Shall I Dump Mcafee...?

[Mumbo Jumbo]

I am using my new computer, which came with McAfee Security Center pre loaded, ive just seen this ....The anti Virus soft ware you have ( McAfee Virus scan ) has expired and is not working..? , so it looks as if I may have to subscribe to McAfee to get the Virus scan up dated..? i can't see more info about subscribing / obtaining the up dated soft waer, I am not sure weather to get rid of this McAfee set up and install on of the " free " downloads..? ... any advice most welcome , the computer is running Windows XP and also came pre loaded with the Windows Fire wall . ( can I run two fire wall's at the same time ...? )

Thanks .............. Mumbo

[katana]

I don't know if McAfee has a free version, but if it doesn't, Grisoft's AVG antivirus is a free alternative.

As for running 2 firewalls at the same time, best not to, they can conflict and cause problems.

Hope that is of some help.

[PeaceBlondie]

when I was having PC troubles last month on my HP a422d, the Thai techie reformatted everything, left off my newly purchased Norton Firewall, and left off my Norton anti-virus, and installed NOD32 anti-virus instead. I protested, "But don't I need a firewall?" and he said no.

True? I've still got 11 months prepaid firewall. But can I run Norton firewall with NOD32 anti-virus?

I'm more computer illiterate than the gecko on your wall.

[agsnowdon]

Personally I use AVG for anti virus and I use Windows Deffender for Spyware both of these are free.

[Wallalai]

AVG antivirus free edition seems to be one of the best free antivirus software available. Better, and "lighter" than all commercial antivirus. With virus signatures updated frequently.

It's the one I would recommand to af friend.

Running two antivirus (antivirii ? ) at the same time is not a good idea.

[Mumbo Jumbo]

Thanks guy's for the comments, just a thought before I dump McAfee, is any one else using McAfee ...? and can comment on it...?

Thanks .... Mumbo

[JSixpack]

Thanks guy's for the comments, just a thought before I dump McAfee, is any one else using McAfee ...? and can comment on it...?

Thanks .... Mumbo

McAfee is excellent and is in fact a little better than free alternatives. However the free antivir like AVG are also quite good. Me, I use AVG. One thing I like about it is that it isn't too intrusive.

There is a comparision of the effectiveness of antivir products here (I just found this the other day; I should post this link in one of the earlier antivir threads but I'm too lazy to look for them):

http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2006_02.php

[Tywais]

Thanks guy's for the comments, just a thought before I dump McAfee, is any one else using McAfee ...? and can comment on it...?

Thanks .... Mumbo

Been using McAfee for years. I have it installed on all our research facilities computers, about 100 of them and am quite satisfied with it. Because of careless users I have had to add a pre-emptive strike layer to the anti-virus equation. I have Clamav (Open System software - free) on our facility linux based firewall/server that scans all incoming e-mail for virus and removes them before they can even arrive to the users INBOX. Have not seen a virus get into the laboratory via e-mail since though many do try on a daily basis as a system message sends me the alerts of virus attempts.

Here is a site with a great variety of scanners to choose from:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/

Edited April 8, 2006 by tywais

[sbk]

Believe the OP is worried about the firewall as well.

I use AVG for anti virus and Zone Alarm (free) for the firewall. It is easy enough to use and one doesn't need to be an expert to configure it (tried other free firewalls but found them too complicated).

My understanding is that once you download and install the new Zonealarm firewall it will turn off the default Windows firewall itself.

Also, make sure to uninstall the Mcafee before installing anything else.

[sbk]

when I was having PC troubles last month on my HP a422d, the Thai techie reformatted everything, left off my newly purchased Norton Firewall, and left off my Norton anti-virus, and installed NOD32 anti-virus instead. I protested, "But don't I need a firewall?" and he said no.

True? I've still got 11 months prepaid firewall. But can I run Norton firewall with NOD32 anti-virus?

I'm more computer illiterate than the gecko on your wall.

Why not? Firewall and antivirus aren't the same thing at all. If you still have your norton disc uninstall the techie installed stuff and put your original paid software back on.

[meadish_sweetball]

Most people do need a firewall.

If you can say for sure that you will never visit a porn site, cracked programs (warez) or e-card site, and will never use a file sharing app, then your need for a firewall will be greatly reduced ... but if you DO plan to do any of the above or have reason to believe somebody else using your computer might, then you DO need a firewall.

[francois]

hi'

to say things straight ... "McAfee coming with my com" is what we called forced sell, and it's limit legal!

unistall McAfee and install, either ; AVG7 FREE (grisoft.com), but you should take a look at this :

Avast FREE download Avast antivirus free

or even better : Bit Defender8 FREE (download Bitdefender 8 free

never run 2 antivirus together!

some might think (as I did years ago), that having a resident antivirus, and a second one not running in the backgrond but here for a second scan ...

useless !

choose a good one and stick to it

I run Bit Defender 9 and I'll never look back

for firewall, same!

choose one and stay with it.

2 soft seems to be on the top ;

Zone Alarm (free), and Sygate (free), but Sygate belongs to symantec(norton) now, so for update , it's a no no

but the firewall, either in version 5.5 or 5.6 runs nicely

you may still find it making a search ...

I do think that it's useless to talk about ZA as it's still the best firewall on the market

just pay attention, when install to ckeck the zonealarm free edition, not the pro one ...

if you have a routeur with a firewall integrated, you don't need any soft for firewall, the only thing you'll get is conflict!

and possibly no connection possible as every port would be blocked!

very safe but useless for internet

that's all what I have to say about that ...

francois

[francois]

Thanks guy's for the comments, just a thought before I dump McAfee, is any one else using McAfee ...? and can comment on it...?

Thanks .... Mumbo

McAfee is excellent and is in fact a little better than free alternatives. However the free antivir like AVG are also quite good. Me, I use AVG. One thing I like about it is that it isn't too intrusive.

There is a comparision of the effectiveness of antivir products here (I just found this the other day; I should post this link in one of the earlier antivir threads but I'm too lazy to look for them):

http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2006_02.php

hi'

they must have been paid by symantec

or symantec ordered this comparative

anyway, out of different labs, came out ; and not only for their efficiency and update frequency, but also on the way they work, everyone knows norton is HEAVY! and live update is always late!

so, from latest news

Kapersky, BitDefender, Avast and AVG, then the others .. surpised?

not me

McAfee and Norton had been surfing on the web since win95 and they still work the same way, nothing new, ther are HEAVY!!

may be good, but HEAVY, and they take a load of memory out

francois

[JSixpack]

McAfee and Norton had been surfing on the web since win95 and they still work the same way, nothing new, ther are HEAVY!!

may be good, but HEAVY, and they take a load of memory out

Very true. It's surprising, too, how many little computer annoyances seem to clear up once Norton is removed. I wonder if some computers like Norton and others just don't.

[PeaceBlondie]

Thanks to all who responded, especially to sbk. So, I can re-install my Norton Firewall and not worry about the Norton antivirus which expires in a few weeks, and still run the NOD32 antivirus, which seems to be working?

As to Norton being a heavy user of disk space (or whatever), does that apply to their antivirus program, their firewall, or to both?

Thanks. I'm the gecko. And the Norton people are no relation to the English blokes that made Norton Commando motorcycles in the 1960's, right?