Norton Internet Security

Trekker · 09-07-2004, 12:59

Firewall and security stats have gone from ON to DISABLED for no reason. When I try to get into settings using options a popup tells me you do not have clearance.

Help ?

Lickable · 09-07-2004, 13:36

believe it or not... there is a virus that does that! You may have it! I dont know what its called. I have had it a few times and it made me give up on norton!

eviljock · 09-07-2004, 14:26

Not sure if this is the problem you're getting but try this page on the Symantec website:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...rc=bar_sch_nam

Trekker · 09-07-2004, 18:22

Don't Ask me how but I went back on my PC and all was Ok.

Thank's 4 the suggestions.

wendy · 28-12-2004, 22:07

I seem to be having the same problem at the moment plus I can't uninstall the firewall! I have run Norton Antivirus and it didn't find anything. I've also empied my temporary internet files and deleted the cookies - no luck.

I got it working the other day but then it was back again the next. I turned off the system restore to try and get rid of it because when I got it working the other day it worked after I emptied the temporary internet files so I thought it would do the same again and not come back if I turned off the system restore and did a restart. Unfortunately this didn't work!

Help please it's driving me nuts I've turned on windows firewall but I would like to sort this one out. This will be the first ever virus/trojan I've had and I've run out of ideas now - I have no idea how I got it working the other day. I have more or less backed up my machine so I can reformat if necessary but don't want to have to do this because it is so time concusing to put everything back on.

Martin_s · 29-12-2004, 09:30

Unfortunately there are a number of viruses that can infect your system because you've hit a window of opportunity for the virus writer (ie: protection isn't quite up-to-date) or any other number of issues like, lack of security patches, etc...

Once the virus is in it will do its best to disable the firewall and I've seen one recently that showed that AV was up and running but it had actually removed all the update listings so it "looked" like it was working when in fact it was anything but...

Often if you suspect this sort of thing the best and most productive course of action is to take your PC to someone well versed in this sort of thing and get them to remove and scan your hard drive on a fully patched out system with all the necessary tools... Unfortunately when you're using the hard drive in the native machine, much of the infection doesn't get uncovered.

wendy · 29-12-2004, 11:21

Sorry Martin could you say that again in plain English please I didn't get most of what you said apart from that you can have a virus on there and not know. I uninstalled Norton systemworks and reinstalled it got the updates and ran the complete test - nothing I have also been on Symantec's security check site and they check it too nothing! What I need to know is how do I get this off the machine without having to reformat.

Martin_s · 29-12-2004, 11:50

Quote:

Originally posted by wendy
Sorry Martin could you say that again in plain English please I didn't get most of what you said apart from that you can have a virus on there and not know. I uninstalled Norton systemworks and reinstalled it got the updates and ran the complete test - nothing I have also been on Symantec's security check site and they check it too nothing! What I need to know is how do I get this off the machine without having to reformat.

Hi Wendy,

Sorry that wasn't a response to your specific problem, more of a generic one..

As to uninstalling Nortons firewall, chances are some file or other has been corrupted, either by a virus or some other hiccup. You might want to try going to the Add/Remove program system and try repairing the firewall and then try removing it as that may resolve any missing files it needed.

Failing that, try running the installer again from the disk and see if it's then possible to remove the firewall after that...

This sort of thing can be down a number of things but persistance should see you getting shot of it in the end... minus a few hairs on your head though...

wendy · 29-12-2004, 13:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Martin_s
Hi Wendy,

As to uninstalling Nortons firewall, chances are some file or other has been corrupted, either by a virus or some other hiccup. You might want to try going to the Add/Remove program system and try repairing the firewall and then try removing it as that may resolve any missing files it needed.

Failing that, try running the installer again from the disk and see if it's then possible to remove the firewall after that...

This sort of thing can be down a number of things but persistance should see you getting shot of it in the end... minus a few hairs on your head though...

Hi Martin

Tried both of these options already no luck it won't let me past the initial screen as I get an error message that says a supervisor account is in operation and needs to be logged in. I've run out of ideas - I even found a support page by Symantec that gave some option but they didn't work either. I suspect I've had a trojan on there at some point but that like you suggest I now have a corrupt file. The trouble is getting rid of it properly. I'll keep looking in the meantime see what I can come up with. It is bound to be something really silly that I have missed.

