Social Media News

Designed for prevention, detection, and removal of malware; antivirus utility programs provide assistance to computer users by maintaining online security -– running in the background, these programs alert instantaneously to possible risks. Recent new-age antivirus utility editions can be downloaded for free, labeled as freeware and even that of organic software, or purchased for an annual cost based on the number of computers and level of protection; universally these programs nurse a user and their computer from malice content such as that adware, spyware, Trojan type viruses, computing worms, common computer viruses, as well as many other forms of online security treats –- following a system scan and removal of the bugged files, a restart restores systems to maximum health so that surfing can begin once again.  

While I highly advocate that all computers be guarded with an antivirus program; these programs both have positive factors and negative pitfalls. Antivirus software, such as the popular Norton’s Antivirus, can corrupt system performance as it is not designed efficiently; consuming a great deal of system memory, Norton’s dramatically reduces computing speed. Novice users, to any type of “antivirus program”; may have trouble comprehending results, action prompts, and choices that the program has –- such as removing, deleting, cleaning, or guaranteeing infected files. Without room to make errors, a single mistake to the utility program may possible lead to security factors; also leading to possible computer malfunctions –- causing more distress than the virus itself, this program can occur too often with confused or uneducated basic users. Studies have found that the success of virus detection and removal, of popular software, have dropped significantly each year — the result of more complex malware contruction. Lastly, antivirus programs have uneven distribution of false positives and false negative results; false positives, null results when actually true can cause more harm to a user’s computer — conveying to the user that their system is of health when in reality the antivirus just is not stable enough to pick up on the embedded threat(s). False negatives rest on poor test sensitivity and yield a null result when the fact is false; failing in accuracy of a file or computer program — these type two indictors report a download as a risk to ones computer when in reality it is safe, or report a download as safe when malice.  In example, recently Norton’s Symantec Care obtained a false positive that alerted thousands to malice content being found; the result was thousands of users unable to even boot up their systems due to the removal of a needed operational system file(s). With results like these, my greatest advice is to be cautious of malice material on the internet as well use implicit caution with industry leader Norton Antivirus.

Exposed to the Internet for over a decade of use, I have come to possess more than a few “heavy opinions”; regarding a vast assortment of commonly used, and some not commonly used, software. My odium towards the hoggish series of Norton Antivirus products has became an acquired passion that I bring to every ones attention; this abhorrence stems from personally dealing with Norton’s dysfunction and destruction of memory, leading to deeper troubles for this avid technological savvy aficionado. I too have heard horror stories from relieves, friends, co-workers, employers, and many Internet networking consumers — including my diverse subculture of loyal viewers and readers to my content, supportive in my role as a social media journalist. Often a topic of great conversation, my network of loyal, interested viewers offer their own positive and negative feedback, regarding Norton’s products; leading to even distribution of held opinions and factual proof. With acquired knowledge, Norton’s is the first program that I take the liberty to delete from my computer, making sure that I carefully remove all of its subordinate Symantec contents as well –- next I replace its function with an antiviral program that is lightweight and will provide me with the same level of function as Norton’s, if not more. I challenge everyone who is advanced and even intermediate in computer skill to research the pie graph of computer usage on the central drive, prior to and after a full Norton’s removal; it’s quite silencing in fact — to see the details of a program consuming upwards of 45% of a systems memory, slowing down a system greatly as to almost come to a halt when a scan is running a throughout, drawn hour, inspection.

While the majority of us care about memory and impacted speed, those who have Norton’s Antivirus downloaded are protected; to some degree. However, to those advanced computer users it is well known that this antivirus in itself is like having a virus for the system –- simplistically, let me rephrase and say that Norton’s Antivirus has virus like traits of the DDOS “Zombies” virus that has penetrated the Internet. In a side by side comparison both use an exuberant amount of central processing space yet Norton’s stands alone, without comparison. Both of these two problematic trouble makers and stress inducers operate on the principals of pinging their choice of servers at invalid lengths. However, the most venom I have for that of Norton’s result both with false positives/negatives and that of use hogging annoyances. As a scare tactic, for those Norton’s have brainwashed to believe they are receiving top notch security as a remarkable rate, Symantec has chosen to deploy pop-up messages wanting the users credit card number for service renewal. Many users, diverted by the intoxication of the single word “antivirus” do not feel comfortable in disabling their “holier than thou” service/program due to various reasons; the act of removal even proves to be difficult in itself. Instead, these users set forth in a traumatizing experience of harassing pop-up windows; starting from the program activation and grossly becoming hellish once a free trial of sixty days expires — and even more intense one a full year has expired. Inaccurate, these messages jolt the user into thinking that without Norton’s Antivirus their computer is completely spread open and magnetized to negative energy of every malice program in existence as they truck down the Interstate of the World Wide Web; this assumption false, as the combination of UAC, Windows Defender, Windows Firewall and automating updating does a good job of keeping Vista-based machines secure without Sir Norton’s –- however, for Window’s operating system XP it would be quite foolish to operate without an antivirus due to its inexistent self protection, in no hidden Terms of Service agreement or Biblical record does it say that Norton’s must be installed. Until a user complies to this falsification of pop-up nuisances, and yields a credit card number on an server that is far from secure; deliverance only comes with the guts to enter into control panel and remove any signs of the product.

