# Is Norton Ant-Virus worth it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428 "2005-02-16T21:43:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/41 "2005-02-18T17:06:37Z")
**cmkeller** , I use the Norton program and have had no problems. My only suggestion is this … if you decide to stick with Norton, look for deals – you can find rebate deals for Norton SystemWorks (that includes the NAV program) that reduce the cost to nothing or almost nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/42 "2005-02-18T17:20:03Z")
In my experience, Norton is very good at keeping you safe, but it’s a resource hog. In all the years I’ve used it, it’s never let a virus onto my computer. Keep the virus definitions up-to-date, and it won’t let you down. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/43 "2005-02-18T20:09:20Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > In my experience, Norton is very good at keeping you safe, but it’s a resource hog. In all the years I’ve used it, it’s never let a virus onto my computer. Keep the virus definitions up-to-date, and it won’t let you down. scan with AVG and see if it may have let in a trojan _downloader_. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/44 "2005-02-18T21:02:01Z")
I just ditched Norton for AVG, and i’m really happy with the switch. If you’re having trouble with Java, you might also try downloading Opera. One version comes with Java, and installs it during the Opera installation process. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/45 "2005-02-18T22:18:37Z")
> [@Gymnopithys](#): > > Is it advisable to have more than one antivirus ? When unloading, I’m warned not to have two a.v. I have both Norton and Antivir and they don’t seem to interfere. No, it’s not advisable. I have NAV, with System Works, and have had no problems. I also use their firewall. I don’t think NAV is such a system hog if you don’t use all their utilities (such as system resources) at start-up. I have ME, many times have been on my computer for hours (mostly playing chess), and haven’t run out of memory for a long time (computer memory, that is, not mine). Firefox is made by the same company as Mozilla, and I believe Mozilla is a spy; at least, it’s name is on my Lava Ad-Aware. Anybody know about these free utilities being spies? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/46 "2005-02-19T00:20:46Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I just ditched Norton for AVG, and i’m really happy with the switch. How’d you uninstall NAV? I’ve had fits. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/47 "2005-02-19T04:50:31Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > Firefox is made by the same company as Mozilla, and I believe Mozilla is a spy; at least, it’s name is on my Lava Ad-Aware. Anybody know about these free utilities being spies? Clarify: You mean when you run Adaware, it “finds” Mozilla? I ran Adaware just now and I got only four tracking cookies, and I have Firefox. realmedia [servedby.net](http://servedby.net) tickle1 pbh.adbureau The virus that I got on my computer this week was called spybot. Had nothing to do with spybot, of course. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/48 "2005-02-19T18:36:18Z")
> [@Duck Duck Goose](#): > > Clarify: You mean when you run Adaware, it “finds” Mozilla? I’m sorry, it’s Spybot that checks for Mozilla. It’s one of the spy names it checks as it runs through the list. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/49 "2005-02-19T20:44:14Z")
I’ve been running NAV & AVG concurrently for a few days now w/o any glitches. Avast won’t run with NAV still running. Nav’s not been cooperative about uninstalling though. I’ve not the energy to figure out how to get rid of it yet, so, for now I’ll just keep NAV & AVG and try Avast later. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/50 "2005-02-19T22:27:52Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > I’m sorry, it’s Spybot that checks for Mozilla. It’s one of the spy names it checks as it runs through the list. I just ran Spybot, and I didn’t see “mozilla” in the list. However, it’s not entirely outside the realm of possibility that some malware humorist has called his critter “mozilla”, the same way there are viruses out there called “spybot”. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/51 "2005-02-19T22:33:24Z")
The word Mozilla is indeed in the [Spybot detection d](http://www.safer-networking.org/en/threats/450.html)atabase, but there is no more information about what this object is or why it presents a threat. I would not assume that this means the Mozilla products are spyware vectors. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/52 "2005-02-21T18:57:34Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > How’d you uninstall NAV? > I’ve had fits. It is a major pain. The last time I wanted to get rid of NAV, I wound up just doing a clean re-install of Windows XP Reason for this is the first time I tried to get rid of it took several reboots, crossed fingers and still a lot of detritus left behind in the registry. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/53 "2005-02-21T19:01:26Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > The word Mozilla is indeed in the [Spybot detection d](http://www.safer-networking.org/en/threats/450.html)atabase, but there is no more information about what this object is or why it presents a threat. I would not assume that this means the Mozilla products are spyware vectors. And why do you make that assumption? ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/54 "2005-02-21T20:14:31Z")
> [@Jojo](#): > > Valgard: > > If I start using Firefox, should I completely delete IE from my computer? > > I’m thinking that even if you don’t actually use IE but still have it there (maybe as an icon) then “things” can still download onto your computer through IE - it’s just that you won’t see them. Is this correct? Oh? :rolleyes: What makes you think Windows will let you uninstall IE? :dubious: Muahahahahahahahahahahha!!! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![doverpro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@doverpro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doverpro)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/55 "2005-02-21T21:03:23Z")
I’ve been running Norton AV for years and have never had a problem with it. I have discovered that if your subscription is up, all you have to do is uninstall NAV and then re-install it and your subscription will be “renewed”. I have NAV 2002, so I don’t know if Symantec has fixed that bug or not. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/56 "2005-02-21T22:15:55Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > [Uninstalling NAV] is a major pain. The last time I wanted to get rid of NAV, I wound up just doing a clean re-install of Windows XP > > Reason for this is the first time I tried to get rid of it took several reboots, crossed fingers and still a lot of detritus left behind in the registry. The advice I followed from Avast was to uninstall using the uninstall program provided by Norton. Do not use the Windows Add/Remove Programs functionality because it will indeed leave stuff in the registry that may conflict with other anti-virus programs like Avast. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/57 "2005-02-22T00:49:05Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > And why do you make that assumption? I said I \*\*would not \*\* assume that Mozilla made spyware, for the simple reason that I have seen no evidence that it does. An entry in a database does not a spyware make. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/58 "2005-02-22T00:52:53Z")
Why would Mozilla be an entry in the database if it’s not spyware? I don’t mean to be litigous, but why would it scan for Mozilla if it weren’t spyware? ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/59 "2005-02-22T00:58:54Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Oh? :rolleyes: > > What makes you think Windows will let you uninstall IE? :dubious: > > Muahahahahahahahahahahha!!! 😛 Muahahahahahahhahaha!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428/60 "2005-02-22T01:25:19Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > Why would Mozilla be an entry in the database if it’s not spyware? I don’t mean to be litigous, but why would it scan for Mozilla if it weren’t spyware? It’s probably some piece of crap software that some idiot NAMED ‘Mozilla’, but is not the ACTUAL Mozilla. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-norton-ant-virus-worth-it/290428.md?page=4)