GD Norton antivirus

[Tobra]

Have this crap on the office computers. Had an extra license that we tried to install on office manager's phone. It won't install, but it seems symantec is very interested in selling me a new subscription for the phone. Went through their online chat, hours wasted, tried their online forum, no dice, won't let me post there at all.

Any suggestions, aside from switching antivirus providers, I already thought of that one.

[911_Dude]

Norton AV is pretty much malware. Way to invasive.

[john70t]

I downloaded CCleaner from Filehippo.
Also got a free stealth installation of Avast which I didn't ask for.
No warning from Windows Defender or Firewall...

I hadn't read any bad things about it so I thought I'd give it a try. Czech company.

Suddenly, a few days later, it urgently demanded I restart immediately.
It seems it decided to install some sort of "browser monitor" again without my permission and needed to permanently integrate into my windows shell.

NO.
That got uninstalled.
Ribbit.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Have this crap on the office computers. Had an extra license that we tried to install on office manager's phone. It won't install, but it seems symantec is very interested in selling me a new subscription for the phone. Went through their online chat, hours wasted, tried their online forum, no dice, won't let me post there at all.

Any suggestions, aside from switching antivirus providers, I already thought of that one.

Ditch windows?

[Eric Coffey]

No need for aftermarket anti-virus on WIN10 machines, IMO. The OEM version works great.
I do run CCleaner periodically as well, and just ensure that it's a "clean" install for each update.
YMMV...

[widebody911]

I run Win7 and Windows Defender or whatever it's called, and I've zero problems. As mentioned previously, the "professional grade" anti-virus packages are borderline malware. I (am forced to) use a Mac at work, and they shovel that crap onto my machine and it just kills the performance, so I've developed my own scripts to actively beat it down.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

No need for aftermarket anti-virus on WIN10 machines, IMO. The OEM version works great.
I do run CCleaner periodically as well, and just ensure that it's a "clean" install for each update.
YMMV...

My experience also. I do update and run the free version of Malwarebytes once a week or so just in case however.

[Tobra]

My EHR (Electronic Health Record) requires I have some sort of aftermarket antivirus stuff.

Win 7 pro 64 bit is the OS, I think I can run Win 10 now, but would have to check.

[Synchro Joe]

downloaded CCleaner from Filehippo. Also got a free stealth installation of Avast which I didn't ask for. No warning from Windows Defender or Firewall...

I've learned that whenever you load CCleaner, even updated versions, you have to look very carefully at the choices on the little pop ups, one has the Avast install checked as a default.
You have to uncheck it each and every time. Apparently Avast 'owns' CCleaner. Always run it in a 'passive mode'.

For phone you can get MalwareBytes phone version for fee via Google or Apple store. Maybe manually update it once a week or something? Free version is OK, but of course you get the nags to 'upgrade' to full professional for a price.

I still run Norton 360 Premier on two PC's and don't really have any problems. Don't have it optioned to link with Explorer, etc. so it doesn't slow down things too much. Have the MS Defender shut off. Maybe I'm must lucky.

[stomachmonkey]

Stop
.
.
.
.
.
Surfing
.
.
.
.
.
PORN!

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Tobra

My EHR (Electronic Health Record) requires I have some sort of aftermarket antivirus stuff.

Win 7 pro 64 bit is the OS, I think I can run Win 10 now, but would have to check.

On Windows 10 Defender is as good as most*. If you want something very good but paranoid look at Cylance.

* This was info given at one of the IT security seminars. The speaker was Andy Malone.

[Rednine11]

I hate Norton AV from what I have seen it causes far more problems than it prevents
IT professional - 30 years exp

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Rednine11

I hate Norton AV from what I have seen it causes far more problems than it prevents
IT professional - 30 years exp

Oh, it is fine. Other than it is a bloated, bug ridden, malware inducing piece of spyware.

If it were a doctor, it would pull your stomach out to cut it open to see if you have an ulcer. Then put it back in, backwards.

[red-beard]

Norton would "upgrade" all the time and then I would lose functionality. I have removed it from all office PCs. I run Defender plus the paid version of Malwarebytes. MWB has prevented my wife from re-infecting her computer, but blocking bad websites. Her job requires extensive searches for materials that are no longer available.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Stop
Surfing
PORN!

This is a common misbelief. AFAIK Porn has lots of money and uh influence to keep it safe.

https://churchm.ag/religious-websites-are-more-dangerous-than-porn-sites/
('Simple', poor, and older crowds make for easier targets.)

A guy that has worked IT for big companies many years on many many machines has recommended Malwarebytes.
He said almost every infected machine was running something else.
No affiliation here but it's caught a few things for myself and worked good so far.

[Oracle]

Use the built-in Windows anti-virus.
It is top notch and so well integrated that you don't even know its there and... its FREE!