Posted on 07/17/2024 10:19:21 AM PDT by Angelino97
I've long used Norton Anti-Virus (I think they used to be called Symantec). But I think it's a memory hog. Sometimes it seems to use all available CPU.
When I do a video screen capture on a movie that I'm playing, the movie records all jittery, full of pauses. I Disable Norton's Auto-Protect, but that doesn't help. I wonder if Norton is obeying me?
Norton foisted a VPN onto my computer. I tried it several times, but it never works, never makes a connection. Only tells me to try later.
When I renewed last year, I checked a box to not renew the VPN portion, but Norton's VPN is still there. And still not working, telling me to try again later.
Norton also stopped working on another computer I have. I tried to uninstall it -- very difficult and incomplete. It did ask me, why do I want to uninstall, since I still have about 200 days left on my subscription? When I reinstalled, Norton still wouldn't work on that computer
Any recommendations for a better anti-virus or firewall?
I'm on Windows 7, if that matters.
I've read that if you buy a Win system, not all the drivers will work with Linux. You'll have to get some new drivers and that might be a chore.
Well Linux has it’s own drivers for all your hardware. The problem might be in the bios. They are starting to make it hard to install an alternative OS. MS made deals with the machine manufacturers to try and lock out alternative OS options. So when you buy shop around to make sure it will let you. :)
I am in a similar situation. But rather than buy new I am going to get an older refurbished win 7 machine to make sure I can immediately reload with Linux.
In the removal process of all the useless programs a new computer comes with as teasers, I discovered that Norton is, in fact, a computer virus.
You know there is another option... You can install Linux to an external hard drive and just run it off of there. Once booted up it basically goes around your internal drive to borrow all your hardware without affecting your internal MS drive. I have several of these... Once your bios boot order is set you just plug it in and power it up and go... :)
My first computer was at work, and it was a MS-DOS 2.1 machine. We then graduated to 3.3, 4.0, 5.0 and then 6.2. Then came Windows 1.0, 2.0, 3.11 for Workgroups. That's when I separated from the USAF.
I found out in the days of W98 that it had to be reprogrammed every 6 months or, as you found out, it would crash. The place I worked at graduated to Windows 2000 which worked remarkably well. That's where they were at when that job closed their doors in 2001.
I've used all the operatings up through Windows 10 throughout my IT days. Overall, Windows XP and 7 were, and are, the best operating systems Microsoft put out, chiefly because the user could control the operating system. Everything since Windows 8 on up are all about the IT world controlling the PC. That's why I hate to use anything other than Windows 7 though I do have my computers dual booted with both 7 and 10.
Please just stick with Microsoft Defender. Adding another AV on top of modern windows just drags it into the abyss.
What about a computer with two internal hard drives, one with Win, one with Linux? Is it a good idea to get OS’s on separate hard drives?
Is Windows Defender still being updated for Win 7?
Sure, absolutely, either way if you have room for two drives. I like to put a Linux OS on an external USB drive as portable. I can just grab the drive and go plug it into any computer and boot up on the external.
Basically a big USB stick that is a full system drive with storage and all. I have a couple 2 Tb portable externals I can swap around onto any computer even a Mac.
Here is the thing, Linux is almost as fast running from an external drive as it is from an internal drive. Pretty hard to tell the difference in speed.
Windows 7 isn’t being updated anymore, and there are at least 3 well known public attack vectors for it that require nothing more than visibility to the Internet, what are known as RCE or remote code execution. Two of those attacks start from advertisements.
I use Malware Bytes and it works great and I have no problems with it.
I think the dual boot is a great solution. I use Linus for almost all my daily usage, internet, email, weather, fr, or whatever. The only time I use my windows 7 Machine is when I need to run photoshop, painting programs like Rebelle, On-One, my photography (I could use Linux for that, but I like how windows handles it better) or play windows only games.
95% of my computer use is done in linux, but there are times need windows, so i boot up into windows and all is fine. I have my windows set to NOT connect to the internet so i can use it without worrying- but will go online from time to time to update drivers or download pa5ches or updates for programs.
