Should I uninstall Norton AntiVirus 2007?

[cat_lover_4113]

Last year, we got Norton AntiVirus 2007 for the computer. Ever since, the computer has been running slower, (and still does, despite me keeping up to date on programs we don't use), and I keep getting this annoying little pop up saying that some stupid thing (W32.Licum, it just showed) has been identified as a security risk, and then that it has been removed, only for it to show its face again.

Also, avast! antivirus sometimes brings up this virus alert that is within the Norton system files and because of that it can't be deleted.

The thing is, there is like 183 days of subscription left (automatic update time you get when you install), and I don't want to lose that, but if it isn't worth it anyway, I'll get rid of the program.

So, should I? I have avast! and all Norton has been doing is showing the little pop up and demanding a full system scan. It doesn't even alert me to viruses like avast! does.

[schultzie]

OMG DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I swear on my life it made me the happiest person alive.

use AVG. it is love. and free.

If you need help lemme know, I have the steps on how to do it saved from my IT friend.

[Einna]

Jeebus, get rid of it. I wouldn't touch Norton with a sodding pole; it's crap. Not only that, but it's expensive crap!

I second AVG, it's pretty good. Ad-Aware's good too 'cause it stops all the annoying-ass pop ups that would send things to your computer rather than waiting for a virus to present itself. So it cuts down on your popups too.

UniBlue is also really good. Costs about £15, and it's awesome and easy to use. It also does COMPLETE system work-out, not just particular places or types of file.

[cat_lover_4113]

Woah, two posts and shouts of 'get rid of the bloody thing!' :D

Schultzie, could you send me those instructions via PM, please? And do these instructions work for every program, cause if they do, I could clean a lot of crap that has accumilated from program uninstallations not getting rid of everything.

[schultzie]

No problem. I'll go do it right now.



And I would assume so. There's specified parts that are specifically antivirus but I don't see why not ^^

[vindemiatrix]

I'm going to repeat what has already been said and say GET RID OF NORTON. SERIOUSLY. You do not need it. It is expensive, it is HUGE, it steals all your RAM, it knackers your CPU, and it's about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

AVG is definitely the way to go. ^_^

[cat_lover_4113]

What you are saying, Vindie, does fit with what has been happening. It has been running like a car with little petrol lately.

I wouldn't mind a chocolate teapot, if only to eat it. If I used it, it would leave a big mess all over the table :D

[Gholam]

Yep, I had Norton with the comp when I purchased it. Could not for the life of me network my two comps. Deleted the program and bam! instant network and fileshare. I use AVG on both and have no issues, aside from the one the rest of the family using running slower due to the number of "addons" IE has self installed via their help.

So yeah DELETE THE BLOODY THING! :D

[AXJ]

Just adding to the chorus: in my experience, having Norton is actually worse than having viruses. ;)

[schultzie]

Norton = a virus.


And she's busy deleting it ^^

[spaceoperadiva]

We lurves the AVG antivirus from Grisoft.

[vindemiatrix]

Just adding to the chorus: in my experience, having Norton is actually worse than having viruses. ;)

I've never met a virus that could actually make your CPU burn itself out. >___>

(This is not a cue to send me one.)

[TwistedFirestarter]

Nod32 and Kaspersky make me happy. ^_^

[cat_lover_4113]

It is installed, and schultzie murdered Norton in it's sleep ^_^

Now, one thing that it did do that I found out when I installed it was IT DISABLED THE WINDOWS FIREWALL WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED! Damn thing! I DIDN'T ASK IT TO! Bloody software getting all high and mighty 'I'm all you need so I'll just get rid of the competition.' :mad:

Also, now I am going through the Program Files Folder for some (can't remember) reason, and there is still a Symnatec (Norton company) folder! And it won't let me delete it. Any help on that?

And a lot of other crap despite a lot of it having no programs installed.

[Aquamonet]

Norton is the ebils and Avast! is win.

Have you tried going into the folder and deleting the contents?

It could be something to do with processes related to Norton still running in the background? I am not sure how to fix that. Hopefully someone more techy than me is around.

[cat_lover_4113]

I have gone into the Program Files Symnatec folder and deleted some, but there is an executable there that won't let itself be deleted.

Stupid software.

