again now.

What is it with Norton that causes so many problems?

Discussion is locked

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Part of the reason is ...
Sep 30, 2007 4:14AM PDT

To be secure it has to lock it all down. Reviewers would pan the product if any hole was left unplugged. So your complaints would be correct for as it is installed. I agree it doesn't make much sense but you do have to configure it to open up what you need.

Bob

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I get it now!

Thanks for that information. I only wish AT&T knew that since they are the ones that encouraged me to use Norton. I wasted so much time. I'm using Zone Alarm now. Any suggestions with that? So far so good right now.

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Just what I use.
Sep 30, 2007 4:54AM PDT

I use Zone Alarm and Grisoft's Free AVG. Norton is a big thing and since I don't use IE most of what it does is not needed.

Bob

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Zone Alarm

Do you use FireFox? I did at one time and maybe I'll go back to it.

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Yes. But I'm...
Sep 30, 2007 6:27AM PDT

Most of the time I use Seamonkey with the Adblock Plus. They have that for Firefox too.

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Seamonkey?

That's a new one on me....but I'll check it out.

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Can I jump in here?
Sep 30, 2007 7:38AM PDT

I used Norton for years, even had their link at my web site, with their permission of course. No more. Even with my three fast PCs, Norton just hogged things. The straw was about a year ago when I tried to uninstall some program and Norton wouldn't let me. No more.

Like Bob I run AVG and had been using ZA forever. Until the latest update killed my home network. One day all my PCs were in Explorer, the next day they weren't. I jacked with Networking on all PCs, reloaded a previous configuration into my router, nothing worked. Until I disabled ZA on two PCs and voila! Network back. Doing some reading at the ZA site I found out that the latest update has problems.

I'm now running without ZA. My router and the XP firewall are running now with zero problems or intrusions.

Wayne

Click here to see the CNet faces, learn a little about analog and digital data, Internet connections,
Spyware removal, and download free software.

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

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Oh Oh, nightmare...

Maybe I should cancel ZA. Right now I'm having problems again. My main PC, Dell 8400, is on and ok, my laptop won't go on line with wireless, and my son's Dell 8300 isn't on either. Earlier in the day when he got his to work - it shut off both my "main" and the laptop. What the heck is going on?

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For me, I have tools.
Sep 30, 2007 8:41AM PDT

Dang I have too many tools for networking. But I have no quibble about uninstalling the Zone and seeing if that clears it up. Then just like many others I reinstall and it still works (without whatever the glitch was.)

Let me be blunt here. (please)

Since I don't use IE/OE and never open an attachment, filter my email (POPFILE), use an non-IE browser with Adblock Plus my (computing) life is boring. Maybe someone needs to feel challenged but for my machine I want it to just work.

Why you may ask. The answer is I see enough woes with other people's machines. Imagine if mine were in such a (sad) state? I wouldn't be here...

Bob

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Zone Alarm, Norton? What next?
Sep 30, 2007 11:14PM PDT

Well, I UNinstalled Zone Alarm and INstalled again Avast and surprise, surprise - everything works again!

I changed antivirus protection from Avast because the reviews said it wasn't a very strong program and had holes in it. Perhaps those holes help my wireless computers to work.

Let's hope it keeps working.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Joanne

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Like Bob says. . .
Sep 30, 2007 9:33AM PDT

It's easy to either disable ZA or uninstall it.

I use IE 'cause I just like it. I also have Fire Fox. But on both browsers I block all third party cookies and require confirmation on the rest. And I usually, 99% of the time, deny them. In IE I also turned off the "Install on demand" function for obvious reasons.

Or you might try a previous version of ZA. The only reason I didn't, and this is embarassing, I forgot how to configure it to allow my web site access.

But I've not missed it.

Wayne

Click here to see the CNet faces, learn a little about analog and digital data, Internet connections,
Spyware removal, and download free software.

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

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..
Oct 4, 2007 9:30AM PDT

hi every one i used kaspersky internet security version 7.0 and its so good and i like because its all in one firewall antivirus proactive defense antispyware etc and fast very fast scan and computer suning Silly