[JayBee]

I am using Norton on this computer, but only because I got 90 days free with the purchase of the computer. Every time I boot up, I get a message that says Norton is unable to run an update. So what good is it? I think AOL probably set up a firewall which is blocking Norton's updates. AOL's premium subscription includes an AV program, so they want to get the business for themselves. But I am definitely 86-ing Norton when the freebie is up and probably AOL, too, since I think they both suck.

New computers with the latest chips seems to do OK with Norton, but if you have an older model they hog up way too much capacity and slow the computer down to a snail's pace. My friend who uses Norton got a a virus(Fundo-V) that the Norton program couldn't handle, and it trashed her computer. We contacted Symantec, and they emailed her the fix instuctions to get rid of Fundo-V. We carefully followed the instructions to a T, and each time it got rid of the virus(according to Norton), and the computer functioned normally. However, the virus was able to hide in the boot files, and every time she booted up anew, it was back again, like an old friend you just can't get rid of!! She was ready to hire an expensive expert to handle it, but I said, "Let's give AVG a shot at it first. Running the computer in the safe mode, we downloaded and ran the AVG scan. Worked like a charm. And with Norton disabled, her computer wasn't so damn slow anymore. A month later, I was over there, and we get on her computer, and it is running like shit. I see the Norton icon, and ask if she is running Norton again, and she says yes. Why? Well, because it is supposed to be the best, of course, and it does so much more for you than just scan for viruses, says she. Yeah, like make your computer run slow as molasses in January, says I. She is still using it and her computer still works like crap, so yesterday she said she is getting a new computer.

I use both Antivir and AVG on my other computer. Both are free. They fought at first, but now they seem to get along OK. I rarely have had a problem, but the couple times I have, I just make sure my programs are updated, then ran full scans with both, then it was fixed.