I have been a long time Norton internet security subscriber for many years now and am a little miffed right now. I have just down loaded IS 2011 last week. As I sit here I am just doing my final rescans to make sure I have gotten rid of a malware by the name of security tool that attacked my PC last night. A year ago I was attacked by a close relative of security tool by the name of AV security suite. Both times Norton failed to stop it. It knew it was there but failed to stop it and could not remove it. Both time's it took about 8hrs of my time and a third party freeware to get rid of it. These freeware companies also have versions you can buy to get a full security system. So far I have used Norton as my main protection and kept these other freeware programs as emergency back ups for when I get attacked and Norton can not stop it. Till me please why I should keep these other security software on stand by when I have IS 2011? Why should I not make them my primary security for almost half the price?
Helly bryanh
Welcome to the Norton Community Forum
Unfortunately, no one security program is 100 % effective all the time. Malware is constantly getting mutated to avoid detection. Each security program uses different antivirus definitions and have different specialties. Malwarebytes may be helpful for some types of malware, but they won't catch or prevent every piece of malware either. The same can be said about SuperAntiSpyware. If all these security programs were always successful, then the malware writers would be out of business. The problem is that the malware has to get into a machine before a antivirus definition can be writen to prevent it. I also have just recently read that malware writers are being so creative that they can make the malware go into 1 person's computer and then change it so it can get past someone else's computer. In other words, there are so many versions of the same malware that it's like impossible to keep up with them.
That's another reason why sometimes Norton can't remove the malware because it's already changed and it's been customized for your computer. That is why some times we have to recommend people to go to Malware removal sites so that they can see what is in your particular computer and fix the removal tools so that they will work on that particular piece of malware. That's why they have to create custom scripts sometimes. That sort of stuff though is only done in the malware removal sites like Bleeping Computers and others.
Thanks for the reply. That does make sense and I have heard that from others as will. I will add that this is the only problems ,Big ones, but the only problems I have had and it has always work for us on everything else so far. Malwarebytes is what I had to use both times and I got it from bleeping computers as will. Had to do it from safe mode but finally got it to work. Still doing rescans as we speak and still finding more files. One thing I can say is I am getting better at this. It's just so darn time consuming.
Hello bryanh
If you get these rogue malwares often, please let us know. A lot of the newer rootkits download these types of malware also. Have you found a lot of blocked intrusions like something is trying to call into your computer or call out? Please keep an eye on your computer and see if you get any more like this. Thanks.