Norton vs. McAfee

IMO, both Norton and McAfee are RAM hogs. I have never been a McAfee fan. My father-in-law was using McAfee when he got hit, Norton was able to detect and quarentine the virus (I still have it on a diskette). I have always preferred Norton to McAfee, but in recent years, Norton's performance has deteriorated, but I still think it is better than McAfee. The most recent suite that I used for a windows machine was Computer Associates suite that was available free from Roadrunner. It was OK, but nothing to write home about.

All AVs and FWs are vulnerable, there are none that are bullet-proof. Most hits are a result of dloading freewares, such as music and games. Do you know what you were doing when you were infected?

 

I had Norton and got wiped out too. Since then I've used AVG FREE and haven't had a problem. And best of all, IT'S FREE!!

 

techsupportalert.com is a good site for review of freeware, particularly the AV options. I used Avira for a while. I liked it better than AVG. I am using Norton right now because I got a new computer and have a free trial. But I probably won't stay with it. I have used McAfee as well. I don't see a big difference with them.

 

NONONONONONONONONO! Both of them are useless. Norton will drag your system to a crawl and McAfee is a welcome mat.

If you want protection, go with the big boys.

Nod32 (http://www.eset.com/). One of the best. I have all of our computers running it. It updates several times a day.
30 day free triel

Trendmicro (http://us.trendmicro.com/us/home/), Another top AV.
Their home offereings and free trials

Kaspersky (http://www.kaspersky.com/). Well-known and trusted. Another top Av.
Kaspersky free trials

You can go with the free AVs, but they don't offer the real-time protection these do. With a free AV, you get what you pay for.

I have been burned by McAfee twice, so I will never trust their AV again. I have worked on too many computers that were so slow, and Norton was the cause of it.

The final decision is up to you. I can only offer up my professional advice.

 

I used McAfee for years and loved it then they went with that full suite of products which just snails your machine so I left their bandwagon. Why do they all want to see you a full suite of crap you don't need (firewall etc...)

 

Not everyone is behind a router that has a hardware firewall in it.

I remember showing my wife the firewall logs back when we were on AOL. In 15 minutes there had been 35 attempts to access our computer. And we call those the "good old days."

 

Right you are. They ruined it about 2-2 1/2 years ago.

And good luck ever getting McAfee off your system.

I'm with ya'll...I don't trust any of them completely...and I've gotten nailed using the free AV software (twice!). I just wish our church had the $$ to get the top-flight software that Trotter mentioned.

 

We used Norton for a number of years on two machines and one got blasted. We now have used AVG free for several years on 5 machines and have had no problems.

I think it is more to the point of being hit by something that the virus folks haven't run across before than anything else.

I also work with a computer lab with three units on avg free with no problems (kids to teens going where they will on the net.)

 

I hate McAfee with the white-hot fire of 1,000 suns. It let in both a root kit and a virus, the latter of which wiped me out.

Trotter, thanks for the suggestions. I find it nearly impossible to wade through the hype about AV software and figure out which one is better.

 

Tom,
If you've already uninstalled MacAfee, you should be okay. You can go further by checking your registry and deleting all references to MacAfee, but be sure you back up your registry first (or do a restore point).

 

Here ya go, Tom.

McAfee Removal Tool

 

Trotter, do you use the Eset product for your firewall also?

 

I use Eset Smart Secuity, which does include a firewall. I don't really need one, as my router has a firewall already, but it was a gift... no way I was going to turn it down.

 

We've gone with Kaspersky. Outstanding product, and none of the Norton/McAfee headaches.

(fairly large system for a church--20 computers plus a server)

Hardest part? Getting rid of Norton.
Best benefit? It catches viruses Norton let through.

 

I like Advast. It is free and has a very good reputation.