Best Antivirus

[bluesdave]

Originally Posted by tw

There is no decent reason for their license renewal to have become so complex - other than greed. Get the McAfee and don't even look back. If using Norton, when they try to sell you the whole new package all over again, instead, buy the McAfee. Every Norton upgrade by a layman user has been that troublesome.

I agree with much of what you say, but McAfee has been criticised too. I started with McAfee when I purchased my first pc in the late 80s, but then swapped to Norton AV (when it was first released), because I had been using Norton Utilities which, in their day, were great. Symantec destroyed all of Norton's credibility, and unfortunately, McAfee seems to have copied some of Symantec's bad traits.

I am only a new user to NOD32 (a few weeks), but I did a thorough investigation before I purchased it, and two friends who work in PC security recommended it. I would still recommend NOD32 over McAfee, based on the reviews I have already cited, and just about every PC magazine has rated it the best in detection and removal of viruses, root kits, etc.

[tw]

Originally Posted by bluesdave

... based on the reviews I have already cited, and just about every PC magazine has rated it the best in detection and removal of viruses, root kits, etc.

I just took apart another infection on a computer 'protected' by Norton. The details. Notepad was connecting to the internet. Of course, when the infection files were removed in the registry, et al, then they returned - the usual behavior of malware. Eventually, another file in Windows directory was found named Notepad with system and hidden attributes. This was a zombie. Norton never saw it. It apparently entered on an e-mail attachment. Norton never saw it coming in and Norton never saw the zombie sitting there waiting for instructions from the internet.

My experience is that Norton and McAfee have both failed. I see no difference in one over the other when it comes to protection. But the Norton has repeatedly required them to call me for assistance. I never get the setup and license renewal problems with McAfee.

BTW, for those who use AOL and are considering something else, first, upgrade to AOL's latest version (10?) where AOL finally provide workable protection. Execute that protection for free (because so many users of older AOL have malware). IOW upgrade only to finally clean your computer with their now free spam and antivirus software before terminating the AOL accounts. Every AOL connected machine I encountered contained malware. AOL finally addressed the problem with the latest AOL browser – too little too late.

[bluesdave]

I would still recommend NOD32 over McAfee, based on the reviews I have already cited, and just about every PC magazine has rated it the best in detection and removal of viruses, root kits, etc.

tw, if you are going to quote me, at least get it right, please. You make it look like I am recommending Norton, when I in fact did the opposite.