I have Norton, been using it on my old computer, works fine. On my new computer it came with McAfee trial, so I haven't bothered to install my Norton, and I'm thinking about just paying for McAfee after the trial runs out.

Does anyone have a preference? Which one do you like better? Is there something other than those two that is much better?

Thanks!

I've used both, and haven't seen any qualitative difference. Neither would let the other get very far ahead in the AV race, so I think you'd be fine with either one, technically speaking.

That only leaves the question of paying for it: How much are the subscriptions to each? Are they limited in how many computers you can install with a single license, or do you need to buy one license for each computer in your house?

Do you have any other Symantec (Norton) or Network Associates (McAfee) software already? You might be able to find an upgrade or cross-grade deal by going from one to the other, or from an earlier version to a newer version.

Thanks Andrew :)

I have a Norton AV 2003 CD. I had intended on putting it on this system when I got it but McAfee was already installed. I have sheer laziness on my part and didn't want to bother installing Norton. The Norton subscription runs out soon so I might as well just keep the McAfee going for a full year.

Thanks again!

I use McAfee on my home machine and Norton at work. As Andrew indicated, my experience has been that they are pretty much identical products.

I also haven't found that it really is that big a deal if you are using other brands in place of items that normally come in their suites. At home, I use McAfee's virus scanner with BlackIce firewall and have never had any problems. McAfee's "Security Center" application even properly recognizes that I have a firewall installed and up-to-date, despite the fact that it the McAfee product.

My advice is to just go with whatever is the most economical and convenient choice.

-Jeff

Originally posted by HB Tigger Fan
The Norton subscription runs out soon so I might as well just keep the McAfee going for a full year.

Actually, the subscription starts when you install the product, not when the product was bought.

So you could install it and it would automatically update itself for a year from the INSTALL date. :)

I actually prefer Norton to McAfee, and I have used both before. I've just used Norton more often. But that's just my preference.

-Demigod

Originally posted by Demigod121
Actually, the subscription starts when you install the product, not when the product was bought.

So you could install it and it would automatically update itself for a year from the INSTALL date. :)

I actually prefer Norton to McAfee, and I have used both before. I've just used Norton more often. But that's just my preference.

-Demigod

It was installed on my old computer, and the subscription was renewed while it was still on my old computer. Theres no way I'd get another year for putting it on a new computer.

They have no way of telling :fez:


I actually prefer AVG (do a google search for it). Completly free for the program and free lifetime updates :)

Originally posted by DisneyFan25863
They have no way of telling


Of course they do. The subscriptions are associated with a user name and password, not with a specific computer. They don't reset when you transfer the software from one computer to another.

If they allowed that, how would they prevent everyone from just uninstalling and reinstalling the software whenever their subscription was about to expire?

-Jeff

Actually, Norton AV will do the liveupdate whether you register it or not.

If she installs the copy she has on a NEW pc, then the update subscription will start from the new install. At least, that's always been MY experience....and I've had 3 versions of NAV on 3 different PCs (not at same time - :) ).

-Demigod

I think the latest version of Norton is like Windows XP, where it will check to be sure it's only registered once, on one computer.

Older versions, however, could technically be installed on multiple machines. Or with the love of a registry hack, it's possible to have it expire much later. (But I've not done that, but have seen it done.)

Thomas

I'm with DF. I like AVG. Best of all, it's Free. Hate It? Uninstall it!

www.grisoft.com

Norton!

I've been using NAV ever since I got on-line and I have never <knock-on-wood> been infected with a virus. Exposed, yes. Infected, no.

In the tour of my technical support duty, I have encountered numerous problems with McAfee interfering with the normal operations of various programs. I have not had those problems with NAV.

*If* I am to switch to Norton do I need to uninstall McAfee first?

Yes you will need to uninstall McAfee first because the two don't play nice together!

If I may offer up my opinion, where I used to work we had mcafee on our computers and norton on our servers. I have always been a fan of Norton because thier product IMHO works very well.

I had norton on all of my computers in my unit. Our supporting activity insisted that I change to mcafee cause it was "the standard." I continued to stall until I was finally ordered to "standardize" our computers with McAfee so that we "played nice" with group.

Following orders I complied, removed norton on all the machines and deployed mcafee with the latest definitions. Later that week we were hit with with the LoveLetter virus and it wiped out just about everything we had in both my unit and at the group level.

When my CO asked what happened I explained it to him as best I could and I spent the next night redeploying norton because that was "the new standard." Who'd have thought I was a trendsetter? ;)

Our organization (800 workstations, 100+ servers) runs on McAfee. We have not had any infections from ANY of the viruses that have come out. We patch the software and update the signature files as soon as each new DAT file comes out. We've found it extremely reliable. I think that the McAfee/Norton comparison comes down to which interface/pricing scheme works best for you. If installed correctly and updated correctly, either will protect you well.

I have McAfee and have had only one problem: turtling with e-mail. I have "solved" this by also activating my web provider's virus protection at $2/month. That way the McAfee VirusScan doesn't know the computer's been bombarded.

I'm about ready to "go postal" with the people at Symantec. Again... :mad:

Every time I want to change or upgrade Norton AV I have to Uninstall and Reinstall it 3 or 4 times, untill their FAQ tells me to uninstall and then go rooting around in the Windows Registry by hand to erase the last vestiges of the old NAV install - and editing the registry by hand is like juggling hand grenades with the pins out.

The question is not if, but when your computer's going to blow up in your face, and how bad the resulting carnage will be...

And they tell you to "back up the registry" but they don't offer a way to do it in their progam, or tell you how you're supposed to get the backup back on the system if you mess it up to the point where your computer is an expensive paperweight...

I'm down to one running (non-antique) computer now, the number can't sink any lower...

Do McAfee or AVG have this same deadly "feature"? If they are better behaved, I'm switching.

:fez: --<< Bruce >>--

AVG is very simple to update :)

Ive used AVG for two years now and had no problems, but when i got norton for free with a new motherboard it was a big pain in the butt. Plus AVG is free