Once Norton’s is completely uninstalled from the computer’s hard drive, and all subsequent Symantec mentions a reboot will be needed; following a full system reboot to a faster system the next recommended step is to replace the removed files with a similar program –- researching these programs are key as all programs are designed to protect in different ways, offering an vast array of features. Please, take in mind that with utility programs the antivirus sets at the top of the pyramid; one program, of top rank, is needed and if a secondary program is downloaded interference may come under attack, until settings are tweaked.  All other system care programs that keep a computer protected set below the superior antivirus, these programs come at no limit of downloading as it is known by advanced techs that a single program may not clean fully; these tools can arrange from spyware/adware cleaners, registry cleaners, firewall utilities, programs that allow the user to see any type of malice attempts to break into his or her computer, and so forth. I highly recommend, the research and download of health utilities; for example I have a lightweight freeware antivirus that was ranked superior to Norton’s by research and several health utilities that allow me to complete over a thousand functions to clean my system –- in addition I have the Vista protection settings enabled and set accordingly with settings to my standard set on my Internet router/modem combination. To decrease risk of slowness, I install all programs to a 2TB external harddrive; reducing the clutter on my central processing unit and allowing for speeds similar of the ones directly out of the box — my external hard drive is subject to full health cans as well by these programs of antivirus and system care, as are all my drives.  In finishing this opinion, I have taken liberties to include data regarding antivirus and system care utilities; that bring Norton’s to shame by weight and function — those described below can be researched, in excess, via Google and/or creditable technology blog; as well as a number can be downloaded at Download.com via CNet for the full freeware version or a trial period of so many days — one that trial period is up users have a secure option to purchase or completely remove from their drives by following the control panel prompt, for uninstall a program.

• →Avast! Antivirus: Freely, the most downloaded antivirus tool that beats Norton’s, in extensive reports, ten to one — in both weight and function. Editors, from CNet, are quoted in saying “Advast! is impressive software providing the same steadfast protection as Norton’s Antivirus and other popular purchased programs — yet it is surprisingly free…” This lightweight program is easy to install, easy to use, and updates itself when new versions or virus updates are made available. Gaining a five star from both technology editors and users; coming in free personal and at a fee professional edition.

• →Avira Antivir[us]: Also known as FreeAV stands as a CNet exclusive editor choice, for antiviral programs. Receiving noble five stars by technology editors and four and half by users; editors are quoted in saying “Consistently at or near the top in all efficacy tests. Anira Antivir remains one of the best freeware security solutions on the Internet…”

• →Adaware: A freeware program that removes malice spyware/adware/tracking cookies. Lightweight and easy to use, CNet has rated it at the top with almost a perfect score or four and a half stars.

• →Spybot: Inferior to Adaware, this program only received a CNet review of three stars; and was rated by users to receive four stars. Similar to Advaware, this program checks computer systems against a comprehensive database of adware and other system invasions. Yet, “it [Spybot] has the tendency to lock up at times even durning installation with several errors notes in its performance.” CNet editors claim with quotes.

• →Sygate: Rated, again by CNet, this four star editor rating firewall protects against outside intruders. “Sygate using less than 10 MB of our ram did not slow our computers down, making it a top rated feature. Passwords can be set against other users, children, and employees, this very easy to use firewall presets itself as a quality option for those seeking relief from “net nasties…” CNet editors quotes.

• →Windows OneCare: Prior, held with the highest regards in being a full system scanning tool, its use has been discontinued. However, Window’s OneCare is still available for those who priory had the functional program.

Online Virus Scanners: A Comprehensive List of Internet Virus Scanning Tools

Norton Review — ★★

(Copyright © Social-Media-News 2009)