Does the product work at all after 1 year suscription WITHOUT updates?

Hi,

 

I've never used an Antivirus before and an old classmate of mine just finished using last year's "1 year protection NORTON INTERNET SECURITY 2011".

 

He used it for the whole of the 12 months and then replaced it by 2012's version. He said I could try and install his 2011's CD on my pc and see if it works. He is not much help in the computer knowledge field, so before he posts the item to my address my question is:

 

If he uninstalled 2011's version after 12 months use in his 3 pcs, do I have any kind of protection if I install the software from scratch on my pc/pcs?

 

Obviously he is not registered anymore, but what will happen if the product was used for the whole year? Will I be able to register it under my name AND will it still work to some basic extent protecting from viruses?

 

Any advice would be great. Thanks very much in advance!!

Hi,

 

I've never used an Antivirus before and an old classmate of mine just finished using last year's "1 year protection NORTON INTERNET SECURITY 2011".

 

He used it for the whole of the 12 months and then replaced it by 2012's version. He said I could try and install his 2011's CD on my pc and see if it works. He is not much help in the computer knowledge field, so before he posts the item to my address my question is:

 

If he uninstalled 2011's version after 12 months use in his 3 pcs, do I have any kind of protection if I install the software from scratch on my pc/pcs?

 

Obviously he is not registered anymore, but what will happen if the product was used for the whole year? Will I be able to register it under my name AND will it still work to some basic extent protecting from viruses?

 

Any advice would be great. Thanks very much in advance!!

Hi Hugh,

 

Thanks for your swift reply.

 

I just got my first computer recently, so I know I need an antivirus and protection, and no, I'm don't want to install and uninstall trial periods forever for free :)

 

I just though, just in case my first post was not clear enough, that once I would install 2011's CD, although already used for a whole year, it would still protect me against known viruses from back 2011, even if it didn't fully cover more current updates. So I just thought that it could pretty much work forever but WITHOUT updates. (Like some kind of 2nd or 3rd hand product with its age defects and yet useful).

 

I'm guessing this will not happen?

 

Thanks,

Aida

Hi iomarch,

 

There are tens of thousands of new malware variants released everyday.  You are not protected against them without updates.  Since you are much more likely to encounter new, current malware rather than old malware, any antivirus program that is not kept up-to-date is worse than useless.  Also, the Norton software only works when it is activated with a valid license.  If the subscription has expired on the program you are going to install, you will need to purchase a new license in order to have a working product.

Aida,

 

As SoJ explains, malware attacks change so rapidly that using only last week's / last month's / last year's definitons would offer less and less protection not linearly with age but exponentially.

 

Norton used to work like that but they stopped doing it some years ago because of this problem.

 

Another thing is that modern protection is a mixture of definitons for known malware and what is called heuristic protection based on the way things act and this needs to be continually kept uptodate often through what is now called "the cloud" which is stuff stored at the Norton end where it can be changed more quickly when needed rather than having to send it down to millions of computers -- they contact "the cloud" as needed so it's spread out.

 

Since you have a new computer have you checked it to see what if anything came installed as a trial security program? Many new PCs do come with something as a trial for 30 - 90 days and sometimes more. It's not always Norton but often is.

 

If it is not Norton then it needs some special treatment to completely remove and clean up before installing another brand so you need to do this if you have something already. Let us know and if you are not sure tell us the brand and exact model code of your computer so we can look it up.

 

You can often buy a copy of Norton Internet Security (which I'd recommend over Norton AntiVirus or Norton 360 at a good discount from the retail stores that send out weekend flyers or through a reputable online source but be very careful with online purchases since there are a lot of scammers out there. But places like Amazon.com are reliable especially if the offer page says that it comes from Amazon warehouses and not from some third party.

Thank you SendofJive and Hugh,

 

Your replies were so informative and quick! Will have to think of buying now, my pc is second hand and hasn't got the usual trial new pcs include.

 

This is one great forum. Thanks for your advice.

Cheers,

Aida

You know where to find us if you need something ...

 

Don't think too long and while you are please get and run that Malwarebytes program while you cogitate......