Strongly encouraged to erase Norton Antivirus and PIFTS.EXE from your system - Page 3

**Damn Brit** · 03-12-2009, 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by LouisARE

Hello everyone -- I work for Symantec's public relations firm, Edelman. Just wanted to quickly point out that if you want more information on the PIFTS issue, you can go to Symantec's user forum at Norton product patch "PIFTS.exe" and Norton Users Forum - Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus - Norton Community

Louis Cheng
Edelman Public Relations

Hi Louis
After reading this thread I don't think you will find many Norton Users on this Forum.

You are welcome to make a donation and become a Site Supporter though.

stewart_photo · 03-12-2009, 04:05 AM

I certainly qualify as one of the many Norton users, Gary. I used Norton AntiVirus for well over ten years (wife still uses it), without any significant problems, but switched to a freeware offering last year (testing the waters) after building a new computer. Now, after trying several (currently Avast), I'm still not entirely satisfied with the freeware options available, so Norton AntiVirus is still a viable option on the table.

In the meantime, I continue to use Norton Ghost and consider it to be one of the most straight-forward, easiest to understand, backup solutions on the market.

stewart

*Ratmagiclady* · 03-12-2009, 09:55 AM

I'm actually wondering if I need to run the built-in defrag on my computer before deleting my Norton, ...the defragger is basically the only reason I keep it around, cause I had a problem on another computer with the Windows one starting over every time the screen saver triggered, and had trouble getting that to stay off.

(I have an old long-since-not-updated copy of Norton that I keep around basically only for the purpose: but my computer's all full and needing all the resources he can get.)

**Damn Brit** · 03-13-2009, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by stewart_photo

I certainly qualify as one of the many Norton users, Gary. I used Norton AntiVirus for well over ten years (wife still uses it), without any significant problems, but switched to a freeware offering last year (testing the waters) after building a new computer. Now, after trying several (currently Avast), I'm still not entirely satisfied with the freeware options available, so Norton AntiVirus is still a viable option on the table.

In the meantime, I continue to use Norton Ghost and consider it to be one of the most straight-forward, easiest to understand, backup solutions on the market.

stewart

LOL, I knew that would flush a couple out.

*khardur* · 03-13-2009, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by danielchtong

No clue if you are right . But the first thing I have bought any system (for the office) is to delete the crap. Period.
They pay big time to pc manufacturers to have those crap in the comp.

Daniel

Agree with you there. I've built my own rigs for a while now, and it's so great being able to install only what you want from the get-go.

As to the OP: Maybe 4 or 5 years ago I had a free year's worth of Norton come with some program or another, so I tried it. I didn't think it was too bad, until the year was up and I tried uninstalling it. I can't even remember the issue, I just remember fighting with it for hours trying to remove all of its parts.

bretti_kivi · 03-13-2009, 03:35 AM

it doesn't uninstall properly. Use SymNRT.
There are lots of other products on the market, most of which offer 30 day free trials. Your ISP may also have a product.
Several AV Vendors really do pay to get their kit on the machine. Meh to them.

What on earth do you need defrag for? How often do you think you need to do it? I'll tell you: once a quarter, at most, IMO.

Bret

Paul Hunt · 03-13-2009, 04:36 AM

Well, it's linux for me (OpenSuse) and currently I don't bother with any anti-virus software. I have a standalone firewall box (PIII 1G Dell, running Monowall) between the internet and my home PCs.

Paul

RoxnDox · 03-13-2009, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Damn Brit

LOL, I knew that would flush a couple out.

I'm another (AV & firewall). It's part of the mandatory software on my gov't work machines, and we have a site license allowing us to install and update on home computers as well when used for any sort of telework. I've never had any issues with it, personally, on Win2K/XP Pro/XP Home boxen.

