... Or should we not use the Nortons program at all?
I was mainly addressing that portion of her statement. Plus I was giving my NSHO on what I thought of Zonealarm.
Norton's anti-virus program and Zonealarm's security app don't compete against each other, as I have used them together once before.
The main complaint I have against Norton's anti-virus app is that it is a memory *pig*, and definitely is not the most efficient kid on the block. Methinks that they have been taking lessons from Micro$loth. :P-->
" The main complaint I have against Norton's anti-virus app is that it is a memory *pig*, "
Agreed, Garth!
I am switching from that piece of crap soon.
I like Computer Associates EZ Antivirus 2005
Hardly ever notice its there. None of these huge foot downloads and upgrades and in your face reminders.
Though I have not been able to turn off auto protect, it does not seem to slow things down from opening. And it scans when a person is logged off unlike Norton Anti crap, and it works works with 2003 Server unlike NAV.
We got the Norton's installed and running :)--> Thanks. :)-->
Garth, I had Zone Alarm for a time on the old puter and had a lot of problems with it. I had even more problems getting it off my system and getting Norton's running properly, as a result. There was definitely a conflict between the two. Not between the virus program and the firewall, but between Zonealarms firewall and Norton's firewall. Bluz was our savior during that mess!!
Once we got Norton's running on the old system it worked very well. So far it is working very well on this one too.
After everything we went through with the hijackers and spyware on the old system, and everything I've read and learned, I have very little interest in free downloads off the internet (though I do use Spybot and Adaware). I would much rather pay a little money to purchase a good product from a store then risk downloading something that will cause even more headaches.
The parental controls are HUGE for me. I have kids who use my puter. I am not so concerned about them getting into porno sites, etc. (at least not at this age), but I do have concerns about them being able to download. My 7 year old was downloading games off cartoon network that had spyware and my 5 year old would download stuff without even realizing that is what he was doing.
With the Parental controls that came with Nortons I can leave them turned off when I am on the computer. When I log out of Norton's they are automatically turned on. Once they are on the kids cannot send or receive IM's from strangers, cannot inadvertently go to a website they shouldn't, and cannot download anything. :)-->
The setup that you had on your old system with having both Norton's and Zonealarm's firewalls was definitely the problem there. Anytime you have two firewalls running together like that you'll have the results you have had.
Norton Internet Security has been at the center of a number of problem computers that I have fixed.
Since you have multiple computers, why not just get a Router. You can get one pretty cheap now. That IS a firewall and a hardware one. Most routers today will email you when you are getting intruders. Once you have the router, you will have little need for a software one.
We are getting a router sometime within the next month. :)--> Currently the boys are grounded from the internet for fighting at school (no cartoon network - violent games). :)--> This also buys me the time to do a little research and find out more about how the routers work, if there are different kinds, which one is the best one for the money spent, etc.
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WordWolf
Ok, XP's "firewall"...
XP Service Pack 1 has a firewall called "Internet Connection Firewall".
It's a toy. It serves to buy you a few minutes while you download
a REAL firewall.
XP Service Pack 2 has a better firewall. You'll know if you're using
that because it comes with a "Security Center" program.
That's where a window will show something monitoring your antivirus
program and so on.
It limits incoming traffic a LOT better than the SP1 thing,
but it's not really a "firewall", and it does NOT secure outgoing
traffic.
"Microsoft security" is an oxymoron, remember this.
So, install whatever security programs you want,
then switch off the "firewall" in Windows that came with Windows.
I've never heard of a firewall that was LESS effective than the
Microsoft ones. They were added to the operating system because some
people have NO security and even BAD security is better than none at all.
Personally, I'm not impressed with Norton, but if you find it works for
you and you're happy with it, more power to you.
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GarthP2000
My suggestion?
Zone Alarm. Hands down. No question. And this is before you even consider their professional version.
www.zonelabs.com
Check it out. Most PC mags rate it as Number 1 in their book.
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WordWolf
Um,
she said she likes Norton.
