Is Norton this unethical?

[Anon]

So we've had Norton for awhile and the subscription wore out. After a week or two the computer started bogging down and freezing up more than usual, and not working right. My husband uninstalled Norton and I downloaded McAfee from Comcast. Still the computer is bogging down and it shut down today twice. I defragmented as well. Surely Norton doesn't leave bugs around so you think you need to reinstall it? McAfee is trying to run a scan and it finds and removes things but then the computer shuts down and it has to start over. I'm going to try to leave it alone now so hopefully it can finish the scan. Any insight? I know Norton is a dirty six letter word for most of you but I didn't know if it would leave bad programs behind if you don't re-subscribe.

[zealyouthguy]

So we've had Norton for awhile and the subscription wore out. After a week or two the computer started bogging down and freezing up more than usual' date=' and not working right. My husband uninstalled Norton and I downloaded McAfee from Comcast. Still the computer is bogging down and it shut down today twice. I defragmented as well. Surely Norton doesn't leave bugs around so you think you need to reinstall it? McAfee is trying to run a scan and it finds and removes things but then the computer shuts down and it has to start over. I'm going to try to leave it alone now so hopefully it can finish the scan. Any insight? I know Norton is a dirty six letter word for most of you but I didn't know if it would leave bad programs behind if you don't re-subscribe.[/quote']
The problem typically is how deeply norton gets into your registration.

I wouldn't wish norton on an enemy... lol.

[Ron]

I tried Norton once several years ago and it was way too intrusive. I'm sure it's probably even gotten worse in recent years!

[pneu-engine]

So we've had Norton for awhile and the subscription wore out. After a week or two the computer started bogging down and freezing up more than usual' date=' and not working right. My husband uninstalled Norton and I downloaded McAfee from Comcast. Still the computer is bogging down and it shut down today twice. I defragmented as well. Surely Norton doesn't leave bugs around so you think you need to reinstall it? McAfee is trying to run a scan and it finds and removes things but then the computer shuts down and it has to start over. I'm going to try to leave it alone now so hopefully it can finish the scan. Any insight? I know Norton is a dirty six letter word for most of you but I didn't know if it would leave bad programs behind if you don't re-subscribe.[/quote']
OUCH!!!!

I would try to dissuade you from using McAfee. IMHO their virus "protectors" don't protect well enough. They just don't clean up stuff as well as Norton. I had a similar saga happen to my systems as yours but actually wrecked the hard drive in one of them. That particular bug caused the HD to seek, re-seek, and "click like crazy" until it finally stressed it beyond its limits. I had a new HD drive installed and a new Norton package bought that can be installed on 3 different systems. Just right for my use. The other two systems had to be re-formatted and the OS reloaded.

To show you how many viral infections are out there just waiting in the wings to enter your system, my NIS did a scan after 3-1/2 weeks of use and it indicated more than 76,000 viri had been blocked/cured/prevented from entering.

[Anon]

Anyone know of a good registry cleaner and system de-bugger I can download?

We are sick of paying for Norton so we aren't going that route anymore....

[Timothy]

I have heard bad things about Norton in the past... back in the early 1990s actually... looks like they haven't changed...

My cousin, who is a pastor, got sucked into the norton funnel early in the piece, and he has had trouble ever since. Unfortunately, he had trouble before he uninstalled. Anyway, enough morbid stuff.

Being a Linux user, I'm not going to suggest a change of OS--that's unethical for me I reckon--but I did a little research on the net, and they had a bit of DIY here that might be interesting:

http://www.schrockinnovations.com/removenav.php

How about that?

[Danny Carlton]

I used Norton at one time, and found them too pushy. I switched to Mircosoft OneCare, and found them to arrogant and pushy (htye kept insisting I was a "yellow" status because I didn't upgrade to IE7). I'm using AVG free now, and it's just fine, and doesn't cost anything.

[Timothy]

I am really curious: Why not just use AVG free??

[Bakershalfdozen]

I'm also getting ready to uninstall Norton. Any suggestions on how to keep the computer from crashing? :frog I uninstalled it when the subscription expired last year and the computer started doing all kinds of weird stuff so I reinstalled it. I want to get rid of it this time.

[Anon]

I'm also getting ready to uninstall Norton. Any suggestions on how to keep the computer from crashing? :frog I uninstalled it when the subscription expired last year and the computer started doing all kinds of weird stuff so I reinstalled it. I want to get rid of it this time.

Yep mine is still slow and keeps going blank every so often and I have to reboot.

[Pastor Matt]

I am really curious: Why not just use AVG free??

:thumb Do not let the free part scare anyone off, they update the virus databse daily so it is always up todate.

[John81]

:thumb Do not let the free part scare anyone off' date=' they update the virus databse daily so it is always up todate.[/quote']

AVG has worked great for me. :thumb

[Timothy]

:thumb Do not let the free part scare anyone off' date=' they update the virus databse daily so it is always up todate.[/quote']Exactly, Bro, it just seems to scare people off?? Maybe that's why some pieces of useless software available is offered for a price? "It costs a lot, therefore it must be good!!

[gatorpreacher]

All of them are unethical to an extent; they are simply utilizing what they call marketing to keep you coming back to them; I would recommend AVG Free; I have been using it now for five years and no problems; the only real difference between AVG Free and the Pro version is that you don't have access to the tech support. No biggy....AVG runs flawless.

I do not recommend anyone's Virus suite; they are good, but just have way too much activity going on in the background that will slow your system without you knowing it. To get rid of Norton or Mcafee completely, you will have to uninstall from the contorl panel and then go into C drive and click on programs and look for the folder and also delete it there. These companies "anchor" profile and setup data in your memory that allows them to "come back"

Registry Cleaner........my choice is Registry Mechanic

[Timothy]

I knew that Norton "took over" the system, and I guess the point is that it is not just a Virus scanner. Doesn't it have a "firewall" feature as well, and some other bits and pieces? I suppose that it also depends on what you have bought?

I didn't know that Mcafee took over the system as well... (I'm still not sure how to pronounce it...)