Computer experts - Norton-vs-McAfee

[Wishing on a star]

Any tips?

I feel like we have been having some slight issues with our computer ever since we got our last NORTON. Computer is slow, Emails failing to be sent out due to 'time-out' errors, Glitches when trying to access Word Processing and other applications at the same time, etc... etc...

I see that Staples actually has McAfee for FREE after all the discounts, mail in rebates, etc.

Any input from you computer experts appreciated!

 

[eclectics]

Any tips?

I feel like we have been having some slight issues with our computer ever since we got our last NORTON. Computer is slow, Emails failing to be sent out due to 'time-out' errors, Glitches when trying to access Word Processing and other applications at the same time, etc... etc...

I see that Staples actually has McAfee for FREE after all the discounts, mail in rebates, etc.

Any input from you computer experts appreciated!

Norton is good but it slowed my computer to a crawl, so I actually had to remove it from my system. Good money down the drain. I use Windows firewall now and I purchased Spyware Doctor, which is excellent, imho. No more slowness issues. Not familiar with McAfee but they've been around a long time. Try to get some consumer reviews before downloading it.

 

[BunsenH]

I prefer McAfee. We use it at work for virus and spam filtering for 50-60 users. I'm sure that it slows performance some, but it is not noticable. I also use McAfee at home.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Panda (Platinum)!
Could get McAfee for free with Comcast, but got rid of it! Took Norton's off before McAfee. Ick.

 

[bicker]

I also have McAfee free with Comcast, but finds that it (and Norton) are simply poorly written software -- they slow my system down to a crawl. Instead, I use Microsoft Windows Live OneCare. It does a great job, and it is very courteous to my system.

 

[Amy]

We used to have Norton on our home computer and all was well until I upgraded it to the version that included anti-spyware. Messed up our computer soooo bad - took DH and I over a week just to get Norton uninstalled and get things working again. We switched to McAfee, and so far haven't had any problems (knock on wood). Well, we have ONE problem: I have it set to run virus scan automatically once a week, but it NEVER starts on its own when it's scheduled; I always have to start it. But that's a problem I can live with.

McAfee is also good with the parental controls via their privacy service.

 

[stevenpensacola]

AVG is an excellent product...easy to use....and it's FREE!

http://www.grisoft.com/doc/products-avg-anti-virus-free-edition/lng/us/tpl/tpl01

 

[snowball22]

Just say no to Norton!!!!!!!!!!!! We also had gotten the new updated version and it royally screwed up our computer big time. For three months it was a continuous nightmare situation. I was one the phone all the time with techs who were so clueless. Search the net on virus protection reports and ratings.
Right now we have McAfee and it is just fine.

 

[Servants of Evan]

Another vote for Panda Platinum!

 

[safetymom]

I used to praise McAfee but now use AVG. It's free and works well with my system.

 

[Lachesis00]

Personally I think both are terrible programs. I love AVG and also use a program called AVAST which is also free. Plus I use Microsofts program they offer for free.
Nortons has messed every computer I've ever know up... BADLY. McAfees just doesn't seem to work right and catch what it should.

So I say neither!

AVG is an excellent product...easy to use....and it's FREE!

http://www.grisoft.com/doc/products-avg-anti-virus-free-edition/lng/us/tpl/tpl01

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks for all the great recommendations!
Sounds like I am not the only one who does NOT like this NORTON.
Of course, it came with the system... Silly me to think it would be just fine!

I think I will check into AVG.

 

[2bemarried]

McAfee has slowed my computer down to a crawl. Of course they offer a registry cleaner to fix that problem, but I'm not about to waste more money on them.

Does anyone else have suggestions for a registry cleaner?

 

[eclectics]

McAfee has slowed my computer down to a crawl. Of course they offer a registry cleaner to fix that problem, but I'm not about to waste more money on them.

Does anyone else have suggestions for a registry cleaner?

The Spyware Doctor I purchased, among other tasks, cleans the registry and defrags it also. Good stuff.

 

[drgnfly30]

Funny I hated Mcfee & switched to Norton on all four of our computers with no problems!

 

[HOGFAN]

not an expert but..

we had Nortons on our desktop. You are right it is superslow.
Our internet provider was offering free McAfee.
I uninstalled Nortons and installed McAfee.
almost instantly had problems. come to find out Nortons had hidden files still on the computer which would cause it and McAfee to work against each other.
We had to trash the computer.

My advice: unless you are very computer saavy, take it to a geek shop for the uninstall.

BTW, we love McAfee, it is much faster

 

[bicker]

I wish I understood why the two anti-virus powerhouses, Norton and McAfee, cannot make an effective, well-performing piece of software to protect computers, while folks who do anti-virus as a side-line, like Microsoft (with OneCare) and Computer Associates (with e-Trust) can. It defies logic. Generally, if you specialize in something, you should be better than those who don't.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

AVG is an excellent product...easy to use....and it's FREE!

http://www.grisoft.com/doc/products-avg-anti-virus-free-edition/lng/us/tpl/tpl01

DH ia a computer tech and recommends AVG to all his clients. He describes McAfee and Norton as "bloatware"--too big, too slow.

 

[2bemarried]

Thanks eclectics

 

[Honu]

I had problems with AVG blocking certain popups, wanted ones that would come up in FedEx.com shipping processes, etc. Holding the control button didn't help either. Now I have PC Tools Spyware Doctor and Registry Mechanic and so far it's been great. I rarely use my PC anymore though. I've gone MAC.