Time for AV change

[Wingit]

After years of using NAV, I am moving on to greener pastures...my current candidates are Trend's Internet Security suite, Nod32 w/ perhaps ZA (?), or the ZA suite (AV and Firewall....AV any good?). I would prefer something with a firewall, but if a hybrid solution from two vendors is better, then so be it. Also, has anyone experienced any horror stories on removal of Norton 2002 pro (my current and expired solution). I know this topic is a "regular", but since the last time it was beat on, I know several members have had time to live with new choices that they have made ....I would love to hear about their current level of satisfaction (KT and Nod32 for example....still like it bud?)
Thanks in advance for any feedback and if you've got something better than my candidates...let's hear it! I need to buy it for two XPpro machines, so I want to be happy.

[Briton]

I use NOD32 and I love it. Fast, reliable, and quick updates. It's a very light program as well. AVG is also a good alternative, however, I prefer NOD32 coupled with ZoneAlarm.

[PCBruiser]

I was recently faced with the same issue, and after considerable testing, etc., went with AVG based on cost - I needed it for 5 systems including a server and Linux, and only AVG had a nice 2-year subscritption for a good cost - $150 for the entire thing. I have been very satisfied with AVG, light on resourceses and some very good features. Easy updates, fast, good email scanning, etc., although Trend's product was also close for me, it was twice the cost.

[TweakHound]

AVG free version gets my vote!

[yamawho]

Originally Posted by TweakHound

AVG free version gets my vote!

Can you install the free version on a network ?

[PCBruiser]

The license for AVG free is only for one system for personal use. Install on a network??? Not quite sure what you mean by that. Install on a system connected to a network? Yes. Install on a server, no. Install on multiple systems on a network, not according to the license.

[Wingit]

Any Trend IS suite users?

[PCBruiser]

I think that's what pointreyes uses.

[Wingit]

...bump

[PCBruiser]

Wingit, do a search for pointreyes and TrendMicro, I think you will find a number of threads where he posted about that.

[Dread]

Originally Posted by Wingit

After years of using NAV, I am moving on to greener pastures...my current candidates are Trend's Internet Security suite, Nod32 w/ perhaps ZA (?), or the ZA suite (AV and Firewall....AV any good?). I would prefer something with a firewall, but if a hybrid solution from two vendors is better, then so be it. Also, has anyone experienced any horror stories on removal of Norton 2002 pro (my current and expired solution). I know this topic is a "regular", but since the last time it was beat on, I know several members have had time to live with new choices that they have made ....I would love to hear about their current level of satisfaction (KT and Nod32 for example....still like it bud?)
Thanks in advance for any feedback and if you've got something better than my candidates...let's hear it! I need to buy it for two XPpro machines, so I want to be happy.

Yeah.. removing NAV 2002 was a major pain. I bought 2003 and tried to upgrade. During install it said it would remove my "old" version. WRONG...
It ended up in an in-between state where it partially but not fully installed.
It kept asking for the 2002 CD. I rebooted a number of times and same thing. It wanted the 2002 CD but putting that cd didnt help anything.
It was major pain! Nothing I tried worked. 2002 wouldnt uninstall and 2003 wouldnt install.
I finally went to Symantecs website and had to download a removal tool that finally worked. My subscription ends in Feb 2005.
Rant Mode: Off

Umm anyways.. on my XP Pro machine I run AVG (free) and have had zero problems thus far. It is much lighter than NAV. Hopefully it works as well as NAV has caught a number of viruses mostly on incoming email.

[Wingit]

thanks for the feedback Dread, I thought I remembered some folks having incomplete uninstall issues W/ NAV...I'll look for the tool at their site as a back up in case I have the same issues, although I will be using the add/remove windows function to uninstall rather than a NAV upgrader as I am saying good-bye to all Norton products.

[PCBruiser]

Wingit, you may still need to download and use that removal tool. I did have to use it on all my systems where I was removing Norton in addition to the Windows uninstaller. And, on one system, removing Norton destroyed my TCP/IP protocol completely, and I had to do a rescue reinstall to get it back. Norton is a bearcat to get rid of, and plan on it taking a few hours to do it, with some fussing and possibly a rescue reinstall. But, it is worth it, although it will fight you tooth and nail during the uninstall process. Remember that you may also need to uninstall Live Update separately, and possibly some other components as well. I found that stopping and disabling all Norton based services, and then rebooting before doing the uninstall makes it a little easier to do, and may prevent the problems with TCP/IP. Also stop any Norton stuff from starting up using msconfig before you reboot.

[Dread]

Yup, PCBruiser is right! The ordeal I described above took at least 2-3 hours to finish in between scratching my head and pulling out some of my hair as well. Where theres a will, theres a way!
I'm slowly weaning myself off of Symantec stuff.

[Wingit]

Thanks for the warning PCB....I'll take that advice gladly.... I don't know whether to be impressed at the level of integration that NAV achieves or to be appalled by it...one the one hand, tight integration in an AV product sounds as though it is trying to do it's job....on the other, I have a mistrust of anything that moves into my "home" and claims squatter's rights.