Well known security packages

[greenbrucelee]

How come well known security software Like Norton and Macafee are as popular as they are when they are not that good in doing what they are supposed to do?

I myself used to run Nortons and found it shockingly bad, I now run comodo firewall and use Avir Anti vir and have had no problems what so ever and they were both free.

As long you keep your virus definitions up to date and run a regular check with the virus software and make sure the firewall is doing its jon then you should be ok.

I just don't understand how Nortons and Macafee can be so bad but so popular anyone got any views on this?

[simongrahamuk]

bundled software.

buy a new pc, get av with it, sorted.

so what if it expires 6 months down the line just get joe no idea to upgrade it.

[greenbrucelee]

Originally Posted by simongrahamuk

bundled software.

buy a new pc, get av with it, sorted.

so what if it expires 6 months down the line just get joe no idea to upgrade it.

Yeah but people actually buy it from PC world or something and use them as if they are the only thing out there that is any good and I liken Nortons & Macafee to being actual viruses because they can be a bugger to get rid off.

[Bluerinse]

Yes Simon is spot on, Norton and McAfee have been bundling their bloatware for years, much like AOL and Compuserve used to in the old days with their endless CD coasters. People just cant avoid stuff if it's hitting you every where you turn.

Oh, i suppose i should add that the corporate versions of their products are pretty good.

[simongrahamuk]

Originally Posted by greenbrucelee

Yeah but people actually buy it from PC world or something and use them as if they are the only thing out there that is any good and I liken Nortons & Macafee to being actual viruses because they can be a bugger to get rid off.

yeah but where do you think they bought their pc from in the first place?

[greenbrucelee]

Originally Posted by Bluerinse

Yes Simon is spot on, Norton and McAfee have been bundling their bloatware for years, much like AOL and Compuserve used to in the old days with their endless CD coasters. People just cant avoid stuff if it's hitting you every where you turn.

Oh, i suppose i should add that the corporate versions of their products are pretty good.

I couldn't comment on the coperate stuff but I'll take your word for it.

Originally Posted by simongrahamuk

yeah but where do you think they bought their pc from in the first place?

Yeah from PC World with the knowledgable tech guys

I think if more people could be educated in someway to whats good and whats ok then there would be a difference or a shift in what people use. The other day at work one of printers told me his subscription was going to run out on mccafee I pointed him in the direction of Avira and zone alarm firewall and he says he has never been happier and his PC seems to run better.

[Sparky]

Corporates have invested in Symantec AV products over the years. Swapping to another product is a *big* job as uninstalling it can mean visiting each workstation.

[greenbrucelee]

Originally Posted by Sparky

Corporates have invested in Symantec AV products over the years. Swapping to another product is a *big* job as uninstalling it can mean visiting each workstation.

So how come there is a big difference in the home pc stuff and corporate stuff is it just because there is more money going into the corperate stuff & the home AV software is a dumbed down version.

[Sparky]

The corporate edition for any AV product is different, basically you can have a AV management server and also specialised plug-ins so you can install AV on Exchange server for example.

The Symantec home edition AV has improved in the last release from what I have seen of it so far. I still wouldn’t recommend it though.

[JonGlory]

I like avast for my anti virus myself, Nortons & Macafee are not worth the cash imo, maybe in a big orginisation but not for a hokme user.

[greenbrucelee]

My sister has Norton360 and I thought it was crap. I see your point on the seperate server and specialist plug-ins. I take it the plug-ins make it more configurable and as intrusive or unintrusive as you want.

[greenbrucelee]

Originally Posted by JonGlory

I like avast for my anti virus myself, Nortons & Macafee are not worth the cash imo, maybe in a big orginisation but not for a hokme user.

Yep that was my point, too expensive and not very good.

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by greenbrucelee

My sister has Norton360 and I thought it was crap. I see your point on the seperate server and specialist plug-ins. I take it the plug-ins make it more configurable and as intrusive or unintrusive as you want.

Basically you need a plug-in for whatever Email DB is running; this can be Exchange or Domino (Lotus Notes) for example. If you just have ‘standard’ AV it can lock up log files etc. and this can cause stability issues.

[greenbrucelee]

Got ya if only the home versions worked that way as sometimes they don't seem to work well with some software as if they are conflicting or locking up other apps.

[AJ]

I think that what you need to remember is that Corporate editions of any AV software will have remote administration to deploy he AV to clients on the network all with the same config.