Computer Security

[Mr Pwnage]

I have Avast!, and I am bullet proof.

[T-Rok]

I combined Avast with AVG. I figure since I'm Mormon and keep to what I guess society would call "clean" sites I'm near virusproof with them both. But don't get me wrong, no one is 100% virus proof. Also, I forget who it was that said they had Norton, but get rid of it >.> Norton comes pre-installed with adware and spyware. However it "blocks" these so you don't see it until one day Norton is turned off. The reason they can get away with it is because Microsoft is stuck on a bloody contract with them.
Second I bought my new laptop my actions went as follows cause of Norton >.>
AVG+Avast download, Install, Uninstall any trace of Norton, SCAN VIRUS RAWR. Came up with 2 xD

[Scotty]

Norton comes pre-installed with adware and spyware. However it "blocks" these so you don't see it until one day Norton is turned off. The reason they can get away with it is because Microsoft is stuck on a bloody contract with them.

I don't condone the use of Norton, but this is a slightly outlandish claim.  Sure, Norton will cut your connection off from the internet if you let their firewall software license expire (I'm not joking, it took me three hours to figure out why someone's internet connectivity was reading "limited connectivity"), but to say that they flat out install malicious software on your computer as a threat is a bit out there in the realm of what's realistic.  I would recommend ridding of it to anyone who uses it, but I would not say that it installs malicious code on your computer should you attempt to remove it.  I'd rather just stick to the "Norton is worse than a virus" statement.

[T-Rok]

I never said it installs it when you remove it. It comes pre-installed into Norton. My step-father used to be into all that computer hacking stuff and he was telling me about it.

[Scotty]

I never said it installs it when you remove it. It comes pre-installed into Norton. My step-father used to be into all that computer hacking stuff and he was telling me about it.

Because anyone who claims a valid anti-virus program (call it what you will, Microsoft trusted it) comes with pre-installed malicious code can be taken seriously...  You do realize that contracts can be broken right?  If it were true that Norton place potentially malicious code in their software then handed it to the company whom they would end up screwing over with, they would be put out of business, and definitely lose their contract on the spot.

[T-Rok]

It doesn't start off malicious. But what it does is open up a flaw allowing malicious code in. Norton accepts payments from companys or even people to add programs, websites, ect (common things) to their "trusted" list. But while these programs may not have malicious intent when first introduced, they can later be turned into something malicious. So how it was explained to me was like this

Norton < code inside of Norton collects information for its buyers, just normal things, but most commonly your IP address. < this is transmitted to the quality control/design teams looking for user input and stuff like that(virus creators) which in turn lets them attempt to break down your doors.

Its not perfect as to how it was explained to me, but its close and you get the general idea. Now they know what virus software you run and your IP. They simply just keep attempting to hack you until one day your software is off.

[tehrozzy]

In truth, i never had a problem with Norton until they introduced SONAR. SONAR is ghey.
I run StickOnline.exe (SONAR has detected malicious software. -delete-)
Redownload StickOnline.zip
I add StickOnline.exe to the exceptions list.
Run StickOnline.exe (SONAR has detected malicious software. -delete-)
I DISABLE SONAR.
Unzip Stickonline.zip
Run StickOnline.exe (SONAR has detected malicious software. -delete-)
I turn off Norton.
Unzip SO then Run.
Works :D

^^^One of the reasons I rage uninstalled Norton then loaded ESET NOD32

[Forum]

I use Internet security 2010 and i say its pretty good, used to have trend micro but it expired :D

[Mr Pwnage]

Norton, by definition, ironically, is malicious software. If Norton were to be installed on this computer, Avast! would delete it because it is malicious.

[Scotty]

I actually just discovered that Avast does in fact make a .deb package!  That's intriguing, I wonder how well their linux client stacks up when compared to their Windows client?  Wonder if they have a Linux client for those of use who paid for a license.

[Lingus]

It's really never a good idea to have more than one anti-virus installed. They always cause issues with one another. They're probably designed that way on purpose.

[T-Rok]

It's really never a good idea to have more than one anti-virus installed. They always cause issues with one another. They're probably designed that way on purpose.

I use Avast + AVG because they don't do this. Avast is my active shield+scanner, AVG is internet webpage safety declarer+scanner. So I've got the best of both worlds without any interference. :P

[Meiun]

It's really never a good idea to have more than one anti-virus installed. They always cause issues with one another. They're probably designed that way on purpose.

I use Avast + AVG because they don't do this. Avast is my active shield+scanner, AVG is internet webpage safety declarer+scanner. So I've got the best of both worlds without any interference. :P

I second what Lingus said. At the best it's highly unnecessary and a bit of overkill.

On the topic of having no antivirus though, there is really no reason why you shouldn't have any. Even if you are knowledgeable and safe in how you use your computer, you are still putting yourself at risk. True, most malware gets on your system by users doing something foolish, but there are some exceptions and much more sneaky pieces of malware out there. A portion of the real dangerous stuff gets on through security holes in the operating system and or other applications/services running on it, in which case it really doesn't matter how safe you are when browsing the web. Either way, it is definitely better safe than sorry.

[Freeforall]

It's really never a good idea to have more than one anti-virus installed. They always cause issues with one another. They're probably designed that way on purpose.

I use Avast + AVG because they don't do this. Avast is my active shield+scanner, AVG is internet webpage safety declarer+scanner. So I've got the best of both worlds without any interference. :P

I second what Lingus said. At the best it's highly unnecessary and a bit of overkill.

On the topic of having no antivirus though, there is really no reason why you shouldn't have any. Even if you are knowledgeable and safe in how you use your computer, you are still putting yourself at risk. True, most malware gets on your system by users doing something foolish, but there are some exceptions and much more sneaky pieces of malware out there. A portion of the real dangerous stuff gets on through security holes in the operating system and or other applications/services running on it, in which case it really doesn't matter how safe you are when browsing the web. Either way, it is definitely better safe than sorry.

I agree. I also use the internet browser "Google Chrome" and an attachment called "Ad Block" That blocks all ads (Some contain viruses). I also use Avast Pro, but it uses Realtime scanning, so if you are playing games, it may lag a little.

[Meiun]

I agree. I also use the internet browser "Google Chrome" and an attachment called "Ad Block" That blocks all ads (Some contain viruses). I also use Avast Pro, but it uses Realtime scanning, so if you are playing games, it may lag a little.

Realtime scanning is pretty important if you are serious about keeping your computer safe. Avast and most other high rated antivirus are typically pretty light on system resources nowadays anyways though, so unless your computer is pretty old then it really shouldn't make much of a noticeable impact on performance.