[dOUbl_stuF OReO]

Which one is better, Nortons anti-virus 2005 or AVG?

 

[Tumbleweed36]

Hi,

That depends upon who you talk to. I think the less complicated would be AVG, but since I have AVG on one machine and Norton's 2005 on my other machine, I can not say one is better than the other. Both are excellent programs that do a nice job. If your Norton's is contained in the Firewall Suite, then it takes some more skill to set it up correctly. If it is just the Anti-virus, then should be a piece of cake for either. Bug is, you have to pay for Norton's and you don't for the AVG, so pick your poison.

 

[Resolution]

Norton is more than likely better, but I refuse to use it for a few reasons....

1. It's bloatware and a huge resource hog.

2. You have to pay a yearly subscription fee to have your definitions updated. The majority of the people who have asked me to clean the viruses off of their pre-installed systems from leading PC manufactuers were using Norton (or Mcafee) with expired subscriptions. I'm sure others here can attest to that.

3. Norton and Mcafee are helping viruses and worms to spread uninhibitedly (see reason #2). In my own opinion, no one should have to pay for virus definitions, especially since viruses and worms are an epidemic these days. It would make more sense to make people pay for updated features to the program instead.

4. You have to pay an absurd amount of money for phone support (30$ per call).

5. The program is buggy, unstable, and makes you feel like you are beta testing it. It constantly sprouts errors or conflicts with other programs when you least expect it, and many times it will not uninstall properly.


I've been using the free edition of AVG Antivirus for over 2 years without any problems. I recommend AVG over Norton any day.

 

[Tumbleweed36]

Norton is more than likely better, but I refuse to use it for a few reasons....

1. It's bloatware and a huge resource hog.

2. You have to pay a yearly subscription fee to have your definitions updated. The majority of the people who have asked me to clean the viruses off of their pre-installed systems from leading PC manufactuers were using Norton (or Mcafee) with expired subscriptions. I'm sure others here can attest to that.

3. Norton and Mcafee are helping viruses and worms to spread uninhibitedly (see reason #2). In my own opinion, no one should have to pay for virus definitions, especially since viruses and worms are an epidemic these days. It would make more sense to make people pay for updated features to the program instead.

4. You have to pay an absurd amount of money for phone support (30$ per call).

5. The program is buggy, unstable, and makes you feel like you are beta testing it. It constantly sprouts errors or conflicts with other programs when you least expect it, and many times it will not uninstall properly.


I've been using the free edition of AVG Antivirus for over 2 years without any problems. I recommend AVG over Norton any day.

Hi,

A couple of points that may help to clarify some of these points for you.

1) My systems both have an abundance of resources to call upon, so Norton does not sap my system of resources. It is true that AVG is smaller and less intrusive if that is an issue on your system. I just don't see any difference in resource hogging in my systems between the two. Both are just excellent.

2) Yep, this is true and like I said earlier, you have to pay for Norton's in the first place and also the yearly fee to keep it current. I just buy a new copy when one comes out and don't pay the yearly fee, but that is not the cheapest way to go.

3) I don't agree that they are helping viruses to spread. If you want to use their product (Norton), you must pay for it and pay to keep it current. That is the way it is packaged and priced, so I just don't agree that doing that spreads malware. If you don't understand the cost of the program and the pricing for keeping it current, certainly don't buy it.

4) I have used Norton (and AVG for years also) for years, and never have had to ask for support, so I had no idea what they charge for support. Like I said, some of their programs require more technical expertise to use. Therefore, AVG is much easier to use. I would guess from their pricing of the products that their technical support is also pricey, so Resolution would probably know more about this than I do.

5) I just don't see those errors that are talked about. I am not saying that some don't have trouble with them, but through the years, just have not had a lot of trouble with bugs, conflicts, etc. Mine has always runs smooth as a ship in smooth water. (hope the darn program doesn't sink tomorrow)

6) If you have Norton and want to unintall it.....you need some skill to do that properly, so if a normal user with limited knowledge, then you best go with the AVG. I would recommend that you not install it unless you plan on keeping it.

Hope that clears up any misconception of my experience with the excellent points that were made by Resolution. Good points Resolution.

