I never thought I'd ever say this, but after owning about 5 different 2009 internet security packages, the one that comes out on top in terms of speed and quality, is the latest Norton Internet Security 2009 suite!

After about 5 years of pumping out very good security software which was also a huge system resource hog that slowed PC's down to a crawl with popup screens and over-sensitive warnings, Symantec have stripped their antivirus and internet security software down and reprogrammed the lot from scratch by the looks of things.

I really can't believe how quick this thing is. We got a load of them at work, against my wishes after owning a few in the past, and I'm glad they did.
I recently bought Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 and thought that was good until I used NIS2009. I've just cancelled KIS2009 (kudos to Kaspersky, I've owned it for 4 weeks and they've given me a full refund!) and bought Nortons suite.

It's quite possibly the quickest software I've ever seen on a PC :shocked:

No nag screens, 'no in yer face' messages, the full suite only uses 2% resources and you don't even know it's running.

Have they finally seen the light and listened to customers? If any software deserves another chance, this is it!

How long have you been working for Symantec?

Too little too late. Nobody will touch Symantec now, no matter how good their products get.

Too little too late. Nobody will touch Symantec now, no matter how good their products get.

Personally I don't mind symantec it's just the norton line.
Symantec backup exec and symantec endpoint protection are okay products.

Yeah, I have to agree with you on BackupExec, but it's essentially a Veritas program that has yet to be tainted by Symantec.

Yeah, I have to agree with you on BackupExec, but it's essentially a Veritas program that has yet to be tainted by Symantec.

Yeah they've took over veritas. Hopefully they won't work too much of their magic on it....

Too little too late. Nobody will touch Symantec now, no matter how good their products get.

I personally try loads of software first before I buy if possible which is why I tried Kaspersky IS, AVG Internet Security (which was a personal favorite until now), Trend, NOD32 and Webroot Antivirus etc. and will buy the best software I see at the time.

How long have you been working for Symantec?

I haven't.

Neither do I work for Sony or Microsoft, even though I prefer their consoles to the Wii.

I've heard good things about kasperspy and also (but postitive comments becomin fewer recently) nod 32. However I'm a tight git so use a combo of avg free, online armour, malwarebites, spybot,mcafee rootkit detective & cc cleaner

So... my Norton has just (today) run out. What do you suggest I get instead?

as above :) all free. If you want to pay (atleast I think it's pay software) go for kasperspy. Failing that nod 32. Firewall choice - online armour (slightly advanced) I've found it loads better than zonealarm which I trusted for years.

I paid for my full verison of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 online through Avarto (who are part of Kaspersky) and until I tried NIS09, was very happy with it. Kaspersky have been fantastic with refunding my 40 quid after I rang them yesterday. I had it installed it a month ago too!

To be honest, KIS09 is very much like NIS09, only it takes more resources than Norton (now!).

I paid for my full verison of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 online through Avarto (who are part of Kaspersky) and until I tried NIS09, was very happy with it. Kaspersky have been fantastic with refunding my 40 quid after I rang them yesterday. I had it installed it a month ago too!

To be honest, KIS09 is very much like NIS09, only it takes more resources than Norton (now!).

I still wouldn't trust norton (personally. I'm not saying others shouldn't, it's probably my sillyness/paranoia) . The copies I've experienced (granted not 2009) have missed lots of things free ones haven't.

So... my Norton has just (today) run out. What do you suggest I get instead?

Try downloading the latest Norton Antivirus or Internet Security 2009 trial and give it a try. You'll be shocked at how much it's changed in 12 months.

If you don't like it for some reason, give Kaspersky a go.

Kaspersky Internet Security is currently £19 at Amazon.co.uk and £25 at PC World I believe and is an excellent all rounder to compete with the new Norton.

I'd never install Norton AV even if it was the last AV product on the market. :D

I'd never install Norton AV even if it was the last AV product on the market. :D

Bet they're worried :P

I'd never install Norton AV even if it was the last AV product on the market. :D

bless :)

bless :)

I gotta admit to me saying exactly the same as Savannah though before they got a load of the new versions at work and I installed them..

