Anti-Virus help needed!

pigdog · Feb 19, 2005, 05:55 AM

I have Norton Systemworks 2004 Professional installed. Most of the time I have the anti-virus auto-protect disabled; Like when I'm playing games, installing software, benchmarking etc.

A couple of days ago, after a update, I now get "security Alerts" whenever I disable NAV. These alert splash screens appear every 30 seconds.

I can't run a thing! I cannot find anywhere to turn them off. The only thing I can do is un-install Norton's, and install something less offensive. Either that, or have NAV running all the time.

I talked to Symantec, and they said it was a new feature introduced, and would not discuss how to disable it!

Considering EVERY program recommends turn off AV while installing, WTF are Symantec doing?

Sorry, but soooooo pissed off!

Anyway: 2 questions -

Can any body figure a way to disable these alerts?
And if not, whats a good AV program (If free, even better)

**dj_stick** · Feb 19, 2005, 06:06 AM

thread moved
will probably get a better response here

pigdog · Feb 19, 2005, 06:15 AM

woops. thanks mate

~~Vasot~~ · Feb 19, 2005, 11:10 AM

Try another Antivirus
Norton is a rat-hole

There are free antivirus programs and are WAY more friendly from Norton
and take less resources from the system

Like AVAST Free Home edition Antivirus(http://www.avast.com/eng/programs.html)
or
AVG Free Home edition Antivirus (http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/)

For Firewall you can download from Zonealarm which has some of the best Security programs in the world

I Use Zonealarm 5.5 Security Suite Registered...But it's not free

md5 · Feb 21, 2005, 12:48 PM

Avast is good, I'd definitely recommend it. NOD32 is really good as well, give this a try too

ZoneAlarm 5 though is crap, I loved 4 but 5 has a lot of compatibility problems. For a firewall, I'd recommend Sygate, which is a lot better and much easier to use:

http://smb.sygate.com/download_buy.htm

YAYitsAndrew · Feb 21, 2005, 04:12 PM

I second AVG. Been using it on every PC I build for the past three years and haven't had any problems. And it's free!

www.grisoft.com

Redstone · Feb 22, 2005, 03:55 AM

Hmm... guess I will not be getting 2004 any time soon. I have NSW Pro 2003 and that feature has not popped up at the last update. If you like Norton (I sure do) you may consider going back to 2003. You could get it for real cheap, like $10.00 on amazon and the anit-virus definition updates are the same as 2004/2005. In 2003 Ghost still reboots and runs in DOS mode but is still a piece of cake ot use.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Feb 22, 2005, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigdog

I have Norton Systemworks 2004 Professional installed. Most of the time I have the anti-virus auto-protect disabled; Like when I'm playing games, installing software, benchmarking etc.

A couple of days ago, after a update, I now get "security Alerts" whenever I disable NAV. These alert splash screens appear every 30 seconds.

I can't run a thing! I cannot find anywhere to turn them off. The only thing I can do is un-install Norton's, and install something less offensive. Either that, or have NAV running all the time.

I talked to Symantec, and they said it was a new feature introduced, and would not discuss how to disable it!

Considering EVERY program recommends turn off AV while installing, WTF are Symantec doing?

Sorry, but soooooo pissed off!

Anyway: 2 questions -

Can any body figure a way to disable these alerts?
And if not, whats a good AV program (If free, even better)

try visting thw windows controlpanel / security center some time
... and change the way security center alertsme

All it is is a popup/bubble warning that you AV is disabled it a windows feature
will happen with all anti virus

pigdog · Feb 22, 2005, 06:40 AM

Thanks Neon, but that was the first place I visited. No joy. The only option is for weather you want Windows to monitor your AV status or not.

They are very much Nortons related (as much as I'd like to blame Bill, he's innocent on this count).

I had a further chat with Symantec, and a help file on their site backs it up: This is only supposed to happen if you have disabled a vital component for more than 90 days in a row. They are as confused as me on this one.

Seems that once I'd re-enabled Auto-protect, even if only momentarily, it should have reset the alert. They are looking into it, as the feature functions the same in the 2005 suite.

They were sympathetic to my plight: They agreed with my suggestion that they needed to create some sort of "suspend for program installation or benchmarking activities" option. This would include advisories on how to maintain security whilst doing so.

They still want tell me how to disable it.

It's seems strange to me that we seem to except so much about AV software on blind faith. We can do a reasonable amount of fooling around with OS's, but really have'nt got clue, or for that matter, much in the way of control over what's going on with these programs. I understand the security aspect, but they still should have more flexable options for the end-user.

A program that does it well is AdAware SE (pro or personal).

I wish I could find a AV program like that!

Tried Avast: liked it very much. Only thing is that I had to disable it to surf the web - pages would not load with it on. Once again, like Nortons, the options available to the user, tweaking wise, are very limited

I'm going to try AVG tonight. Have high hopes as it comes so positively recommended.

I'll let you know.

