Security wanted

[gardenmad]

Help my computer only a month and a half old has sent up a message saying my Norton security has expired - and problems exist. I was Norton protected on my old computer for months and months, and had months left, what has gone wrong - I thought you could download security for nothing!!

Please help. you computer whiz kids!!

[kira000]

Norton isnt a free package. I suspect you had a months trial package loaded on yhour new PC, which has now epired, meaning you have to pay to renew.

If you had it on your old one, you probably bought your old pc with it included in the price.

You will have to pay if you want to extend Norton. There are free security programmes, i have AVG free virus protection.
Note however that free programmes dont usually give as good protection as paid ones. You will need Virus protection, Anti spyware, firewall....

[alan-r]

comodo or zone alarm firewall
avg or avast anti virus
all free and have excellent reviews

[Huderon]

There are a several free security products around.

Firewall : Comodo (which now comes with their anti-virus program built in) is available here. It can be a bit intrusive to start with though, asking you to confirm what is and isn't allowed to access the net. Zone Alarm Free is available here. There are others around, but some of them aren't very friendly to use.

Anti-virus : Avira, available here, AVG Free which is available here, Avast! which is available here .

Anti-malware : Lavasoft AdAware, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Spybot Search and Destroy, Superantispyware all have free versions

If you are with Virgin, their PC Guard suite is available free for people using their broadband L and above packages (that's the 10/20/50MB packages). It may be worth checking if your ISP offers something similar.

[trish432]

Before you install another av programme, you must fully remove norton. Use the tool on this page, as norton is hard to uninstall via add or remove programmes.

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo .nsf/docid/2005033108162039

[gardenmad]

Thank you both for your help- sorry am late replying had to put lunch on, the others need food! I have googled security and I have downloaded Picasa (which I know is nothing to do with it), firefox with Google toolbar ( I had a Google toolbar anyway), spyware doctor, and google earth (which I also know is nothing to do with it) Am I now covered with everything? It also downloaded a Norton security thing which I assume will expire... I am not au fait with these things, as you will have gathered...

[trish432]

You still need an antivirus programme, download this after you have fully removed norton.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antiviru s/5237/

You could also do with a decent firewall.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_fr ee/

[trish432]

Just noticed, you have downloaded a norton trial. Not much point really, as it will expire. You are best to remove it and download free stuff from the above posts.

[gardenmad]

Thank you for your help - I have uninstalled Norton and got
AVG anti virus free but one thing would'nt install - all afternoon I have been trying, from your email I got another - (it told me to) stopzilla, which I hope is alright (a frightening thought, have I installed a virus maker??) I hope I am doing the right thing - I am amazed at the toolbars I currently have - AOL, Google, AVG, Stopzilla - do I need all these? I hope you haven't given up hope of any acknowledgement of your emails and gone out!! Thanks again anyway.

[trish432]

stopzilla doesn`t sound good, I think it`s spyware.

Who or what told you to download it?

Did you uninstall norton using the symantec page, in the link i gave you?

Did you click on the green arrow on right hand side to download avg? It sounds like you`ve clicked on the wrong thing somewhere.

Are you on windows vista or xp?

Before you do anything else, try to remove stopzilla, Click start - control panel - programmes and features (Vista) or -add or remove programmes (xp)
If stopzilla is listed click to try and remove it.
You can also click on any unwanted toolbars and remove them.
Post back when you`ve tried this.

[trish432]

I`ve googled stopzilla, and it does seem to be genuine, although one or two do say it brings adware in.
I would still remove it though, as it is an expensive software and will start asking you for money.

[alavahalf]

I've just removed one of the big named security suites...and thank god I did...
You never use all that they offer..they just take up drive space and slow things down.
A couple of weeks ago I was fed up with my system seeming so slow, and thought maybe it was time to upgrade........I did'nt.
I got a larger drive and loaded XP etc. onto it
I am now running a Anti Virus trial from ESET nod 32...
I can't believe how quick my system is, now that I dont have the large security suite...
Do your own research and look for...Independent Anti Virus.. results..there's plenty trial programs available.
I'm definitely paying for upgrade to ESET nod 32.

[gardenmad]

~Thanks to you both, I shall do what you say, my pc does seem slower since I've put stopzilla on it, also it says there are 45 infections - cookies - I didn't know they were infections, I thought they were just nuisances, so it says click remove, when I do this it says it can't with this equipment, click on register and buy another thing! Just what you said.

So I am going to offload it but will my computer be protected while I do it? Then I am going to put AVG on it again. But it may not be until tomorrow, I know I've got an extra hour but I spent so much time this p.m. I've still got a lot to do defore Sunday.

[alavahalf]

I am told that AVG are creating a suite and that they will soon start to go down the licence fee route..
Try.. AVAST... for free Anti virus software.
And ...ADAWARE... from Lavasoft.. this will help with your spyware/malware....also free.

[trish432]

You haven`t got an extra hour, you`ve got an hour less!
Don`t worry about cookies.
Get some antivirus before you start browsing the internet for anything else.
I suggest malwarebytes for antispyware, just click on the green arrow, right hand side.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes _anti_malware/

As far as the unwanted toolbars go, whenever you download a programme, instead of clicking next next next, watch out for the additions and uncheck them, so that you don`t end up with unwanted stuff.
I usually just allow desktop icon, and uncheck toolbars quick start and start menu items.
Sometimes you may need to choose custom install, to allow you to choose.

[gardenmad]

v. quick note - got stopzilla off will do what you say later today - thanks for all your help - got to go now, life is intruding on my computer time AGAIN!

[gardenmad]

Right I've just installed malwarebytes do I need Adaware and Avast as well?

Needless to say I am indebted to you all for this help.

[trish432]

You don`t need avast if your avg is working correctly, you can only run one antivirus.
You can run as many antispyware/malware programmes as you want.
I find adaware a bit intrusive, you could leave it for now if you don`t think you have a problem with spyware.
You can always install it later if you think it necessary.

[gardenmad]

Thank you Trish for all your help, and you other folk - as you can see I am a complete ignoramus in all this, but I can and will learn! I shall read, digest and act on all you have said, again, many thanks.