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Switching from Norton to Avast! - Questions

post #1 of 21
4/4/06 at 2:40am
Thread Starter 
I'm getting tired of Norton Anti-Virus, especially how its Internet Worm Protection keeps on popping up for programs I have already permitted!

Anyway, I'm thinking of switching to Avast since I have heard positive things about it. But I have some questions:

1. Does Avast provide as much protection as my version of Norton? Will it fully protect my computer if it is the only security program I have running?

2. Does Avast work well with Cisco Clean Access? I'm at college and I am required to run Clean Access at all times.

Thank you in advance for any replies.
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post #2 of 21
4/4/06 at 2:49am
Not sure about your second question....

But I just switched back to Avast from Norton and I'll never go back. The Torjans on my computer had to be removed with HiJack This, so you may want to install that as well.
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post #3 of 21
4/4/06 at 3:13am
no antivrus should be run alone without spyware protection and avast will not protect you like norton [antivirus is still what you want/need matter of opinion] but free versions are lacking at the moment. [there all lacking lol but free more after all they have to go through windows lol]

clean access just makes sure everything is up too date so im sure it will work with most of the popular AV,s that are out check the fact,s page for known problems first
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post #4 of 21
4/4/06 at 3:15am
you can configure norton to stop the message if you like
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post #5 of 21
4/4/06 at 3:30am
Avast FTW! I have used it for years and wont ever use anything else. I mean, its free AND it works (go figure). As for spyware, just use the microsoft spyware beta, it is also free and works well. Not to mention you can just set it to not run automaticaly and just do a scan once a week or so.

Norton is a big fat doodie head, and sucks the life right out of the resources that are rightfully yours!

Also, if your running a wireless router (most of them) have good hardware firewalls built in.

Flush Norton and all of its system hogging garbage!

/EndRant
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post #6 of 21
4/4/06 at 6:32am
I've noticed Norton and avast use the same amout of prossess...

I did the same thing as you
Ditched Norton and went to avast
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post #7 of 21
4/4/06 at 11:45am
For all interested, if you're looking for an antivirus with a small memory footprint, then you may want to consider TrandMicro's PCCillin http://www.trendmicro.com. They're security suite is only 2 processes if I remember correctly and they don't take up much memory. I'm not goin to attest to the quality, I don't use it, but my friend uses the security/AV suite and it seems to work well for him, though trying to get it to play Multiplayer games sometimes can be a pain.

BTW, about avast, I'm not saying it's bad, but at least get the paid version so you can schedule your own scans I think in the free one it does it when it wants and you have no control over how often or when (I could be wrong).
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post #8 of 21
4/4/06 at 2:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Meili
For all interested, if you're looking for an antivirus with a small memory footprint, then you may want to consider TrandMicro's PCCillin http://www.trendmicro.com. They're security suite is only 2 processes if I remember correctly and they don't take up much memory. I'm not goin to attest to the quality, I don't use it, but my friend uses the security/AV suite and it seems to work well for him, though trying to get it to play Multiplayer games sometimes can be a pain.

BTW, about avast, I'm not saying it's bad, but at least get the paid version so you can schedule your own scans I think in the free one it does it when it wants and you have no control over how often or when (I could be wrong).
Having just recently switched from Norton to PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 (AV, Firewall, Antispyware, WiFi Intrusion Detection), I can tell you that having all of these turned on adds 5 running processes in the background. The only thing I miss about Norton Internet Security is the ad blocking.
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post #9 of 21
4/4/06 at 2:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by slcya
Not sure about your second question....

But I just switched back to Avast from Norton and I'll never go back. The Torjans on my computer had to be removed with HiJack This, so you may want to install that as well.



yeah, Same here

No problems with AVAST!
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post #10 of 21
4/4/06 at 3:52pm
I love Avast - and plan to buy the professional version for all my work PCs when I get the funds.

The only bad thing about it is I ocassionally get woke up in the middle of the night to "VIRUS DATABASE HAS BEEN UPDATED" belting from my computer speakers if I have them up loud.
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post #11 of 21
4/4/06 at 4:36pm
Avast is my favorite right now. Haven't used Norton for about 4 years. Used to use Symantec Corp which is ok, good for businesses. PC Cillin is also a good one IMO, but I still prefer Avast over them all. I scan every month or so with the online scanners from Tren Micro and Bit Defender just to check Avast didn't miss anything and I have yet to have a hit.
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post #12 of 21
4/4/06 at 4:48pm
Avast
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post #13 of 21
4/4/06 at 6:52pm
Just so you know Once I had Avast do its scan. It decided one of the core windows files was suspected of infection and quarentined it. Avast then proceeded to restart the computer and FOOBARed my windows =)
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post #14 of 21
4/4/06 at 7:38pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you for all the replies!

I'll probably end up getting Avast, along with another spyware protection program (maybe the Microsoft one). I'll have to switch soon anyway because my Norton subscription will be ending.
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post #15 of 21
4/4/06 at 8:19pm
One question, does AVAST! have a firewall as well? Or if not, Can I use the Windows Firewall - is it good enough?
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post #16 of 21
4/4/06 at 8:34pm
I don't think it does, but you could use ZoneAlarm.
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post #17 of 21
4/4/06 at 8:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 911medic
I don't think it does, but you could use ZoneAlarm.

Thats just the problem, Zonealarm keeps freezing my online games and im looking to see if Windows Firewall is OK.
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post #18 of 21
4/4/06 at 8:37pm
Ahhh, that sucks. Do you have by chance a hardware firewall (via router, etc.)?
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post #19 of 21
4/4/06 at 8:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 911medic
Ahhh, that sucks. Do you have by chance a hardware firewall (via router, etc.)?
yes, I do, But I am connected through Wireless
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post #20 of 21
4/5/06 at 12:50am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by outhouse
you can configure norton to stop the message if you like
How do you do this? One of my main problems is when I use Azureus. The Internet Worm Protection alert pops up, I hit "Permit," and then 5 seconds later it pops up again. I'm assuming this is because I am being connected to several different peers?

Anyway, the weird part is that I used to not have this problem. It only started being annoying after I updated Azureus. However, I have had this problem for a while when searching for servers in games such as Counter-Strike.

So, how do I get it to just Permit the connections and STOP POPPING UP?
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