PC Spring Clean and Norton Internet Security

CLAWS · 6 Apr 2006 at 09:59

Hi folks

I will be formatting my PC completely, in the not too distant future. Since about October 2005 I have been using Norton internet security. I have paid for a subscription and was wondering how this will be affected once i reinstall it after formatting.

I have tried putting the question to symantec themselves, but when i submit the question on their website, nothing happens :confused:

chex · 6 Apr 2006 at 10:55

when you reinstall your subscription will still be active

...when i reinstalled my subscription started again from the beginning and still had a year's subscription.

UKDTweak · 6 Apr 2006 at 10:57

If you want your pc to run better after a reinstall, i would recommend Not installing Norton internet security, it is a major resource hog, it add about 10 processes to your startup which will slow your machine down, there are much better alternatives.

CLAWS · 6 Apr 2006 at 11:10

UKDTweak said:
If you want your pc to run better after a reinstall, i would recommend Not installing Norton internet security, it is a major resource hog, it add about 10 processes to your startup which will slow your machine down, there are much better alternatives.

Ive been contemplating this for some time. I was thinking that once my subscription expires, I might try something like NOD32 or Kaspersky. Is there some sort of package that I can get for either of these two softwares, whereby there is also a firewall and anti virus application integrated into one?

MarcLister · 6 Apr 2006 at 11:45

CLAWS said:
Is there some sort of package that I can get for either of these two softwares, whereby there is also a firewall and anti virus application integrated into one?

Well ZoneAlarm is a pretty good firewall, there is also an option to buy a version with an antivirus feature. I know ZA to be good for firewalls but I honestly don't know about how good its antivirus is.

I did remember reading a PC magazine and being surprised that the latest McAfee firewall/antivirus combo won that particular mag's praise. Personally I wouldn't run a firewall/antivirus combo simply because I don't believe that a product exists that is better than say nod32 and ZA Pro together, which is what I use. If there was a combined product that was better than the best non-combined software I'd use it but AFAIK there isn't so nod32 and ZA Pro for me.

Wossi · 6 Apr 2006 at 11:58

I use NOD32, windows firewall and the firewall on my router. Not had any problems yet with that lot.

CLAWS · 6 Apr 2006 at 12:04

Looks like it may be NOD32 that I go for once my subscription expires. As for firewall, I think Ill stick with my WinXP FW along with the added protection from my router.

Any advice on some decent anti-spyware/adware/malware? I used to use SpySweeper not long ago. Although it was awesome in its function, it did slow my PC down a touch. I also use Ad-Aware at present, should I drop this because Ive heard some bad rumours about it?

MarcLister · 6 Apr 2006 at 12:06

CLAWS said:
Looks like it may be NOD32 that I go for once my subscription expires. As for firewall, I think Ill stick with my WinXP FW along with the added protection from my router.

Any advice on some decent anti-spyware/adware/malware? I used to use SpySweeper not long ago. Although it was awesome in its function, it did slow my PC down a touch. I also use Ad-Aware at present, should I drop this because Ive heard some bad rumours about it?

I use Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy. I too have heard rumours about Ad-Aware and it being bloated. But the other day Ad-Aware found three dodgy registry entries and removed them for me. Before I removed them though I ran a Spybot check and it didn't find them.

z0mbi3 · 6 Apr 2006 at 12:07

I'm using Avast and my NAT.

Never had any problems.