Tom,
I'm not in the computer business, but I've been using Norton products since
day-one. Remember PC Tools? Like you, I've had it! I'm now using AVG Free
Edition and am very happy with it. I have a hardware firewall, so don't
need software to do that. I will look at System Mechanic.
Over the years, there have been too damned many LiveUpdates that caused one
problem or another. This January 7th fiasco was it for me -- last night I
uninstalled NSW and NAV from my laptop and installed AVG (having already
done that on my desktop a month ago when I had to reformat my HD). I've
tested AVG with the eicar.org test files and it works fine.
Interestingly enough... about a month or six weeks ago, I tried to upgrade
my desktop from Windows 98SE to XP Home. Without going into all the
details, I ended up having to reformat the HD and do a fresh install --
probably should have started here rather than doing an upgrade. I
determined that the upgrade failed because of issues with NSW or NAV --
after upgrading to XP, I got all sorts of messages that NAV and Norton
Utilities needed to be reconfigured, and when I tried to do that, the system
crashed. I gave up and did the reformat and reinstall. At that point, I
went to AVG and didn't even reload any of NSW. I always hated how NSW
insisted on installing stuff I didn't want -- crashguard and other apps.
Goodbye Peter Norton and Symantec.
That's my 2c worth.
John
"Tom Geer" <tgeer43.DeleteThis@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Po2dnUzmNbNmCJ3dRVn-uw@comcast.com...
>
>
> Tom McCune wrote:
>
> > "Paul" <prosete.DeleteThis@STICKERworldnet.att.net> wrote in
> > news:SG_Lb.10559$6y6.316234@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:
> >
> >
> >>Is this a virus? Anytime I click open my NSW 2003 icon or start any
> >>application within NSW it automatically causes my DUN connectoid to
> >>pop up and attempt to connect to my ISP. I have been using this
> >>version of NSW for a year without any problems until this past week,
> >>when the DUN started to pop up anytime I click on the NSW icon on my
> >>desktop or try to start any of the NSW apps (once I've cancelled the
> >>DUN).
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > This appears to be one of the multiple problems associated with the
Norton
> > updates from this past Wednesday. I've seen someone else post about
this,
> > and I had a similar experience. Even after uninstalling all Norton
> > components, this continued despite my using a cable modem connection.
> > Finally, one time when the popup was there, I found an option related to
> > dialing when an internet application was launched - unchecking that
option
> > took care of my problem. I'm now trying free software alternatives -
> > Sygate Personal for my firewall, and AVG for antivirus.
> >
>
>
> I heartily concur. I don't say this lightly, but having been in the
computer
> business for over 20 years, I have finally removed all traces (I hope) of
> anything remotely related to Symantec/Norton. This insidious bloatware
> invasively encroaches on your operating system and hogs system resources
and is
> nearly impossible to tame. It's unrelenting appetite for connectivity to
the
> 'net is insatiable no matter how you configure it. Sometimes the cure is
worse
> than the disease. Several smaller apps like AVG anti-virus and System
Mechanic,
> etc. are a much better alternative.
>
> Now, wasn't that overly dramatic?
>
> Tom
> --
> Remove NOSPAM from email address to reply via email.
> >> Stay informed about: Norton Sys Works 2003/04 causes DUN to connect