[Shona]

Kaspersky is AWESOME. I think Kaspersky can get rid of fuckin' Norton exe files and stuff. It does quarantining and things.

[Aquamonet]

Cat have you tried pressing ctrl-alt-del and looking in processes to see if that executable is running?

If it is you can delete the process and delete the file. This should get rid of it but I would be careful.

[vindemiatrix]

If that doesn't work, you may have to delete the registry keys as well, which is something I don't recommend without getting instructions from someone who knows exactly what they're doing (ie, not me: I compute by instinct). Technical forums would help you!

[cat_lover_4113]

Shona, what does Kaspersky do, and how has it helped you?

Aqua, I checked the processes, and I can't see anything I recognise as Norton or Symnatec. There are like 5 svchost.exe though, none under my username, but LOCAL and SYSTEM and stuff like that. That seems too many to me.

Vindie, I may have to do that ^_^

[vindemiatrix]

Cat: yeah, svchost.exe is like that; that's perfectly normal! It does that on purpose. :) There are viruses which can exploit svchost, but you can usually tell if you have one: a good indication is if they are using more CPU than Explorer.exe, which you can tell from the fourth column.

Oh, and also you can shut 'em down if you like. Windows'll just start them up again if it needs them!

Does anyone know of a good technical forum to recommend to Cat? Purging your ebil registry keys is easy if you know what you're doing but the potential for MAYHEM if you don't is vast and unamusing. >__>

[cat_lover_4113]

I have one that is close to the amount Explorer is using, but that is all.

And I have no want to go messing around in the registry keys. I prefer to stick to where I know. Less mayhem then :)

[Ariella]

Okay, guys, post bump. I have bn having Disagreements with the Norton that came pre-installed on my computer so I am finally getting rid of it. You all seem to be in love with AVG, and it looks pretty cool, but Schultzie mentioned that AVG is free and the only free version I can find is a 30-day trial. There also seems to be a liking for Avast! but I've no idea what that is. Halp?

[Hippie]

Google search AVG Free Edition. That's what I have on my computer. It seems to be working really well. (I've also got two others but I think they're just superfluous, really.)

ETA: Here (http://free.grisoft.com/)is a free version. Download the one on the left. :D

[Ariella]

Oh, thanks, Hippie! :D I tried Avast! but for some reason it thinks my tablet's driver is potentially harmful, hopefully AVG will do better.

[Ranma]

umm i use Trend Micro House Call (a free web based anti virus O: ) that does well, i run Ad-aware from time to time, and i have Iolo Anti-virus.

I have Iolo System Mechanic as well though these two have oft obnoxious little pop-ups that force themselves ontop of ANYTHING you're doing, they'll minimize WoW just to tell you it's creating a back-up of the records of it's scans

[Ariella]

Oh goddamnit Vista. Guys, I need help again. :/

I've gotten rid of Norton, I've downloaded AVG and let it do its thing. Yesterday, Firefox 3.0 starts up again with randomly crashing on me and working v. slowly. I looked up solutions for this on Google and several websites recommended this Advanced WindowsCare (http://www.iobit.com/advancedwindowscareper.html) thing, so I tried that. It got rid of a lot of crap on my harddrive, gave some helpful suggestions (like stop the Vista sidebar from turning on at startup), and told me to reboot the computer. So I did, and now Windows Explorer -- desktop icons & taskbar -- is refreshing itself every few seconds. Firefox stays open but explorer.exe decides to take a break. And it keeps doing this! I've rebooted the computer several times since but it hasn't helped. Please tell me someone here has a clue what's going on?


(This is a sign, I think, that I should leave computers to people who understand them. I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH XP, WINDOWS YOU LOSER.)


edit never mind! System Restore seems to have done the trick.\o/

[cat_lover_4113]

The friend who got my hard drive working again told me to get rid of AVG and Avast and get AntiVir which is 'the ducks nuts' in his words. Haven't used it yet, but he spoke highly of it.

And I still have that annoying Norton exe that won't get lost!

[KeinesV]

why not shut it up with a full system scan?

[cat_lover_4113]

Shut what up? The Norton exe? Now I think I see where you're coming from. Use the AntiVir to get rid of the Norton? Good idea, I'll have to try it :D