I 2nd this. ESET user here, very happy with them. Smallest footprint and best protection (both in detection of known viruses and zero-day threats.)
Ignore everything... get MSFT security essentials & dont screw around on bad sites & trust your email's spam box...
oldtime said, "do I need to uninstall it to run other free AV or just use microsoft default?" I uninstalled Norton many years ago and found out that the Windows Add or Remove Programs function in the Control Panel will not completely remove it. Symantec, the company that makes Norton, offers an uninstall program that will completely remove Norton from your computer: https://www-secure.symantec.com/nor...10133834EN&product=home&version=1&pvid=f-home I have used Avast for many years, and I am very happy with it: http://www.avast.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download This website ranks Avast the best: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-anti-virus-software.htm
yeah, now Norton is starting to send me private emails warning me about new threats. I only bought Norton because the guys at staples were so adamant about how I would need it. I'm about ready to start going naked. If you can't sell me a computer that's got at least a chance at living virus free then I guess I shouldn't buy one from you.
msg from Norton, "That's a nice computer you got there oldtime, it would be a shame if something happened to it."
You can change your e-mail settings for Symantec/Norton: https://www-secure.symantec.com/nor...file_en_us&product=home&version=1&pvid=f-home They should leave you alone if you tell them to. After uninstalling Norton, I think it is a mistake to run naked. Don't let your experience with Norton make you bitter. Install Avast or some other free anti-virus program, and you should be fine. Another program to consider using, in addition to anti-virus, which runs constantly, is the free version of Malwarebytes, which only runs when you tell it to: http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free I run a full scan once or twice a month, or whenever I think I might have a problem. No computer company can guarantee your safety on the internet, but that does not mean you should go offline. In 20 years of internet use, I have had very few malware problems.
I got busy and tried to just renew Norton for another year, but they claim it is $59.99 and when you click yes, they also have a mandatory (remove all virus) option that is another $8.99, well ok I'm busy, But then you must agree to just get your credit card debited at "the new subsription rate" next year automatically I'm not that scared uninstall was easy I went to the website but that didn'twork, so just the usual control panel uninstall worked fine downloaded avast thanks for the replies it also downloaded google chrome I have already tried google chrome and do not like it all so I uninstalled it hope that will not have any affect on my avast virus protection
I have had Avast for years, it great! There is a check mark you need to uncheck when downloading Avast so that you dont get Google Chrome. Avast works fine without Google Chrome. Good choice! I would never have Norton on any machine of mine...it is pure resource hog garbage.
Google chrome is the fastest (not sure if safest) browser. As far as really getting rid of Norton, google it, as Norton gets really deep in the registry and is not taken out by simple uninstall.