Freware Anti-virus?

 

In a nutshell, with something as complex as Norton, it's best to be prepared for the worst, and, if like you, you have no issues, then be pleasantly surprised.

 

If you are aware of potential issues, you stand a better chance of dealing with them yourself if they crop up.

 

You reported that you had no problems uninstalling it - so that indicates that some people have no problems.

 

However, the support forums are crammed with posts from people who have seen issues uninstalling it - and very few from people who have had isues uninstalling other anti-virus software.

 

Since Norton is one of, if not the most popular A/V package around, it could be that there are more problems reported because more people use it - just like there are more Windows viruses because there are more Windows users and hackers.

 

 

- So the (rather unsatisfying) answer to the first question is that there may be something to worry about - more so than with other sofware applications.

 

 

 

As to whether the remaining components are likely to cause "harm", it rather depends on what they are doing - without scouring the support forums for specific issues, it's not possible to tell, but there are some safe assumptions to make, of which these are but 2;

 

1. The odd unused registry key or discarded file won't hurt anyone.

 

Some sites report that Norton's uninstaller leaves hundreds of registry keys behind - all this will do is slow system startup a little, since the Operating System parses the registry on system boot, and then it parses the Current User section during the user logon process.

 

 

2. An active service and its subsystems will use system resources.

 

If the service depends on other services or resources that are no longer present, then the system will waste time looking for them to satisfy the demands of this component. 

Particularly if this is an item that uses networking or "phones home", like "Live Update", then the system as a whole will feel incredibly slow.

 

If it's an item that "talks" to the system at a low level, for example, a driver that uses an "interrupt" (literally, a call that interrupts the processor in whatever it's doing), then not only will the system feel slow, but it could actually crash with a blue screen.

 

 

- So the maximum potential "harm" that can be caused is that the PC could refuse to boot.

 

 

 

In short, I'm not trying to indulge in scaremongering - just raise awareness that uninstalling Norton is NOT like uninstalling most other programs, and I have certainly had issues with older versions.

 

These issues included having to rebuild a system I removed Norton AV 2002 from because it subsequently refused to boot.

 

My advice to anyone wanting to uninstall it is, go ahead and remove it, using the correct procedures - but  proceed with caution - find out what the procedure is, read every screen carefully - and BACK YOUR DATA UP FIRST!. I know you read this everywhere, but in this particular case, it's really true.

 

 

 

Pardon me for saying so, but while I agree that this is the only way to completely remove Norton, telling people to reformat their drives is not a good idea.

 

Most people buy a computer as an applicance, and don't want to muck about re-formatting and re-installing everything - just like they wouldn't want to tinker with their car engine if it went wrong.

 

It's worth pointing out that reformatting doesn't just remove Norton...

         OK. On the subject of Norton. DO NOT BUY ANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS !. I can't say this strongly enough. I recently bought Norton Internet Security 2007. Everything ran fine until the other day when I got the message that my product needed activating. I had already activated when I installed. When I tried to re-activate I was told that it failed due to the fact that the activation code had been used on more than 1 machine. Strange that I bought the product retail from PC world and have only ever installed it on my 1 and only PC and only once at that (no OS re-installs or anything). After trying their various "support"  options it seems that anyone outside North America has to pay to talk to someone. I eventually stumbled upon a web based chat service that they run ( run by script based donkeys). Eventually after constantly going round in circles I was told that a senior rep would get back to me by e-mail. Well I have just read the e-mail and it says that my key has been used on more than 1 machine and I will have to buy a new product key. Unbef***inglievable. . Avoid Norton products at all costs.

   

 

Before I downloaded AVG but AFTER I had removed Norton "completely" I checked the "Security Center" in my control panel and it was convinced that Norton Anti-Virus was still protecting my PC!

Having downloaded and installed AVG "Security Center" is convinced that "more than anti virus program is protecting my PC":

 

 

WTF?

 

anyone got any answers?

 

Also I need some kind of adblock for IE7.... answers? (that dont include use Firefox please)

 

 

No Norton isnt showing at all.

 

Using AVG Free at the moment.

 

I also use Spybot S&D,Adaware and XoftSpy....

 

Question:

 

is Windows own firewall enough (though I also have a Belkin Wireless Router which has a firewall too....) ??