I've heard good things about kasperspy and also (but postitive comments becomin fewer recently) nod 32. However I'm a tight git so use a combo of avg free, online armour, malwarebites, spybot,mcafee rootkit detective & cc cleaner

Wow, what overkill...

that really bugs me about people who cram all sorts of crap like this on thier machines, doing that can often be as bad (some times worse) than the spyware you could possibly get...

I use AVG, and thats it, I dont have a scheduled scan either because once its installed and running resident it checks everything you do any ways, so if your clear when its on (after the first scan) your going to be clear any way..

(I do manually run it every month or so, on my regular Temp files cleaning day etc, same time I run Adaware, but uninstall it once its done)

never had a virus, and Adaware has only ever once found over 20 items (all only cookies too) -- people have said "but try this, bet it finds loads" - so I have, and they have not found any...

in short, you should know whats on your PC, what your putting into your PC, and what websites your visiting etc. if you dont, then you shouldn't own a PC ;)

in short, you should know whats on your PC, what your putting into your PC, and what websites your visiting etc. if you dont, then you shouldn't own a PC ;)

Harsh, but true. ;)

Norton Internet Security 2008 was the biggest pile of bag wash, owing to the fact that 2009 is essentially the same verison I doubt it's any better.Wow, what overkill...To be fair with the man, CrapCleaner and Malware Bytes are good and complement AVG8 Free very well. They don't do the same job and when you're an ADSL numpty with your USB modem, without the protection of an ethernet router you'd better be there with your sword and shield to thwart attacks.

Currently running Eset Smart Security (NOD32 + Firewall etc) and very happy with it. Norton did nothing but slow down my PC and clash with other programs. My dad also has the same problems and he's getting rid of it when he reinstalls Windows.

Wow, what overkill...

that really bugs me about people who cram all sorts of crap like this on thier machines, doing that can often be as bad (some times worse) than the spyware you could possibly get...

I use AVG, and thats it, I dont have a scheduled scan either because once its installed and running resident it checks everything you do any ways, so if your clear when its on (after the first scan) your going to be clear any way..

(I do manually run it every month or so, on my regular Temp files cleaning day etc, same time I run Adaware, but uninstall it once its done)

never had a virus, and Adaware has only ever once found over 20 items (all only cookies too) -- people have said "but try this, bet it finds loads" - so I have, and they have not found any...

in short, you should know whats on your PC, what your putting into your PC, and what websites your visiting etc. if you dont, then you shouldn't own a PC ;)

A firewall and an AV is overkill :confused: 'cool'

Currently running Eset Smart Security (NOD32 + Firewall etc) and very happy with it. Norton did nothing but slow down my PC and clash with other programs. My dad also has the same problems and he's getting rid of it when he reinstalls Windows.

As I said in my original post, Norton software of past was a terrible resource hog which slowed many PCs down to a crawl, but they've re-designed and rebuilt their antivirus and internet security programs (2009 versions) so they use less resources than any other security software on the market.

I can understand people hating Norton (me included) for their past bloated software, but after using their new 2009 version of Internet Security, I'm very impressed!

So....Norton 360 is £60 or thereabouts. Yes, I'm prob too stupid to own a PC :thumbsup: but given that I am, and I do, are you saying that I can have the same protection for free?

So....Norton 360 is £60 or thereabouts. Yes, I'm prob too stupid to own a PC :thumbsup: but given that I am, and I do, are you saying that I can have the same protection for free?

I personally wouldn't use Norton 360 as the tools built inside it, no matter how good they are, will probably use as many resources as ever.

I'm talking about the Internet Security 2009 package which they've stripped and reprogrammed from scratch.

I personally wouldn't use Norton 360 as the tools built inside it, no matter how good they are, will probably use as many resources as ever.

I'm talking about the Internet Security 2009 package which they've stripped and reprogrammed from scratch.

