Internet Security - Avg V Norton Etv

[countrykid]

For several years I've always bought Norton Internet Security, but last year when installing it we suffered loads of problems!! Someone at work has suggested using a free Security package from AVG. Does anyone have first hand experience of AVG. I've just bought a new laptop, which has 30 days free McAfee but I'm happy to give AVG a try if get good feedback.
Thanks

[boxtops]

No experience of McAfee or AVG, but we've used Norton for years, on PC and laptops, and we've no intention of changing!

[Buenchico]

Questions like this tend to start arguments around here (because people are loyal to their favourite products).

Let's start with some basic information:
Firstly, if you do decide to ge rid of Norton you can't simply uninstall it from your computer's Control Panel. You need to use a special tool:
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/uk/home/current/solutions/kb20080710133834EN_EndUserProfile_en_us

Next, it's important to remember that Norton provides a complete suite of security programs, not just an anti-virus solution. So if you replace it with a free anti-virus program you might need to consider topping it up with additional security software to perform the other functions that, up until now, Norton has been covering.

The principal free anti-virus programs are Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), AVG Free Edition and Avast! Up until recently MSE was probably the most widely recommended on here but, after it failed several independent tests, Microsoft have admitted that it's not as good as they'd like it to be.

So that leaves AVG and Avast! Both are exactly the same as you'd get if you paid money for the full security suites offered by those manufacturers, so (contrary to what some people around here would have you believe) they are in no way inferior to commercial products. (They just don't have the 'extras' which the manufacturers hope you'll go on to pay for later).

I used to use AVG but I found that it could slow my computer to a crawl. I now use Avast!, which I'm fully satified with:
http://www.avast.com/index

To add in the extras which Norton has been providing you with, you need to seek an anti-malware solution. The free version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware should meet your needs:
https://www.malwarebytes.org/free/
Norton also provides its own firewall. While many people are happy to just use the firewall which is built into Windows instead, some people regard it as insufficient and use (for example) Comodo's free firewall:
http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/

I'd always be happy with free security software but, if you do decide to spend money, forget both Norton and MacAfee. They're both bloated and 'resource hungry'. Kaspersky is far better.

[dunnitall]

I have avg on my PC and it has been a damned nuisance, the paid for version. Avast was no better before and that was free. I have nortons on my laptop which was lovely until it upgraded to the newer version...it's ok but not s efficient as the previous one. Can't have windows essential one on the PC s it's windows 8 and not compatible. Think it's horses for course,try a free on end se how you get on with it. Also download malware bytes free too that should help. Good luck.

[Everhelpful]

Had AVG Free for years,no problems whatsoever.

[countrykid]

Thanks for all the answers, especially Buenchico for your very comprehensive one. Like you say, some are happy with one or another security system. I hadn't realised I needed additional things if opt for AVG, so thanks for all the links, especially Norton removal tool. Might take a look at Kapersky which I presume is an all in one package. Whichever I opt for, will I need to "remove" the free MacAfee on my new Toshiba Laptop, even if I have not activated it. Also if I opt for one of the free ones, and also go for Comodo's free firewall, do I need to switch off Windows Firewall? Many thanks again

[VHG]

Note if you have bought a new laptop and it has Windows 8 on it then it already has anti virus security installed.

Microsoft supply Windows Defender, which now includes Microsoft Security Essentials, as part of Windows 8.

If you uninstall the supplied Norton software then Windows will automatically switch on Windows Defender so you may find that is enough.

If you open the Action Centre from within Windows 8 then it tells you what security software Windows says is installed on your PC.

[Buenchico]

>>>Whichever I opt for, will I need to "remove" the free MacAfee on my new Toshiba Laptop, even if I have not activated it

Since I'm not sure what an 'unactivated' version of MacAfee does to your computer's registry, I'm not sure whether you actually need to remove it or not but I most certainly would. To uninstall MacAfee completey you need to do so via your computer's installed program list AND (secondly, not first!) run the McAfee Consumer Product Removal tool, whic can be downloaded from this page:
http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS101331


>>>if I opt for one of the free ones, and also go for Comodo's free firewall, do I need to switch off Windows Firewall?

Comodo should automatically switch off the Windows firewall anyway.

[jake-the-peg]

I work in the AV industry so I'm biased and I wont give you an exact opinion.

But here's a standard set of test results done regularly to show you how they stack up

http://chart.av-comparatives.org/chart1.php

The bars show you detection performance and the line shows you false alarms

Last figures for AVG were pretty poor at 92% but no falses

If you select the performance results you'll see Trend and McAfee were well ahead - again AVG was poor

Symantec (Norton) have decided to to continue to participate in these tests - read into that what you will

http://forum.av-comparatives.org//index.php?page=Thread&threadID=1060

[jake-the-peg]

You could go with MSE

If detecting 91.9% of malware is good enough for you

http://chart.av-comparatives.org/chart1.php

(Even AVG manages to beat that!)

[EDDIE51]

If you want Kasperski there is a way to get it free ( well almost)
open a Barclays Bank account , the basic card account will do, just put £1 in it.
Then register for online banking. You can get the latest version of Kasperski free
from Barclays to protect your account.

[countrykid]

My thanks again to all who have responded. Am posting separated question re Wi-fi printing!!