I just bought a new PC with Vista Home Premium and a trial version of Norton Internet Security 2007. Being not very experienced, I need to rely on the advice of others to decide which security software to buy.
Norton Internet Security 2007 got great reviews on CNet and PCMag, but I've personally heard some pretty negative things firsthand. These include stories about serious installation problems, drag on system resources, a malfunctioning firewall, the futility of trying to remove all traces of it during installation, and its inability to coexist with other spyware programs on your computer. Some of this doesn't come as a surprise to me: I've had trouble removing pieces of Norton Antivirus in the past, and if what I suspect is right, it's refusing to let me use Ad-Aware 2007 right now (it just says "lost connection with Ad-Aware" every time I try to use it).
I've been using Trend Micro PC-Cillin Internet Security 2005 up until now, and I've liked it a lot. It places very little drag on system resources and, AFAIK, gets the job done with regard to virus protection. Reviewers on CNet didn't like their latest product, 'Trend Micro Antivirus Plus Antispyware 2007' because apparently it's great with spyware but soft on virus protection. Nevertheless, I've had a very knowledgeable person tell me to stick with Trend Micro and just avoid Norton like the plague.
And then there's Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6, which got great reviews pretty much all-around. I don't have any experience with it, and haven't heard much about it in general. Since it was released last year, it's obviously not a brand-spanking new product.
So all in all, I've heard lots of conflicting reports, and it's hard to tell if one antivirus/antispyware product is head-and-shoulders above the others, or if all of them just suck these days. What should I spend my money on? Something I haven't mentioned?
Finally, 2 parting questions:
1. Would it be logical for me to decide to buy an older version of a security product if I think it's better? For example: buying Trend Micro 2005 instead of Trend Micro 2007 if I think the 2007 version comes with too much extra crap I don't need. Because as long as Trend Micro keeps releasing updates for the 2005 version, it'll be OK to use, right? Or is it best to stick with the latest, greatest version no matter what?
2. Is it OK to buy OEM security software (only the CD; no box or manuals included)?
Norton Internet Security 2007 got great reviews on CNet and PCMag, but I've personally heard some pretty negative things firsthand. These include stories about serious installation problems, drag on system resources, a malfunctioning firewall, the futility of trying to remove all traces of it during installation, and its inability to coexist with other spyware programs on your computer. Some of this doesn't come as a surprise to me: I've had trouble removing pieces of Norton Antivirus in the past, and if what I suspect is right, it's refusing to let me use Ad-Aware 2007 right now (it just says "lost connection with Ad-Aware" every time I try to use it).
I've been using Trend Micro PC-Cillin Internet Security 2005 up until now, and I've liked it a lot. It places very little drag on system resources and, AFAIK, gets the job done with regard to virus protection. Reviewers on CNet didn't like their latest product, 'Trend Micro Antivirus Plus Antispyware 2007' because apparently it's great with spyware but soft on virus protection. Nevertheless, I've had a very knowledgeable person tell me to stick with Trend Micro and just avoid Norton like the plague.
And then there's Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6, which got great reviews pretty much all-around. I don't have any experience with it, and haven't heard much about it in general. Since it was released last year, it's obviously not a brand-spanking new product.
So all in all, I've heard lots of conflicting reports, and it's hard to tell if one antivirus/antispyware product is head-and-shoulders above the others, or if all of them just suck these days. What should I spend my money on? Something I haven't mentioned?
Finally, 2 parting questions:
1. Would it be logical for me to decide to buy an older version of a security product if I think it's better? For example: buying Trend Micro 2005 instead of Trend Micro 2007 if I think the 2007 version comes with too much extra crap I don't need. Because as long as Trend Micro keeps releasing updates for the 2005 version, it'll be OK to use, right? Or is it best to stick with the latest, greatest version no matter what?
2. Is it OK to buy OEM security software (only the CD; no box or manuals included)?