Me mam's pc has it and a sweep with tools off my pendrive picks up various stuff nortons missed

I have just downloaded the new Norton Internet Security 2009 as an upgrade and it has cost me £39.99 as against £49.99 for a new customer. I was running NIS2008 and, apart from a bit of a slow down for the PC, it worked quite well. I have had experience of some of the "freebies" Antivirus and Internet Security programmes and the AVG Anti Virus isn't as good now as it was some time ago. If the freebies are so good then why do most of them offer "increased security" packages which you have to pay for? On the face of it the NIS 2009 has all the bells and whistles which you are going to need especially if you download the extra free "Add on Pack" which includes parental control and privacy control. If the whole shebang goes pear shaped then I'll come back and tell you.

Ok - I had Norton 360 with the vague idea that it would keep us 'safe' (and have to say, it does seem to have done - as far as I can tell...). Was it a waste of time/money?

Would I get 'good enough' protection by using the Norton Internet Security 2009?

Geez, it's tough when you really don't know what you're doing, innit? There again, I can drive a car and no-one expects me to be able to do a great deal under the bonnet these days...

Thanks for the comments, btw, appreciate your input!

I can't find an article I had last year, but was on about about the problem being the detection of the delivery systems used and the heuristics of morphological cryptovirology. However the study indicated that it was the frees ones already mentioned here that found the most, kasper and panda coming in next. As ghozer said, you don't need it the full system scan intensive all the time once checked.

On my laptop I have it duel boot, just because its the only copy of Vista I have, but every time I boot into it (not very often), 2 minutes after everything has loaded, mcopafeel decides to finally load, then demands to do a full system scan, virtually crashing anything 3d at the time. I can tell you I know why I use linux... (but yes SELinux ****** me off at times, very rarely though and usually for good reason). Now it has comodo firewall on instead (not that shes grounded and not allowed on the net, but its fun to see windows try to hijack firefox and such).

However heres a few articles I found whilst searching that seemed interesting:

http://www.usenix.org/events/sec/tech/full_papers/provos/provos_html/ghost.html
http://www.cert.org/other_sources/viruses.html
http://mirror.href.com/thestarman/asm/eicar/eicarcom.html

I could have sworn the article was linked from the heuristics wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heuristic_algorithm


EDIT: Hung over or something...

Still can't find it, but here's some archived links:

http://mirror.sweon.net/madchat/vxdevl/vdat/epheurs1.htm
http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1622

http://vx.netlux.org/
http://vx.netlux.org/lib/adg00.html

I never thought I'd ever say this, but after owning about 5 different 2009 internet security packages, the one that comes out on top in terms of speed and quality, is the latest Norton Internet Security 2009 suite!

After about 5 years of pumping out very good security software which was also a huge system resource hog that slowed PC's down to a crawl with popup screens and over-sensitive warnings, Symantec have stripped their antivirus and internet security software down and reprogrammed the lot from scratch by the looks of things.

I really can't believe how quick this thing is. We got a load of them at work, against my wishes after owning a few in the past, and I'm glad they did.
I recently bought Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 and thought that was good until I used NIS2009. I've just cancelled KIS2009 (kudos to Kaspersky, I've owned it for 4 weeks and they've given me a full refund!) and bought Nortons suite.

It's quite possibly the quickest software I've ever seen on a PC :shocked:

No nag screens, 'no in yer face' messages, the full suite only uses 2% resources and you don't even know it's running.

Have they finally seen the light and listened to customers? If any software deserves another chance, this is it!

Just like watching QVC :suspect:


Wow, what overkill...

that really bugs me about people who cram all sorts of crap like this on thier machines, doing that can often be as bad (some times worse) than the spyware you could possibly get...

I use AVG, and thats it, I dont have a scheduled scan either because once its installed and running resident it checks everything you do any ways, so if your clear when its on (after the first scan) your going to be clear any way..

(I do manually run it every month or so, on my regular Temp files cleaning day etc, same time I run Adaware, but uninstall it once its done)

never had a virus, and Adaware has only ever once found over 20 items (all only cookies too) -- people have said "but try this, bet it finds loads" - so I have, and they have not found any...

in short, you should know whats on your PC, what your putting into your PC, and what websites your visiting etc. if you dont, then you shouldn't own a PC ;)

Amen to all this.....

Snortin Norton will never grace a puter of mine i'm afraid. I spent way too long showing people how to remove the bag of crap it was.

