Going from Norton to a Free Antivirus: Is it a good idea

chops018

So I've been getting Norton every year as long as I can remember. But it's starting to annoy me that it costs around 90 euro every year for the full version when I'm hearing there are plenty of free antivirus out there. Just wondering would they be as good as Norton, would it be worth going to them or sticking with Norton who have never let me down despite the price.

ASJ112

Yeah there are many free anti-virus programs that are as good as/better than Norton. I'd recommend Avast/Avira/AVG, can read more suggestions here

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056280359

chops018

Thanks. That Microsoft Security Essentials looks good. I'm just sick of paying for it every year when there seems to be good free one's knocking about. I just hope it does the same job as Norton though, as I have never had any problems with it.

yoyo

Its a great idea, MSE is great, not annoying like some of the other free ones and works well.

Nick

chops018

Cheers Nick. I think I'll give the MSE a go when my Norton expires the end of the month.

cutymonalisa

OP, was in the same boat with Norton - subscription came to an end in July and went with Microsoft Security Essentials - everything perfect, paying for antivirus is an awful waste of money imo

chops018

cutymonalisa wrote: »

OP, was in the same boat with Norton - subscription came to an end in July and went with Microsoft Security Essentials - everything perfect, paying for antivirus is an awful waste of money imo

Yeah I was thinking the same, with the amount of free antivirus out there it seems like such a waste paying for it. Just said I'd ask here about them to make sure they do a good job. Seems there ok so as I said above I'll be going with MSE the end of the month.

Overheal

360 doesnt bring you much more than the Internet Security does. I'd still prefer an IS suite over free AV though. Either Kaspersky or Webroot.

RUCKING FETARD

Overheal wrote: »

360 doesnt bring you much more than the Internet Security does. I'd still prefer an IS suite over free AV though. Either Kaspersky or Webroot.

You'll get no commission from me.:P

johnmcdnl

Common Sense + Free Anti Virus Program = Common Sense + Expensive Anti Virus Program in my book except in one case you get to save €50

I haven't had any problems regarding viruses in a long time using MSE and before that AVG. Haven't used a paid anti virus program since I was 14-15 years old and the only reason I paid for them back them was because the guys in the computer store told me I needed to pay for one and with dial up internet I wasn't exactly in a position to look for free alternatives or even know they existed.

Just don't see why you'd pay for an anti virus program when there available for free - look at the examples of companies that have free and paid for options available, if their free version doesn't pick up viruses that the paid one does - well then people using the free one aren't going to have any confidence in the full program hence they'll hardly pay for it so it's in the companies best interest to make sure the free version works just as well as the paid for one.

yoyo

Overheal wrote: »

360 doesnt bring you much more than the Internet Security does. I'd still prefer an IS suite over free AV though. Either Kaspersky or Webroot.

360 is still pritty slow, and also annoying. Just uninstalled it yesterday on a HP laptop with a Celeron processor. It's certainly faster with MSE than norton, and its not poping up your not protected, your subscription has expired, do x y and z every minute or taking control of the web browser. It's just a load of hassle...

Nick

Overheal

I definitely agree. Symantec has been building their software with requirements that are too high for convention. I'm currently using webroot, it has next to no system impact and arguably leaner than MSE.

RUCKING FETARD wrote: »

You'll get no commission from me.:P

I get commission from no one?