It is very difficult to come to a decision, is it not? The recourse is a totally unbiased comparative study like the AV Comparatives and your experience (if any) with the products in question! AV-Comparatives - Independent Tests of Anti-Virus Software - Detection Tests. Read the analysis in the August or the November pro active studies and you will be surprised that MSE came slightly ahead! Kindly view the snaps below :
Regards,
Sreedhav
It might help if you compare features. I believe Norton 360 v4 includes a free 2gb online backup, in addition to a firewall, download protection, email protection, etc. The integrated online backup may be useful if 2gb is enough. It may also be possible after you install N360 to upgrade it to version 5, depending on the license from the ISP. MSE is a simpler product which I would want to supplement with at least one other security program, such as Prevx SafeOnline (free through Facebook).
As others have mentioned the latest versions of Norton software no longer slow the computer down. They also install and uninstall very quickly so it would be easy for you to test N360. Regarding uninstalling it I would recommend using the regular uninstaller. Afterward you can use the Norton Removal Tool if you want to scrape out every last bit, but I only use it if the regular uninstaller fails.
The above comparative aimed to only test one type of technology in an antivirus.
Roundup of Antivirus Tests 2010 (Final) - Wilders Security Forums
Flash Test Results « Malware Research Group
Last edited by malexous; 27 Mar 2011 at 18:16.
Thank you for the fantastic replies everyone! I will try the 360 out, but I have also seen that it leaves registry keys behind. Maybe I will use Revo unistaller or the Removal tool from Norton. For other protection, I am using EMET 2.0 (Which is great) and tweaked my wireless permissions and Windows Firewall. I have never had a virus before, hopefully I can keep that up. I will let you know how it goes! Should i uninstall MSE before installing Norton? Or, would it be okay to keep it there?
Don't use Revo to uninstall antivirus programs. Always use the manufacturers uninstall tool. I would save your new choice of antivirus' installer to your desktop, then uninstall MSE, reboot, then install your new AV.
If you really want to make sure that MSE is 100% removed, you could run the MSE uninstall tool from this helpful link at Panda Cloud Forums http://www.cloudantivirus.com/forum/...51755&tstart=0 after your reboot, but before you install your new AV.
I had MSE on my machine and I chose to run the tool and it seemed to remove a few things from the firewall, a folder and a couple of active x entries that were left behind from MSE's on-board uninstaller.
edit: you need to save the MSE uninstall tool to your desktop, close all programs, right click MSE tool, run as administrator.
I didn't notice you had the opportunity for a free copy. I'd definitely install it like you've decided. I didn't find it slowed my PC boot (SP1 maybe).
I find on the rare occasion I need to totally "turn it off" it's a little tedious.
If you turn on Silent Mode when you are performing imaging, a background scan will not start. You could even set Norton up to detect when the imaging programme (except Windows own, it would seem) is running and it would automatically turn on Quiet Mode.
I've used MSE since it was first released. But like others said, I think taking into account what you do mostly on your pc should weigh into the decision.
I don't download a lot of things other than images, and I mostly browse/surf/read stuff.
I haven't had anything happen at all.
But, like I always have to say....your browsing habits are the first defense of safety, and not a single AV is perfect.
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