What do i use now? ..... Nothing

The best antivirus known to man is the human mind in my opinion. Be sensible about what you are doing online and all will be fine. I have never (no lie), had a virus/trojan on any puter in vidster towers.
If we were to get a virus somehow, we have each OS installed on a seperate partition so a re-install takes only 10-15 mins with the loss of 0 data.

To the people who are scared or believe they do not know to much about computer security.....

Think about who is using the puter and what they are using it for. I would say a free antivirus is more than adequate for 90% of peeps these days. I would also install a spyware scanner.
Don't click on every link you see.
If an advertisment (all imho), seems too good to be true then just ignore it.
If your browser asks for permission to install something... CHECK FIRST!
If you aren't sure about the application then please ask.

My old website might still help people without vista... http://vidster9.googlepages.com/getyourpctoworkbetter

Snortin Norton will never grace a puter of mine i'm afraid. I spent way too long showing people how to remove the bag of crap it was.

What do i use now? ..... Nothing

The best antivirus known to man is the human mind in my opinion. Be sensible about what you are doing online and all will be fine. I have never (no lie), had a virus/trojan on any puter in vidster towers.
If we were to get a virus somehow, we have each OS installed on a seperate partition so a re-install takes only 10-15 mins with the loss of 0 data.

To the people who are scared or believe they do not know to much about computer security.....

Think about who is using the puter and what they are using it for. I would say a free antivirus is more than adequate for 90% of peeps these days. I would also install a spyware scanner.
Don't click on every link you see.
If an advertisment (all imho), seems too good to be true then just ignore it.
If your browser asks for permission to install something... CHECK FIRST!
If you aren't sure about the application then please ask.


I'll ditto that too, vidster.
On my home laptop my only protection is my router firewall. No software firewall, no anti-virus or spyware software. I will probably do one on-line check every couple of months for any nasties ... 9 months on I still have a clean PC. :)

There are some excellent free programs available today ... there is little need for the average user to purchase paid for security software.

These are my favourite three FREE software programs in each category.

Firewalls:
Online-Amor (http://www.tallemu.com/free-firewall-protection-software.html)
COMODO (http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/)
Filseclab (http://www.download.com/Filseclab-Personal-Firewall-Professional-Edition/3000-10435_4-10421597.html?part=dl-Filseclab&subj=dl&tag=button&cdlPid=10421598)

Anti-Virus:
Avast! 4 Home (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)
Avira AntiVir (http://www.free-av.com/)
AVG8 (http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition)

Spyware:
Spyware Terminator (http://www.spywareterminator.com/download/download.aspx)
SUPERAntiSpyware (http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html)
Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)


SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/): Probably the most important step you can take is to secure your system.

Just like watching QVC :suspect:

No. QVC will sell you anything no matter how crap it is as they're out to make money (obviously).

I've hated Norton software for the past 6 years as it turned into utter garbage which bogged computers down more than a crap load of spyware would do.

My original post was to let people know that it's improved no end in the latest version to the point as it's one of, if not the quickest full security suite out there today.

You hate the Norton brand and would never give it a second glance, so really, it was pointless you reading my original thread (especially as you've no idea what the 2009 version is like).

These are my favourite three FREE software programs in each category.

Firewalls:
Online-Amor (http://www.tallemu.com/free-firewall-protection-software.html)
COMODO (http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/)
Filseclab (http://www.download.com/Filseclab-Personal-Firewall-Professional-Edition/3000-10435_4-10421597.html?part=dl-Filseclab&subj=dl&tag=button&cdlPid=10421598)

Anti-Virus:
Avast! 4 Home (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)
Avira AntiVir (http://www.free-av.com/)
AVG8 (http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition)

Spyware:
Spyware Terminator (http://www.spywareterminator.com/download/download.aspx)
SUPERAntiSpyware (http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html)
Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)


SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/): Probably the most important step you can take is to secure your system.

here's mine...

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

here's mine...

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download


And here is mine (http://en.opensuse.org/Download)

err... Fedora (http://fedoraproject.org/get-fedora), with added SELinux by the NSA...