Its not about money...its about quality (Norton Antivirus question)

Well I hope title isnt tooo long...


My Norton subscription is ending soon and i am thinking...

Do I have any disadvantage using free antivirus programs over norton in terms of security?

I mean I dont want to compromise security much & at the same time have a program which is better or equal or closest to Norton Antivirus...

My friend recommended nod32 or avast....


So should i drop Norton or renew ? Coz i am very particular about security as lot of family members use laptop for ebanking n all...
& I am little adventurous while surfing


P.S: I know how much Norton weighs down the performance of the comp but all i care about is that security should not be compromised irrespective of how heavy it is

 

almost everyone i know uses AVG or kaspersky.

 

Antivir has a high detection rate

Nowadays, free av doesn't automatically equal poor quality
I'd go with a free one

 

The best Free version is Avast or AVG.

The Best Paid version is NOD32.


If you don't mind paying, then go for NOD32 all the way.

 

I have been using а free version of an AVG for many years now and I am very happy with it, although all my friends in Europe prefer kaspersky.

 

AVG, Avast, Kaspersky, or NOD32 are all highly rated antivirus. Norton is not worth the money or the CPU cycles considering it's lower detection rates.

 

There is no best free allaround internet security suite. For antivirus you can use AVG, Avast, Avira.

You have to use real time spyware protection too. Windows defender is a good free one for this.

If you want a paid version, you can definitely go with kaspersky internet security or NAV 2008.

Finally, there is always a compromise between a paid security software vs free (not limited trial) in virus/spyware/malware removal capabilities. You cannot expect a free software to remove all the traces of malware.

 

question about a router: isn't a router blocks viruses from entering your system unless you give your permission to accept file,web page, e-mail,etc. ?

 

No way. A router doesn't have that capability.

 

thats strange because I was under impression that router blocks all the crap and the hackers

 

A layered approach is best.

1. Router
2. Software Firewall
3. Software Anti-Spyware
4. Software Anti-Virus

 

A router is just one more hurdle.

All it does is block traffic from directly speaking to your computer.
It is supposed to let certain traffic through and block other traffic.
It can block traffic IN or traffic OUT on your command, but most people don't use it for that.
(Smart home admins block anything they won't use.)

The way most people have it set up it works like a glorified (and stupid) office assistant.

Worse, since most people don't configure their router, they can sweet talk the router, then simply guess where you are.

(go to a command prompt and type ipconfig /all, if it says 10.0.0.2 your router is little more than a neon "please don't hack me" sign. For heaven's sake don't allow your router to give out 10.0.0.x addresses or 10.0.10.x addresses as they are the first ones everybody will guess.)

Furthurmore, viruses generally get in by using a vulnerability in your browser or by getting you to execute something when you don't even know you are running anything at all. Then they broadcast where they are to certain places and create a backdoor to your computer.

One of the most common ways is to push the virus over local networks (yes, a cablemodem counts to a certain degree) or to simply make a website like a mispelling of microsoft's site and place a simple forward page on there that sends you to microsoft.com but first pushes a Script out to your computer which uses a windows vulnerability to auto-execute it without asking you.

Even more fun, Antivirus programs like Norton are the first on the viruses list for what to annihilate when it first infects you.


ANY computer connected to the internet means the internet is connected to you too and thus is vulnerable to attack.
NO program can make you safe.
NO equipment can close the door completely.
ALL network "security" is about balancing more hurdles than the attackers care to penetrate and (slightly)less hurdles than what will make your users pull out their hair all the time.

As for which antivirus?
-Pretty much everything is better than Norton at this point. Why? because every single virus writer has to count on the target having antivirus and the one they ALL will assume is on there is Norton!
-pick one of the free ones and get "second opinions" from time to time with the live cleaner programs from another product.

 

Exactly. The complete protection.

 

What do you people think of McAfee? I have been using and paying for their complete protection pack since 2005, but I never read anything on them. I am getting a new notebook soon, and I may consider changing if something is much better.

 

5. Common Sense

 

That should be #1.

 

Right. The best protection always comes from the user itself.

 

Bloatware. If you're going to pay get NOD32 with their new Smart Security.

 

Thanks guys...your help was more than enough..
I have one more question...

My comp keeps sending & receiving data packets even when i am not browsing & not updating windows..

Can u tell me a reason why data packets are being received & sent on idle?

 

If the router has a built in firewall, then it will stop people from seeing your computer on the internet but will not block viruses, spam or spyware from entering your system

There are specific hardware devices such as Barracuda Networks that will block spam and other such nasties from entering your system. But these solutions are expensive and usually reserved for enterprise solutions.

If you truly want to avoid spyware, viruses and such, then arm yourself with a good security suite or anti-virus/spyware/firewall software and surf the web sensibly staying away from P2P file sharing applications, adult content sites and anything that seems to good to be true.