Feb 19, 2005, 05:55 AM	#1
pigdog HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 471 Rep Power: 57 System Specs	Anti-Virus help needed! I have Norton Systemworks 2004 Professional installed. Most of the time I have the anti-virus auto-protect disabled; Like when I'm playing games, installing software, benchmarking etc. A couple of days ago, after a update, I now get "security Alerts" whenever I disable NAV. These alert splash screens appear every 30 seconds. I can't run a thing! I cannot find anywhere to turn them off. The only thing I can do is un-install Norton's, and install something less offensive. Either that, or have NAV running all the time. I talked to Symantec, and they said it was a new feature introduced, and would not discuss how to disable it! Considering EVERY program recommends turn off AV while installing, WTF are Symantec doing? Sorry, but soooooo pissed off! Anyway: 2 questions - Can any body figure a way to disable these alerts? And if not, whats a good AV program (If free, even better) __________________

Feb 19, 2005, 06:15 AM	Thread Starter #3
pigdog HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 471 Rep Power: 57 System Specs	woops. thanks mate __________________

Feb 19, 2005, 11:10 AM	#4
~~Vasot~~ Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: GREECE Posts: 369 Rep Power: 0	Try another Antivirus Norton is a rat-hole There are free antivirus programs and are WAY more friendly from Norton and take less resources from the system Like AVAST Free Home edition Antivirus(http://www.avast.com/eng/programs.html) or AVG Free Home edition Antivirus (http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/) For Firewall you can download from Zonealarm which has some of the best Security programs in the world I Use Zonealarm 5.5 Security Suite Registered...But it's not free Last edited by Vasot; Feb 19, 2005 at 11:28 AM.

Feb 21, 2005, 12:48 PM	#5
md5 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inside DriverHeaven Posts: 856 Rep Power: 0	Avast is good, I'd definitely recommend it. NOD32 is really good as well, give this a try too ZoneAlarm 5 though is crap, I loved 4 but 5 has a lot of compatibility problems. For a firewall, I'd recommend Sygate, which is a lot better and much easier to use: http://smb.sygate.com/download_buy.htm __________________

Feb 21, 2005, 04:12 PM	#6
YAYitsAndrew Anti-Piracy Poster Boy Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,605 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	I second AVG. Been using it on every PC I build for the past three years and haven't had any problems. And it's free! www.grisoft.com __________________ "It is because the resistance to paying for copyrighted material, although often characterized as arising from a supposed technical burden or principled concern for the public interest, arises rather from exactly the same segment of the brain that is dominant in shoplifters." - Mark Helprin, Digital Barbarism In other words, it's never okay to steal even if you think you have a good reason! www.yayitsandrew.com

Feb 22, 2005, 03:55 AM	#7
Redstone CEO Vandelay Industries Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Left Coast Posts: 176 Rep Power: 0	Hmm... guess I will not be getting 2004 any time soon. I have NSW Pro 2003 and that feature has not popped up at the last update. If you like Norton (I sure do) you may consider going back to 2003. You could get it for real cheap, like $10.00 on amazon and the anit-virus definition updates are the same as 2004/2005. In 2003 Ghost still reboots and runs in DOS mode but is still a piece of cake ot use. __________________ [COLOR=#66ccff]Intel [/COLOR][COLOR=sienna]PIV - 3.0e @ [COLOR=darkorange]3.39[/COLOR] [/COLOR][COLOR=yellowgreen][COLOR=sienna]Cooled by[/COLOR] [/COLOR][COLOR=#66ccff]SWIftech [/COLOR][COLOR=sienna]MCX4000[/COLOR] [COLOR=#66ccff]Asus[/COLOR][COLOR=#ffcc99] [COLOR=sienna]P4P800 SE[/COLOR] [/COLOR][COLOR=sienna]Powered by[/COLOR][COLOR=#66ccff] Antec [/COLOR][COLOR=sienna]TruePower 430[/COLOR] [COLOR=#66ccff]Kingston [/COLOR][COLOR=yellowgreen][COLOR=sienna]Hyperx 4x512MB - PC3200 - 2.5-3-3-8 @ 1:1 timings [/COLOR][/COLOR][COLOR=#66ccff]ATI [/COLOR][COLOR=#ffcc99][COLOR=sienna]Radeon X1950 Pro AGP - Omega Drivers 3.8.421 (Cat 7.10) displayed on a [/COLOR][/COLOR][COLOR=#66ccff]Samsung[/COLOR][COLOR=#ffcc99] [COLOR=sienna]930B LCD[/COLOR] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#66ccff]Creative [/COLOR][COLOR=sienna]Sound Blaster Audigy 4[/COLOR] [COLOR=#66ccff]Win[/COLOR][COLOR=#ffcc99][COLOR=sienna]XP Home stored on a[/COLOR] [/COLOR][COLOR=#66ccff]Western Digital[/COLOR][COLOR=#ffcc99] [COLOR=sienna]1200GB Sata with a[/COLOR] [/COLOR][COLOR=#66ccff]Seagate[/COLOR] [COLOR=sienna]10GB Barracuda IV Slave[/COLOR]

Feb 22, 2005, 06:40 AM	Thread Starter #9
pigdog HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 471 Rep Power: 57 System Specs	Thanks Neon, but that was the first place I visited. No joy. The only option is for weather you want Windows to monitor your AV status or not. They are very much Nortons related (as much as I'd like to blame Bill, he's innocent on this count). I had a further chat with Symantec, and a help file on their site backs it up: This is only supposed to happen if you have disabled a vital component for more than 90 days in a row. They are as confused as me on this one. Seems that once I'd re-enabled Auto-protect, even if only momentarily, it should have reset the alert. They are looking into it, as the feature functions the same in the 2005 suite. They were sympathetic to my plight: They agreed with my suggestion that they needed to create some sort of "suspend for program installation or benchmarking activities" option. This would include advisories on how to maintain security whilst doing so. They still want tell me how to disable it. It's seems strange to me that we seem to except so much about AV software on blind faith. We can do a reasonable amount of fooling around with OS's, but really have'nt got clue, or for that matter, much in the way of control over what's going on with these programs. I understand the security aspect, but they still should have more flexable options for the end-user. A program that does it well is AdAware SE (pro or personal). I wish I could find a AV program like that! Tried Avast: liked it very much. Only thing is that I had to disable it to surf the web - pages would not load with it on. Once again, like Nortons, the options available to the user, tweaking wise, are very limited I'm going to try AVG tonight. Have high hopes as it comes so positively recommended. I'll let you know. __________________