Try the disk or USB stick with Linux on it- I think you will like it pretty well. You don’t have to get deep into the weeds with it, and can customize it pretty easily to how you like it. Being that I basically just use a computer for simple stuff now, Linux mint cinnamon fits the bill perfectly. No fuss no muss. And again, I have my windows whenever i need it too. Very happy with the setup.
Oh and Linux mint is a real pleasure to install- not like windows at all. It is quick, and customizing is now fairly quick for me- I can do it all in a few hours as compared to a few days with windows and their endless updates, patches, os tweaks, security tweaks to keep out da bad guys etc. Linux is all very simple and quick to install and make my own.
Been using Norton for years, but always looking for newer and "better." I am very dependent on Norton password manager. Any recommendations for a SECURE password manager?
Personally I use "KeePass2" (on Windows and Linux) and its twin "MacPass" on MacOS. Free, open source, been around for many years, well reputed and trustworthy. The password archive/vault is a local encrypted file, using a single "master password". Trivial to keep a safe backup copy on a USB stick, etc. Supports various plug-ins and extensions to add optional additional functions.
At work I used the above until 2020 when my company switched to "KeeperSecurity", a paid service that runs from the cloud rather than a local file. That made it easier for my IT team to share access from our various remote/home locations.
It costs way too much. Only God knows if it is the protector or the attacker.
The iCloud app works well for me.
I have the cheapest paid option for iCloud storage, 50 GB for $0.99 monthly. This takes care of storage and backups for two iPhones, an iPad, and a MacBook Pro. It’s awesome for when it’s time to upgrade a phone: activate the phone on your account, and it automatically sets up your new phone using the backup. For long-term storage, I use an external USB drive on my PC.
I installed the iCloud for Windows app on my PC. With it I can download files, pictures, etc. from iCloud storage to my PC, then save them locally on the external drive. Afterwards, I remove the files from iCloud, freeing up storage space. I haven’t tried moving files from PC to MacBook or iPad using iCloud, so can’t offer any insight or advice, other than it’s probably just as easy.
bfl
I don't do cloud computing. I backup everything on external drives, then drag & drop the folders onto the new computer.
I've been doing this since the mid 1980s. Owned ten computers so far. I've backed up on 5.25" dics, 3.5" discs, 40MB external discs, and external hard drives of ever increasing sizes.
Every month or two, I attach one of my external backup drives to my old, backup laptop, and transfer the new files onto it for additional backup. Copy over the AppData folder so all my emails and browser bookmarks are backed up too.
I always keep one backup drive in my bank's safe deposit box, in case there's a fire at my home.
Right! All I use is the (Free!) Windows 11 built in antivirus and whatever other tools Windows 11 uses. I am amazed that Norton AV is still in business. 15-20 years ago MS was afraid of Anti-Trust laws so did not include AV in the operating system. Back then, buying Norton AV made some sense/
But with the rise of Apple. And eclipsing Microsoft. MS became free of Anti-Trust actions. These days it is Apple that gets these antitrust actions from the EU etc. Such as Apple ripping off apps at the Apple Apps Store at 33% of apps maker’s profits.
I have the free malware bytes version that I scan my computer with. Every few weeks.
Microsoft first included full antivirus protection as a built-in component of Windows in Windows 8, which was released in 2012. Here are the key details:
In Windows 8, Microsoft upgraded Windows Defender from an anti-spyware tool to a full antivirus program. This new version of Windows Defender was very similar to Microsoft Security Essentials, which had been available as a separate download for earlier Windows versions.
The upgraded Windows Defender in Windows 8 used the same anti-malware engine and virus definitions as Microsoft Security Essentials.
This marked the first time that Windows included comprehensive antivirus protection out of the box, without requiring users to download additional software.
Prior to Windows 8, Windows only included limited anti-spyware protection:
Windows Vista and Windows 7 included Windows Defender as a built-in anti-spyware tool, but it did not provide full antivirus protection.
For these earlier versions, users needed to separately download Microsoft Security Essentials or third-party antivirus software for complete protection.
With Windows 8 and later versions, Windows Defender (now called Microsoft Defender Antivirus) is enabled by default and provides real-time protection against a wide range of threats, including viruses, malware, spyware, and ransomware.
This integration of full antivirus capabilities into Windows represented a significant step in Microsoft’s efforts to improve the built-in security of its operating system.
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