Bill’s ISP is Comcast and they’re offering all customers Norton Internet Security, free of charge
I have been using Comcast for the past 3 years and overall, I’ve been happy with their service. Recently they’ve been trying to get me to “protect my computer” with Norton Internet Security, which they provide free of charge. I currently use Avast, SUPERAntiSpyware and Spyware doctor. I’m paying for Spyware Doctor now, and using the free versions of Avast and SUPERAntiSpyware. Will I be safer if I use Norton than I am now? I trust your opinion completely.
Our Answer
Thanks, Bill. Do you remember when AOL was starting the long slide down the slippery slope to oblivion? Everywhere you looked there were free AOL CDs: in gas stations, post offices, department stores, drug stores, etc. It was an indication that they couldn’t sell their services in the normal way, so they put their CDs everywhere, gave away a free month of service, then 3 free months, and still kept sliding into the darkness of obscurity.
You better believe that Comcast didn’t pay Norton anywhere near the regular retail price for Norton. This is a good indication that Norton is losing its grip on the security software market and that its brand has suffered greatly from years and years of poor quality, so-so performance, and being a bloated nuisance. More and more people are turning away from Norton and installing better, lighter-weight security applications. In recent independent lab test, Norton doesn’t fare any better than free programs like Microsoft Security Essentials, nor does its antispyware component do a better job than others. .
Since neither of us use Comcast, we don’t know first hand what methods Norton will be using to extract dollars from users, but, in our opinion, Comcast couldn’t have paid much for each Norton license, since they’re not in the business of losing money. So what’s in it for Norton? A huge customer base who think something for nothing is always a good deal. We don’t know for sure, and this is just our opinion, but it’s not like Norton not to go after more dollars by constantly nagging their customer base. Norton/Symantec make other products besides security software, and it would seem to us very likely that they’ll be trying to aggressively sell Comcast customers on their other products.
Norton seems to have a higher rate of false positives than other major anti-virus programs. Their anti-spyware protection seems fickle. For instance, Norton’s anti-spyware component didn’t block or even flinch when users download SmileyCentral/FunWebProducts – yet the consensus among experts is that SmileyCentral/FunWebProducts is that is at best unwanted software and some say it’s spyware, some say it’s adware, and some say it’s a browser hijacker. Our opinion? It’s all three.
Our advice is stick with what you have. We’ve had many years of experience helping Norton users indentify problems it causes. Most often we recommend they uninstall Norton and install something else like Microsoft Security Essentials and SuperAntiSpyware. The combination of these two programs provides better security and is lighter on resources than Norton. And users will experience far fewer annoyances and problems. Just because someone is giving away “$165 worth of software” free, doesn’t mean the software is any good. In fact, when Norton wants to give you $165 dollars worth of software, it should make you wonder why. Maybe because it’s not worth $165 in the first place?
If you don’t use Comcast and feel left out, don’t worry, Norton may be suffering at the retail level but they have plenty of money to throw around and there are plenty of ISP’s who think offering Norton Security Suites (360, Norton Internet Security, etc.) will help them gain customers. So, if you’re not a Comcast customer and want to see what might soon be coming your way, seehttp://security.comcast.net/ .
First off I would like to say that I have been receiving your emails for at least 8 years now, if not more. I trust Cloud 8 Information Avenue with all your tips & tricks. I look forward to receiving your daily emails.
Back to the question at hand. Prior to Comcast I had Verizon DSL, for my internet service provider. When I had Verizon I used and internet security program Trend Micro. (I believe I may have received the link from one of your newsletters), I never had a problem with Trend Micro.
I presently have Comcast for my internet service provider. I have been with Comcast since 2004. At that time Comcast provided their customers with free internet security protection. I hated giving up my Trend Micro, but Trend Micro was not free and each year it was costing more money.
When I first started with Comcast they had a good security program, for the life of me I cannot remember the name of it. Then Comcast jumped to McAfee. Yikes! I had McAfee in the past, and McAfee left virus get into my computer. I did not trust McAfee at all.
After the year was up, Comcast went with Norton. Yikes again. Long ago I had Norton and got the same response as I did with McAfee. In November of 2010 I bought a new computer with windows 7. I really did not want Norton, but I figured since Comcast was offering it free to their customers, I assumed that Norton was better than it was in 2005.
A few months later a friend told me about Microsoft Security Essentials. I took out Norton faster than a lightening flash. I downloaded Microsoft Security Essentials. I still used Security Essentials today and I am very happy with the software. I have not had any virus or anything else for that matter infect my computer. The best part security essentials is that it is free and has excellent protection.