Greetings,
I have an error message which says "Renewal Required: If you do not renew your Norton product now, your PC will remain unprotected. Renewing your product takes less than a minute."
In all previous versions, when the subscription expired, it meant that I couldn't download new updates, but I could still use the product. But in the 2010 version it seems that the entire product has been disabled now that the one-year subscription has expired.
Has Norton disabled their antivirus?
Shane.
Hi Shane,
That is correct, that when you no longer have a valid license to use the product it becomes non-operational. This is a change from products of several years ago, so, unfortunately, some users may not be expecting the product to stop functioning. But the license that you purchase is for the use of the software for a set amount of time, and not simply a subscription to definitions updates. It makes sense, but I admit that as a long time user, I was surprised myself last year, and had to install the new retail version that I had purchased more quickly than I had anticipated.
What's the difference between a license and a subscription?
I've been using Norton since version 2005, but this is the first time I've had this problem. This is a major change—and I don't recall them making any announcement.
This doesn't make any sense. I'm not aware of any other antivirus product that does this. It seems like a money grab. Maybe it's time to move to a better antivirus.
Since Norton doesn't work anyway, I suppose it's safe to uninstall it?
Shane.
Yes you should install it as it no longer works. After you uninstall it with the conventional add/remove programs, you should run the Norton Removal Tool (http://www.norton.com/symnrt).
I think that other AntiVirus (except free ones) stop working as soon as the subscription expires. That is because, in my own opinion if the product continue working it gives the user a "false" sense of security. AntiVirus products are basically useless without their virus definitions. In addition, if the product relies solely or mainly on heuristic protection (generic behavior based protection), it could produce tons of false positives (take a look at Comodo AntiVirus for example). Therefore, I think the product shuts down as a way to tell you that your subscription is off.
Basically a subscription is like a bus pass. As long as its valid, you can ride the bus. But once it expires, the bus won't let you ride it any longer.
However, unlike a bus pass, Norton allows you to upgrade for no additional cost (hint go to the Norton Upgrade Center at http://www.norton.com/nuc/) to the latest version of their product line (IE NIS2010 to NIS2011). In the past, like Windows, once you purchase the product you own it. But an older AntiVirus engine is no more effective at removing/prevent viruses than the latest strand of virus than a mouse sitting in front of your computer is. Thus, Symantec have to develop and refine their AntiVirus engine to be one step ahead of the virus catching buisness.
In fact, most AntiVirus companies (I've just checked Kaspersky) shut down when the subscription expires. Also, like Symantec, they are offering upgrades to their latest version within the subscription period at no additional cost (its not free. I've wrongly used this term in the past).
Tywin7 wrote:In the past, like Windows, once you purchase the product you own it.
That is not true. Software is licensed for use, not sold. This is true of Windows as well. If you owned it you could install it on as many computers as you liked.
As to how other security products enforce their licenses, many are moving to the same model that Symantec has adopted. Many that have not still require in the license agreement that the user agree to uninstall the software when the license expires. One company even demands proof that the product has in fact been removed.
So the license agreements are all similar - the only difference is that some disable the program automatically and others require the user to do so. Legally, when the license period expires, you are not permitted to use the software, and that has not changed, and it is the same for most vendors. There are a couple of exceptions - companies that permit you to retain the software without updates. They are no longer getting your money, so I guess they don't mind encouraging you to run antivirus software that won't actually protect you from the threats that you are most likely to encounter.
SendOfJive wrote:
Tywin7 wrote:In the past, like Windows, once you purchase the product you own it.
That is not true. Software is licensed for use, not sold. This is true of Windows as well. If you owned it you could install it on as many computers as you liked.
As to how other security products enforce their licenses, many are moving to the same model that Symantec has adopted. Many that have not still require in the license agreement that the user agree to uninstall the software when the license expires. One company even demands proof that the product has in fact been removed.
So the license agreements are all similar - the only difference is that some disable the program automatically and others require the user to do so. Legally, when the license period expires, you are not permitted to use the software, and that has not changed, and it is the same for most vendors. There are a couple of exceptions - companies that permit you to retain the software without updates. They are no longer getting your money, so I guess they don't mind encouraging you to run antivirus software that won't actually protect you from the threats that you are most likely to encounter.
Oh.. Didn't know that. I was under the impression that you own the product NIS05 and earlier (I think) allows you to keep the product without updating,
Tywin7 wrote:Oh.. Didn't know that. I was under the impression that you own the product NIS05 and earlier (I think) allows you to keep the product without updating,
Don't know about 2005, but the NIS 2006 license reads:
1. License:
The software and documentation that accompanies this license (collectively the “Software”) is the property of Symantec, or its licensors, and is protected by copyright law. While Symantec continues to own the Software, You will have certain rights to use the Software after Your acceptance of this license.
2006 was the year they started offering free upgrades because of a problem with 2006 (according to the Wikipedia article I read at that time). Apparently, the scheme became so popular that Symantec continues to offer it.