Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus

[Madeline Regular Contributor]

I have recently read a thread started by Lexus2456 which made interesting reading. I also went to the links given there:

Lexus2456's thread

I have the following questions and I'd be grateful for any answers you can give.

1. Why should I update when NIS 2010 already does all I need from a security suite?

2. What features does NIS 2011 have which aren't already offered in NIS 2010?

3. I've noticed NUA.exe in the 'Processes' in Task Manager. Can I end the task and, if so, will it go away for ever or will it return at some point.

4. Why is this being done without my permission? I have a dial-up connection because that's all I can get where I live and this could take ages. It's ludicrous that I have to download it before I get rid of it. I have NIS to ensure that things don't get onto my PC without my knowledge or consent, but apparently Norton itself can do as it pleases!

[AllenM Norton Fighter]

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Madeline wrote:

I have recently read a thread started by Lexus2456 which made interesting reading. I also went to the links given there:

Lexus2456's thread

I have the following questions and I'd be grateful for any answers you can give.

1. Why should I update when NIS 2010 already does all I need from a security suite?

>> Each product year that comes out includes new program enhancements and technology which also increase the security provided for your computer. It is not just the definitions that give you the security you need but also the changes to the program itself many of which is not and/or cannot be back ported to the previous product year. This alone is enough reason to upgrade to 2011.

NIS 2011 also offers things like the Performance Monitor which provide alerts if programs have exceeded certain thresholds in terms of CPU usage, memory, etc.

See also #3 below.

2. What features does NIS 2011 have which aren't already offered in NIS 2010?

>> Answered above in #1.

3. I've noticed NUA.exe in the 'Processes' in Task Manager. Can I end the task and, if so, will it go away for ever or will it return at some point.

>> This is yet another reason to upgrade. NIS 2011 does NOT do this. There is an option in Misc. Settings called "Automatic Download of New Version" which can be turned OFF. (default is ON but it can be changed to OFF). When set to OFF NIS will no longer download new product year versions.

4. Why is this being done without my permission? I have a dial-up connection because that's all I can get where I live and this could take ages. It's ludicrous that I have to download it before I get rid of it. I have NIS to ensure that things don't get onto my PC without my knowledge or consent, but apparently Norton itself can do as it pleases!

>> Addressed in #3 above.

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Hi Madeline,

Please see responses above. I am researching NUA right now. I believe there is a way to stop it so I'll get back to you on this.

Edit: Thus far I have not found a definitive answer on the ability to stop NUA from running so I am now installing NIS 2010 on my "test laptop" to do some testing on this. So please hang in there for a while.

Most likely "nua.exe" can probably just be deleted but before you do that allow me some time to test it out.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes.

Allen

[Calls]

interestingly, I have NUA.exe in C:\ProgramData\Norton

but not showing in my task manager

[AllenM Norton Fighter]

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Calls wrote:

interestingly, I have NUA.exe in C:\ProgramData\Norton

but not showing in my task manager

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Hi Calls,

Yes I've seen references to that in some other threads myself.

I need to do some testing to see if it suffices to simply delete the executable. Since the only purpose of this file is to check for and download new product year versions it should be safe but I do not want to recommend this until I've had a chance to test it out some myself.

Best wishes.

Allen

[AllenM Norton Fighter]

Hi Madeline and Calls,

I'm not sure why the other threads I've found indicate that NUA is not listed in Task Manager or "msconfig" because on my test laptop where I have reinstalled NIS 2010, it most certainly is located in both places.

In Task Manager it is listed as NUA.exe.

In "msconfig" it is listed in the "Startup" tab as Norton Update Agent.

Thus far when I have disabled NUA in "msconfig" NUA has not started running again.

Madeline, here is what you can do. First check in Task Manager click the Processes tab and look for an entry which says NUA.exe *32. This will confirm that it shows in your Task Manager as a currently running process.

Then from the Start Menu RUN box type msconfig and hit Return.

This will bring up the System Configuration Utility. Click on the Startup tab and look for an entry which says Norton Update Agent. Clear the check mark on this entry and click Apply and OK.

Then restart your computer and check the Task Manager and verify it is not running.

You may want to keep an eye on it for a few days to assure yourself it will NOT run any more but this should take care of it. If you choose you can also rename NUA.exe to something like NUA_bad.exe.

I will also leave NIS 2010 running on my laptop for a few days to check that NUA does not return and report back here if I see any problems.

Calls, if you wish you can try this also.

Please let me know how it goes.

Best wishes.

Allen

[ALiasEX]

Regarding question 1 and 2, this provides a bit more information http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Protection-Blog/What-s-new-in-Norton-2011/ba-p/285976

[floplot Norton Fighter]

Hello Allen

As you know, I now have NIS 2011 and I have run NRT several times since I had been using System Works. I still have a folder from NUA in my computer. Apparently NRT doesn't remove this folder.

[joen]

> 2. What features does NIS 2011 have which aren't already offered in NIS 2010?

Can someone provide a url (presumably on either norton.com or symantec.com) with a changelog or history?  I looked and didn't find one.

[floplot Norton Fighter]

Hello Joen

If you read the information in the link above, it does tell you what was improved or added in the 2011 version. It's not in 1. 2. 3. form though. It does tell you the differences. Thanks.

[Madeline Regular Contributor]

Hi Allen,

Thank you for your very helpful posts. I appreciate very much the trouble you've taken on my behalf. Since I posted here yesterday, I've had time to think about this update more and I've decided that it would be best if I let the update go ahead.

My reasons are partly that I've had time to read the excellent reviews of NIS 2011 both in publications produced here in the UK and on-line; also I would certainly want to get NIS 2011 at some point and there's no time like the present!

Please don't think your efforts are wasted - I was able to check that things are where and how you said they would be, so that's good to know. I've left things how they are as having the Updater run on Startup doesn't seem to slow it down - I have a Selective Startup anyway as there are things on here that really don't need to run then! 

Since NUA.exe is there in Task Manager, is it actually doing anything, or is it just pondering life, the universe and everything?  As I'm on dial-up, I assume the download of this update will take some time, but hopefully it'll be done before NIS 2012 becomes available!

Thanks also to ALiasEX for the link to see what's new in NIS 2011, I found it very helpful and informative.

Best wishes,

Madeline