 

[sUBs]

How about these two...

1. Kaspersky
2. Nod32

 

[Resolution]

Tumbleweed36, allow me to retort... :smile:

3) I don't agree that they are helping viruses to spread. If you want to use their product (Norton), you must pay for it and pay to keep it current. That is the way it is packaged and priced, so I just don't agree that doing that spreads malware. If you don't understand the cost of the program and the pricing for keeping it current, certainly don't buy it.

You are speaking from the perspective of a customer who purchases the norton software separately from the store. What I'm talking about is the millions of people who buy pre-packaged desktop systems with Norton or Mcafee already installed. You would be amazed (and perhaps you already know) at how many people are clueless as to what "virus definitions" actually are, and why you need to update them. A lot of average PC users think that once an Antivirus program is on their system, then it will automatically protect their computer without any intervention from the user. Others are just afraid to touch anything they don't understand. Once their subscription runs out, then their systems start becoming susceptible to viruses/worms/trojans, which in turn try to attack my computer, and I just can't have that.

6) If you have Norton and want to unintall it.....you need some skill to do that properly, so if a normal user with limited knowledge, then you best go with the AVG. I would recommend that you not install it unless you plan on keeping it.

That's the problem. It shouldn't take any kind of skill to uninstall a program that is preinstalled on millions of computers worldwide. The uninstall process should be quick and painless. :smile:

 

[JamesO]

I second Resolutions comments on Norton, have seen exactly the same issues. Finally uninstalled my last copy the other day!!!

Have not used AVG Free for long, however, I like what I see so far.

Make sure you have a soft firewall like Zone Alarm as well. The majority of problems I run into are due to lack of a good or any firewall.

Given the choice of only Anti-Virus or a Firewall, I would take a Firewall anyday!

Not so sure I would put all my trust into Windows Firewall in XP?

JamesO

 

[Resolution]

Make sure you have a soft firewall like Zone Alarm as well. The majority of problems I run into are due to lack of a good or any firewall.

Given the choice of only Anti-Virus or a Firewall, I would take a Firewall anyday!

Not so sure I would put all my trust into Windows Firewall in XP?

JamesO

I can go off on a rant about ZoneAlarm also, but that's another story. :smile:

The built-in Windows firewall is a piece of <expletive deletive>, but it's better than nothing I guess. It doesn't filter outbound traffic. That means if you happen to turn it off one day, and you get infected with a trojan, and then turn the firewall back on, you could allow someone to remotely have access to your computer even while your firewall is enabled. The same can be said for worms and zombie bots that could be used in a denial of service attack. So I guess if you like using a half-way secure firewall, then the Microsoft product is your friend. :4-dontkno

 

[JamesO]

ZA has been good to me!!

I agree that filtering outbound traffic is very helpful with trashware. First thing I do is load a soft firewall with outbound filtering on any problem machine!!

JamesO

 

[Tumbleweed36]

Hi Resolution,

I can't disagree with your perspective on the retort since we came at the question in different ways. From the way that I purchased the program, then it is different than what you were speaking about. We wre in essesence comparing apples (comes standard with board) to oranges (retail version from experienced user) here.

Funny thing that you mentioned that, my present box came with the Norton Anti-virus on the motherboard disk and the Nvidia firewall, but I chose not to load either and instead loaded the copy of my purchased version of Norton Internet Security.

Frankly, I don't give a tinker's damn about any of those firewalls or anti-virus programs that come with the motherboard disk and I have tried several of them as I have built computers through the years. There are a lot of problems inherent in all of those packaged deals and the limited time frame is a real problem if you wish to stay up-to-date.

The retail version, they are fine, but you must know what they do and don't do and what the costs are up-front. If you purchase the retail version, then you probably do know in advance. I do know that I must redo mine one time a year and like I said earlier, I do that. Fortunately, I have the resources to just buy a new version when the yearly version runs out.

Addendum: Oh, on the comment about Zone Alarm, that is what I use on the machine I have with AVG on it. This program works fine and I just don't get intrusions either. Excellent program for FREE.

 

[whodat]

:sayno: norton ... check here