Thanks anyway any other ideas will be appreciated.

wendy · 29-12-2004, 14:39

Just to update everyone on this I finally managed to get a utility from the Symantec website to remove the firewall so I can now reinstall it. Thanks for your help anyway Martin.

vidster · 29-12-2004, 14:54

Quote:

Originally posted by wendy
Just to update everyone on this I finally managed to get a utility from the Symantec website to remove the firewall so I can now reinstall it. Thanks for your help anyway Martin.

My advice would be to not install 'Snortin Norton' Wendy. I hear of people having problems with it every day, from not being able to uninstall, to Norton hogging all their system resources!.

wendy · 29-12-2004, 14:57

Not had a problem with it before though I'll think about it first as I may get a better one if I look around. Recommendations welcome of course - especially for free ones.

vidster · 29-12-2004, 15:10

Quote:

Originally posted by wendy
Not had a problem with it before though I'll think about it first as I may get a better one if I look around. Recommendations welcome of course - especially for free ones.

Now we're talking!.
All the links below are for free software

Firewall: Sygate will not let you down.

Antivirus: AVG7 has kept me virus free and it even identified a vulnerability in my java! (it wasn't even a virus and it still alerted me!)

That takes care of basic security. There are of course more free options, we'll go into them later if you want, as well as the spyware programs

fnkysknky · 29-12-2004, 15:12

AVG is great free anti virus software
http://www.grisoft.com

Zone Alarm is a decent personal firewall
http://zonelabs.com

Sygate Personal Firewall has been good for me in the past although might be a little harder to set up over Zone Alarm for a novice(?)
http://smb.sygate.com/download_buy.htm

fnkysknky · 29-12-2004, 15:13

Seems we posted at the same time - looks like we both have the same idea anyway

wendy · 29-12-2004, 15:17

I've already got the link to the AVG but my Norton antivirus has been ok plus I've paid for updates that don't run out for a few months so not taking that off yet. It's my own fault as I disabled the firewall to download something off Supranova before it was taken down

that'll teach me won't it! However, when you consider this is the first time anything has ever got through and I've been online since 1996 I've not done bad have I?

I've already got Ad Aware so don't need anything for spyware and I think I have a free version of Spybot somewhere - probably on my laptop! My security has always been pretty good but most people get caught out at sometime - not get me again that easy!

Martin_s · 29-12-2004, 16:24

Quote:

Originally posted by wendy
Just to update everyone on this I finally managed to get a utility from the Symantec website to remove the firewall so I can now reinstall it. Thanks for your help anyway Martin.

Hi Wendy,

Sorry I didn't manage to provide the golden bullet on this one but glad you found what you were looking for... If you have a link to that utility I'd appreciate it so I can add it to my arsenal of tools..

I'd also add my "don't go there" re: Norton Firewall... Thankfully I've rarely had to deal with it but various reports I've had from other tech users is that it's fraught with problems and as you've found support from Norton, when things go wrong, is next to non existant.

Zonealarm or sygate seem to be good options... although I know a number of people recommend against zonealarm..

fnkysknky · 29-12-2004, 18:51

Yeah I'd pick Sygate over Zone Alarm - there used to be a well publicised exploit for Zone Alarm but afaik it's been sorted by now. Personally I just can't stand the layout of it and the way you have to configure it, too dumbed down.

ANGELUS · 31-12-2004, 00:14

No offence- Norton is ****e!

Get yoursef Nod32 for Virus killing and Agitnum Outpost firewall.. the best of the best in these 2 programs.

Not one single virus/spyware ever after downloading these 2 fine programs.

wendy · 31-12-2004, 01:51

Just to let everyone know it turned out to be as a result of installing Shareaza software and wasn't a virus or a trojan. I comfirmed it was that because after I removed the Norton I opened that and all the connection settings had been removed - they must share files! I won't mind if I had downloaded anything but I couldn't get it to connect because of the firewall and couldn't get into the firewall because of that programme. Oh well never mind!

Just for the info Angelus - I've been on the internet for 8 years and have only used 2 different type of antivirus the first one was Dr Soloman - this was bought out by Norton so I finished up with the Norton! I have never had a problem with it before and have never yet had a virus or trojan (touch wood don't want to tempt fate) on my machine!

I will look at some of the others though and see what I think at the time but as I am connected via a wireless router I am behind a type of firewall anyway but I will decide later!