Malware & Norton

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Windows 7 64 bit, Dell Studio XPS 8100 8GB Ram, 1.5 TB hdd. I am running Norton 360 V.4.0 and never had an issue, I don’t download patches until I check them, and am (at least I think so) a very security conscious user. (20+ years experience, IT professional)
I read a lot about malwarebytes, but I have used Norton since early DOS. while it was serious bloatware for a while and I had to stop, it is now much more lean, faster, and pretty much “one stop” security and maintenance. Can I or should I also be running malwarebytes? It seems redundant to me. I am also considering letting my subscription lapse, and trying either NIS 11 or new free MS offering. Would I need the malware program with MSE? I know I would with the NIS. I trust the responses on the lounge here having been a member and subscriber (paid) for probably way more than 10 years now. Thanks for your help and opinions.
Joel

Joel

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MSE includes both AV and AM while running in real time. Works very well for me with small resource usage. I have installed it onto 6 PC’s personally with no problems or infections at all. Highly recommend.

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I too use MSE on three PCs at home with good results so far. However, if you are pleased with Norton and don’t mind paying them, stick with it. The free version of Malwarebytes is a useful tool for periodically scanning your PC. It is just another piece of a multi-layered defense strategy.

Joe

--Joe

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I agree with what has been said. Security wise, it’s better not to put all your eggs in a single basket. Whether you go with Norton or MSE, I would think running Malwarebytes once a week or similar, can do no harm.

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Windows 7 64 bit, Dell Studio XPS 8100 8GB Ram, 1.5 TB hdd. I am running Norton 360 V.4.0 and never had an issue, I don’t download patches until I check them, and am (at least I think so) a very security conscious user. (20+ years experience, IT professional)
I read a lot about malwarebytes, but I have used Norton since early DOS. while it was serious bloatware for a while and I had to stop, it is now much more lean, faster, and pretty much “one stop” security and maintenance. Can I or should I also be running malwarebytes?

joela,
Hello…. As a user of both Norton 360 Malwarebytes PRO , and now Norton2011 Internet Security and Malwarebytes PRO. ( with no MS security, MSE Patches or Updates etc.) I can say that It works (Testing this on 3 OS’s) One “Vista”, for well over a year, and have no issues. NIS2011 is an all in one security suite … You can configure it how ever you wish. Two of the best features are that you are able to selectively switch off all or any part (for testing etc.) for whatever period you wish. The second is that you can make a “Bootable Rescue Disk” in the event that a virus or some malware renders your PC “DOA” “NIS 2011” “Kicks the pants off ” MSE and the rest…. don’t care if it is free or even if they paid me to use it, can’t compare. If you want …Just search this forum and you can find much on NIS 2011 (mostly form me):lol: Regards Fred

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Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is recommended by most, if not all, of the experienced, trained, certified, Volunteer “Malware Removal Specialists” that help out on the various Advanced malware removal forums . It “specializes” combatting the various “Rogue/Fake” security programs that are so prevalent in infecting people’s computers nowadays . AND they have an excellent FREE Support Forum if the need arises .

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Thanks to you all! I am probably going to stay with Norton, I love the “Password Keeper” which by the way you must remember to back up separtely, so many sites and many of my work related sites need a log in these days, it is impossible to remember them all, and writing them down or the old “text file on the desktop” just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Anyway, Malware Bytes, and Norton iti shall be, whether NIS 2011 or Norton 360. its been a LONG time, so “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” works for me.
Thanks again to all!

Joel

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I would be careful with MSE. For some reason they don’t test on the VB100 site.
http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/latest_comparative/index
Pretty much all the others do – I would guess 99% of the AV vendors submit for testing here. Why doesn’t Microsoft?
The best are along the top right – NOrton’s up there. You are right, Norton has been getting great reviews since 2010 came out.
If you wanted to add something, I have been using Sandboxie on my laptop and desktop. First read about it on the WS newsletter. Pretty impressive product.
http://www.sandboxie.com/

The only thing about malwarebytes (free) is that most of the rogue spyware tools out there come with a trojan that pretty much renders all the tools and many antivirus impotent against them (even ESET). Also, malwarebytes (free) is a tool and offers no real time protection like your Norton 360. You have to run it to get it to clean, otherwise its doing nothing as you surf the net. It is redundant with 360.

I use malwarebytes to clean monthly, ESET NOD 32, and sandboxie.
hope this helps

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I would be careful with MSE. For some reason they don’t test on the VB100 site.
http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/latest_comparative/index

The latest comparative at VB100 is for Ubuntu Linux 10.04 LTS. MSE certainly will not run on Linux. See the VB100 – recent test results page and you’ll see MSE. Remember, MSE is a consumer product so Microsoft will never submit for test against its server products.

Joe

--Joe

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OK, just logged in to the site and see where they have been passed the last two tests. They had a fail on the test previous to those – so they have passed 3 of the last 4 and I don’t think they have been out much longer than that time frame.
Thanks for pointing that out. Still, its a new product and I don’t like to jump on the bandwagon until it has stood the test of time. Too much pimping by magazine writers looking for those big Microsoft advertising dollars.

As I look around the forum, I see a lot of questions regarding MSE and problems too.

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Use every tool available. Regardless of what you read or what any product claims none are perfect. As everyone should know, security is a multi-layered approach. I have a very similar system and run Norton Security Suite and it is excellent. The only reason to stop using this latest version would be to save money. If I were to let Norton expire I would use MSE. Norton is not known as a great malware/spyware/scareware program. It will clean cookies and such but it isn’t going to clean spyware etc all the time. Use the free Malwarebytes and you can also use the free SuperAntiSpyware, and run one of both at least weekly. So its really all about a good anti-virus, a good malware program (or two), a good firewall and all that combined with smart surfing and you will be fine.

I don’t use the password keeper, didn’t even know it had one lol. If you should get rid of Norton I can recommend LastPass. I use it and it works great. It can fill forms etc as well plus you can encrypt everything. One additional thing I like about it is that if I am on a different computer and not at home, I can access all my sites that are password protected by going to LastPass’s site, retrieve my account and then loggin with a master password. Then I have all my sites in one list and now I can just click away on whatever site I need to go to.

http://lastpass.com/

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Thank you to all! You have pretty much verified what I was thinking all along. It was just that it’s time to renew my Norton, and I have been reading a lot, but I do love my password keeper, though (thanks to James here) I will look at “lastpass” because having access to all sites wherever you are is a nice thing. But I’m staying with my Norton. After all, I’m old and don’t like change all that much anyway! lol!

Joel

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Thank you to all! You have pretty much verified what I was thinking all along. It was just that it’s time to renew my Norton, and I have been reading a lot, but I do love my password keeper, though (thanks to James here) I will look at “lastpass” because having access to all sites wherever you are is a nice thing. But I’m staying with my Norton. After all, I’m old and don’t like change all that much anyway! lol!

HUGE thumbs up for LastPass.

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