Anti Virus Software
 

So my Mum curerntly has AVG free version loaded on her computer as her anti virus. She goes away on vacation for up to 7 weeks at a time. When she comes back she tries to update AVG but because she still uses a phone line for her internet connection the update takes days!!!

Therefore is Norton the best route to go down to avoid this huge update issue? Or is there a better way, apart from telling her to get broadband.

Thanks.

Whatever AV package is in use, it needs updating - most do so daily - or even more frequently - by default.

When last I used Norton's, it was huuuuge, so unless they have changed radically I would guess that AVG is as good as any other and better than some - as far as update volume is concerned.

"Is Norton the best route to go down to avoid this huge update issue?"


NO!! The updates for Norton will make AVG updates look like a 2k file.

Two options. She gets broadband or she gets you (or someone else) to do at least a weekly update whilst she's away.

Norton is useless.

Precisely.

The one I'm using (Avast) has incremental updates that are typically a few Kb at a time, sometimes a little more.

Works well, too.

Norton AV/Internet security
 

Sorry to disagree folks, but I really do think all of you "Norton Knockers" here are way out of date with your assessments of the current programme. Five or six years ago I would have TOTALLY agreed with you. Large install, rapidly growing with each update and very processor hungry. But not any more, and not so for the last 3/4 years.
I've used Internet security on 7-10 machines for the last few years. Very small install, doesn't grow too much over the year. Very quick to auto update and can easily be left on its default setting after install. Hardly impacts on processor power at all, in fact my users don't notice its there, (Until the annual renewal notices keep cropping up).
Considering some of the dodgy sites that are visited and some of the downloads they make I would rate its protection factor as INCREDIBLE! No product is perfect and what one programme lets through today, another will let through tomorrow. But after regularly checking against other products, I'm happy with Norton. Give it a few more years and it will probably change to some other major company, but not now.
And if you can adjust your buying time to midway through their annual update cycle, you can buy at half price or less! Five to ten quid a year per machine? That ain't dear!
Remember a verbal promise often isn't worth the paper its written on, bit like free not being worth what you pay.:=

AV-Comparatives - Independent Tests of Anti-Virus Software - Welcome to AV-Comparatives.org

and

Virus Bulletin : VB100 award - latest comparative


Both quite well respected within the industry as independent as unbiased test methodologies.

stumpy,

thanks for the update, but still i am set against symantec products especially (s)norton. if anything it's like malware to me. :hmm:

Stumpey isn't alone. I've read quite a few reports, including some from a testing site, about the Norton offerings from 2010+ being one huge improvement from what went before. (And to be sure, they'd have to be!)

Specifically NAV2010, and NIS.

Nothing that's given me a reason to want to remove Avast and try them, however.

Sometimes free things are as good as paid.

Hey stugear.

Don't tarnish everything with the same brush.

The consumer-grade Norton stuff is rubbish yet.

But there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Business/Corporate stuff. Infact some of their products for business are amongst the best in the industry (e.g. Brightmail anti-spam.....)

The better way is...
 

Get broadband.

A 56k dial up line out in the sticks should be able to take care of an AVG update file.

The other option is to download updates yourself and put them on a memory stick.

Also, have you considered mobile broadband? Depends of course of the coverage available in her area, but if you opt for a package with a low cap it's very cheap.

Ok I like the sound of downloading the updates myself for her. So how do I do that? and more importantly how would she get them from the USB onto her computer.

Thanks.

virus problems?
 

...ah. maybe mum should get a Mac?

Been using Microsoft Security Essential for a while now, it seems to work very well and is free!

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Ok so it is getting near to the time that I can downlaod the updates onto a flash drive for my Mum.

When she gets home how does she get the information from the flashdrive onto her computer? Is it a plug in and download?
Thanks.