topic Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ? in Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus

can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

EDYTHE — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:41:17 GMT

hi - I have posted about an ISS vs. AV before and one company vs the other ....I thought i'd take advantage of the same company i currently have with a good promotion - i know how to configure it so today i purchased T.M. IS PRO only to discover after i get home that its copywrite stopped at 2008 ! called separate retailers in my town & their boxes still show 2008 as the latest versions. (this holds for their a/v only program/ ISS program and the ISS 'pro' all alledgely '2009' programs !!!

Then i called T.M. directly and was told this 'is' the latest verstion for sale and to upgrade to the 2009 would require my downloading an 'installer' from their website and 'then' doing the updates...I have dial up and i'm sure i could read War & Peace faster than doing what they claim is'' required'' to bring their program up to 2009 !!

So,after speaking with Office Depot's manager after that phone conversastion with T.M.,, he suggested the following:

Since i have 'dial-up' & am not connected to the internet all the time (/Win XP sp2/Earthlink Server/Outlook Express) that i really don't need a total security suite (which i currently have -T.M.IS2008 but don't want to renew) but could get away with just an a-v/spyware combo program; use Windows Firewall and Earthlink's email Spam filter.

I do not do banking/internet downloading from websites... i mainly read newspapers/email an occasional px download or upload...i won't open emails that show 'fwd' in the subject line and wouldn't dream of clicking on any cute little blue words or web-links embedded within an email! LOL

The manager also feels by going this route if i go with the new Norton program (av-spyware, 2009) there shouldn't be too much taxing of the resources as would happen with a full ''security' suite'. (he's aware the Norton was known for that problem in the past but allegedly has fixed that with the 'new 2009 programs' )..he's also advocating (for my needs) McAfee av/spyware

I need a program that practically installs itself which he said is pretty much the way NAV and McAffee operate...that there are also other good programs i.e. Kaspersy but can be very frustrating to configure, etc....so .are you o.k. with my 'profile' above to use McAfee or Norton products?

thanks again !!!! Edythe

Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

delphinium — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:03:20 GMT

Realistically speaking, since this is a Symantec product forum, and since we all use it by choice, in spite of the fact that most of us have used other products, we are going to recommend that you use a Norton product.

I personally recommend that you Norton Internet Security, because a suite comes already put together, all of its parts match and you are not left with trying to configure this antivirus to work with that firewall and another atiphishing or anti-spamming software.

I would also say that an antivirus alone and another spyware program, even with the Windows firewall is not going to be as much protection as the Norton suite. Since the Antivirus alone is the same cost as the suite, why not do it properly?

Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

EDYTHE — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:24:42 GMT

Hi - of course i realize this is a Symantic Board - LOL - but i still believe people will be honest !

I think Norton offers and AV + spyware package for 2009 leaving only the need to use Windows Firewall and my server's spam mail control...i really had no intention of buying 'only' an anti-virus program.

However, i'm not adverse to getting the full Suite for Norton 2009....cost wasn't the issue - store manager thought perhaps with all 4 components NOT in 'one package' it would mean less likelihood that my resources would be slowed down. But he did agree that Norton is a very 'easy/configureable' program for my level of computer knowledge (which isn't much !! LOL)..i told him i did read some reviews stating that Norton products, including IS2009 is much 'lighter' now on resources ...sooooo i'm willing to try !! thanks

Message Edited by EDYTHE on 06-17-2009 05:24 PM

Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

SendOfJive — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:47:55 GMT

In your situation, you probably could "get by" with Norton Antivirus 2009. But since you say cost is not an issue and the Norton Internet Security suite is only $20 or so more I would recommend opting for the works. You do get many more features besides the nicely integrated two-way Smart Firewall with NIS 2009, as shown in this comparison chart. The way Symantec rewrote the program from the ground up to be light on resources has really impressed a lot of security software writers and has brought many former users back into the fold, so system performance shouldn't be an issue. If you look at the reviews in PCMag of Norton and McAfee I think you will see that in terms of performance and usability one of the two is clearly ahead of the other.

Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

EDYTHE — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:57:36 GMT

I can't argue with that logic - i think you're right !!

Since you are on dial-up, with Norton, you would need to leave it idle for approximately an hour a day to do its background tasks and updates. Norton does its updating and scanning without the need for you to wait for it. Leave the computer on while you do something else. If i'm on line and doing other things, i.e. reading a paper, replying to email is that what you talking about ?...and that Norton will do it's 'thing' during those activities or are you saying log-on - do 'nothing' and let it update, etc. ?

the next person to post said same thing - so i will go for the I.S.S. ...i was afraid it would use too many resources but apparently from that poster below, that will not be the case since the program has been revamped by Norton !
thanks again for your help ! Edythe

<<Edit: changed font color>>

Message Edited by TomV on 06-17-2009 09:57 PM

Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

EDYTHE — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:37:33 GMT

thanks for the links and i will go for the full I.S.S. of Norton --- tried to cut/paste your reply so you could reference what you wrote and my reply to it ... could not get iit to work !! thanks so much for your help ! i don't know how to place the original reply in my reply so i can reference what you wrote as i type !! it states ''disallowed URL remove from message .. dont' understand what all that means ! lol

Message Edited by EDYTHE on 06-17-2009 09:37 PM

Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

EDYTHE — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:36:08 GMT

to son of jive ...i can't seem to post a reply using your original post here as a guide tryign to write intbetween sentences.... keep getting 'error messages.... i will take yur advices and get the full suite ... and will look at the links you included also .many thanks - you make a lot of sense. !!!! Edythe ..hope this gets to you !

Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

Stu — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:45:53 GMT

I believe you are making the right choice. Although if it really was a issue you would be safe with just the Norton AV

Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

delphinium — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:49:42 GMT

When I was on dial-up, I found the best time to do my up-dating was while I was cooking dinner. Just leave the connection open while you watch your favourite TV show, or cook dinner.

With the background tasks, as soon as you move your mouse, they politely stop what they are doing so that you have full use of your resources. Absolutely lovely program.

Re: can I get by with just an A/V+Spyware program rather than a total 'security suite' ?

SendOfJive — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:56:35 GMT

You've met our text editor with a mind of it's own, I see. From a minimum system requirements perspective NAV and NIS are both identical: 256 MB of RAM with a 300MHz processor, so you can base your decision on features and protection rather than system resources.