Jim

*Ratmagiclady* · 03-14-2009, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by bretti_kivi

it doesn't uninstall properly. Use SymNRT.
There are lots of other products on the market, most of which offer 30 day free trials. Your ISP may also have a product.
Several AV Vendors really do pay to get their kit on the machine. Meh to them.

What on earth do you need defrag for? How often do you think you need to do it? I'll tell you: once a quarter, at most, IMO.

Bret

I'll have to find out just what SymNRT is, anyway, ...I finally had to uninstall the darn Norton, just to get through some updates... By 'properly,' do you mean all that crap's hiding somewhere in the machine?

Defragging seems to be a pretty big deal on my machine, (Not a big hard drive, here) actually, though I'm lucky to get to it quarterly. It ties up the machine a long time.

)

Have to clear some space on this machine, and I'm thinking of getting a smallish external drive for just the purpose... It wasn't my intention, but images *still* end up on here.

)

danielchtong · 03-15-2009, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Paul Hunt

Well, it's linux for me (OpenSuse) and currently I don't bother with any anti-virus software. I have a standalone firewall box (PIII 1G Dell, running Monowall) between the internet and my home PCs.

Paul

With Linus, you can click whatever spyware.exe file. No problemo.
I have been using Win 7 beta now. It is so rock solid and foolproof that whenever malware.exe is acting up, it would need your permission.

I urge everyone to install it. So far worth it a lot. Even better than Vista premium and it costs you only a bland dvd

Daniel

*X Man* · 03-15-2009, 10:56 AM

Well, it's not hard to be better than Vista Premium is it? Win 7 is a beta and thus it's not going to be free for long. As for Win 7 being "rock solid" and "foolproof" I'd seriously doubt if that lasts too long either.

I do know what does run "rock solid" and "foolproof" and that's Mac OS X.

Lol @ Windows...

Windows: Life without Walls

Well, if there are no walls then there is no need for Windows, right?

Regards,
Mike

Originally Posted by danielchtong

I have been using Win 7 beta now. It is so rock solid and foolproof that whenever malware.exe is acting up, it would need your permission.

I urge everyone to install it. So far worth it a lot. Even better than Vista premium and it costs you only a bland dvd

Daniel

*Bramela* · 03-15-2009, 01:37 PM

I got rid of Norton some years ago, and went with Avast. Have not had one problem since.

danielchtong · 03-17-2009, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by X Man

Well, it's not hard to be better than Vista Premium is it? Win 7 is a beta and thus it's not going to be free for long. As for Win 7 being "rock solid" and "foolproof" I'd seriously doubt if that lasts too long either.

I do know what does run "rock solid" and "foolproof" and that's Mac OS X.

Lol @ Windows...

Regards,
Mike

It is free until Aug (or the product is out) I believe which is a decade in computer term. There must be loopholes but so far not that publisized.

Maybe it is just me as I hardly have problem since the days of Win 95.

Daniel

*Wheatfield* · 03-17-2009, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by X Man

Well, it's not hard to be better than Vista Premium is it? Win 7 is a beta and thus it's not going to be free for long. As for Win 7 being "rock solid" and "foolproof" I'd seriously doubt if that lasts too long either.

I do know what does run "rock solid" and "foolproof" and that's Mac OS X.

Lol @ Windows...

Windows: Life without Walls Well, if there are no walls then there is no need for Windows, right?

Regards,
Mike

Another tiresome Mac zealot. Why don't you people either get a life or a real religion.

ftpaddict · 03-17-2009, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by X Man

Well, it's not hard to be better than Vista Premium is it? Win 7 is a beta and thus it's not going to be free for long. As for Win 7 being "rock solid" and "foolproof" I'd seriously doubt if that lasts too long either.

I do know what does run "rock solid" and "foolproof" and that's Mac OS X.

Lol @ Windows...

Windows: Life without Walls Well, if there are no walls then there is no need for Windows, right?

Regards,
Mike

You should try Arch Linux, Slackware or Gentoo. OS X looks like a squishy rubber ball compared to those.