Norton and ZoneAlarm, I hear, don't play so nice together.
I hear that in this forum, in fact.
I like ZA, myself, but she likes Norton.
Therefore, Kerio might be a better free firewall for her.
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GarthP2000
I was mainly addressing that portion of her statement. Plus I was giving my NSHO on what I thought of Zonealarm.
Norton's anti-virus program and Zonealarm's security app don't compete against each other, as I have used them together once before.
The main complaint I have against Norton's anti-virus app is that it is a memory *pig*, and definitely is not the most efficient kid on the block. Methinks that they have been taking lessons from Micro$loth.
:P-->
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WordWolf
Ok....
I know of better (and free) antivirus programs than Norton.
I know of better (and free) firewalls than Norton.
Do you know of a decent "parental controls" she can use instead
of her Norton all-in-one?
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GarthP2000
Yeah. ... Pull the plug.
But seriously, no I don't.
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igotout
" The main complaint I have against Norton's anti-virus app is that it is a memory *pig*, "
Agreed, Garth!
I am switching from that piece of crap soon.
I like Computer Associates EZ Antivirus 2005
Hardly ever notice its there. None of these huge foot downloads and upgrades and in your face reminders.
Though I have not been able to turn off auto protect, it does not seem to slow things down from opening. And it scans when a person is logged off unlike Norton Anti crap, and it works works with 2003 Server unlike NAV.
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Abigail
We got the Norton's installed and running
:)--> Thanks. 
:)-->
Garth, I had Zone Alarm for a time on the old puter and had a lot of problems with it. I had even more problems getting it off my system and getting Norton's running properly, as a result. There was definitely a conflict between the two. Not between the virus program and the firewall, but between Zonealarms firewall and Norton's firewall. Bluz was our savior during that mess!!
Once we got Norton's running on the old system it worked very well. So far it is working very well on this one too.
After everything we went through with the hijackers and spyware on the old system, and everything I've read and learned, I have very little interest in free downloads off the internet (though I do use Spybot and Adaware). I would much rather pay a little money to purchase a good product from a store then risk downloading something that will cause even more headaches.
The parental controls are HUGE for me. I have kids who use my puter. I am not so concerned about them getting into porno sites, etc. (at least not at this age), but I do have concerns about them being able to download. My 7 year old was downloading games off cartoon network that had spyware and my 5 year old would download stuff without even realizing that is what he was doing.
With the Parental controls that came with Nortons I can leave them turned off when I am on the computer. When I log out of Norton's they are automatically turned on. Once they are on the kids cannot send or receive IM's from strangers, cannot inadvertently go to a website they shouldn't, and cannot download anything.
:)-->
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GarthP2000
Abigail,
The setup that you had on your old system with having both Norton's and Zonealarm's firewalls was definitely the problem there. Anytime you have two firewalls running together like that you'll have the results you have had.
Sorry to hear Zonealarm didn't work for you tho'.
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pawtucket
Norton Internet Security has been at the center of a number of problem computers that I have fixed.
Since you have multiple computers, why not just get a Router. You can get one pretty cheap now. That IS a firewall and a hardware one. Most routers today will email you when you are getting intruders. Once you have the router, you will have little need for a software one.
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Abigail
We are getting a router sometime within the next month.
:)--> Currently the boys are grounded from the internet for fighting at school (no cartoon network - violent games). 
:)--> This also buys me the time to do a little research and find out more about how the routers work, if there are different kinds, which one is the best one for the money spent, etc.
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WordWolf
I recommend a software firewall regardless.
Since ZoneAlarm and Kerio have decent FREE firewalls,
I don't think there's an excuse not to use one.
A router's firewall, IIRC, is great for screening incoming traffic,
but does NOTHING on outgoing traffic.
That means that if something DOES elude your defenses,
there's no additional layer of defense.
With a software firewall, an attempt by a program to dial out or whatever
will be stopped and you'll be notified. Now you know there's a problem
program infecting your pc. With the router only, you have no warning.
I prefer not to assume ANY program or device is 100% effective.
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