-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Norton's AV
- From: Keyboard Cowboy <KBCowboy@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Ange <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2005 09:11:19 -0700
I think the post from Rose is spot on. I hear time and time again how
people "dump" one product or another and 99% of the time the reason
one product is picked has little to do with the products performance
on viruses. Rarely are the choices made on data and scientific
experimentation. It has far more to do with:
a) how the interface works or looks
b) what their friends say about the product
c) how much it costs
and probably more often than any other reason....d) how it runs on
their machine.
The latter sounds right on the surface, but often is very, very
flawed.
How the AV runs on a particular computer is a result of many, many
things such as:
a) is the computer clean of viruses to start with?
b) was it installed correctly?
c) has it been updated automatically, religiously?
d) is the computer in good shape - are there registry problems, etc.,
that preexisted the installation of the AV program?
e) is the user running two AV programs at once?
f) is the user running programs that are incompatible with the AV
program?
g) has the user determined the actual cause of the problems.....or
just assumed the problems stem from the installation of a AV program?
I could go on and on.........bottom line is that after years or
playing around with computers and help lists, 95% of all program
problems (when using the major AV programs) are caused by the
user.....NOT the AV program. There are a few exceptions....and I had
one myself a couple of years ago, but they are rare, and in my
experience, are fixable with proper support from the company that made
the AV program.
Here's what *I* do......may or may not work for others. I use
Norton's Systemworks (including of course, Norton's AV). I
automatically check for and install virus definition updates every
four hours (computer runs 24/7 unless I'm out of town). Every year, I
DO NOT update the virus subscription, I but a new, complete copy, of
the Systemworks. While the updates do make changes to the program as
well as the virus definitions, I "think" that they make major changes
each year the ARE NOT reflected in the automatic updates. While I
can't point to evidence directly, I've read quite a bit over the years
that's led me to that conclusion. I run only ONE AV program. I keep
one hell of a clean computer. This philosophy has managed to keep my
computer virus free and a joy to use........it works for me!
Regards from
Bob -- the "Keyboard Cowboy",
,,,,,,,,
Ô¿Ô¬
Cincinnati, Ohio
Scottsdale, Arizona
==========<[0]>===========
Sunday 7/3/2005 8:54:53 AM
Live your life so that when you die, the minister will not have to
tell lies at your funeral.
-- Unknown Author
==========<[O]>==========
On Sun, 3 Jul 2005 13:55:46 +0100, Ange wrote:
| <phew> that was a marathon effort.
|
| Personally I use McAfee.
|
| Ange
| a.k.a. Clueless of Doncaster
| http://www.geocities.com/locustchewed/outanabout.html
|
| ~~~~~The Clueless Reply Separator~~~~~
|
|
| Roger,
|
| NOT trying to beat a dead horse but..your math conclusions are
| flawed.
|
| There may be five times more inquiries and problems searched,
| etc,,but you cannot draw the conclusion that I am 5 times more
| likely to have a problem''''
|
| I am not a math expert, although I have done some statistical
| analysis when working.
|
| You cannot draw the conclusions you have made from the limited
| amount of information you are drawing from.
|
| How many folks that use AVG or AVAST.. say.. gee this was free.
| I will dump it and start over. Yes I have problems, but a
| reformat may be my answer or I will switch to AVG from AVAST or
| visa versa?
|
| How many folks Own Norton?
| How many Own Norton and report problems?
| How many Own Norton and have problems?
| How many Own Norton and do not REPORT problems?
| How many Own Norton and do not have problems?
| How many Own Norton and use Google?
| How many Own Norton and do not use Google?
| How many INDIVIDUALS who OWN Norton report problems to Google?
| How many INDIVIDUALS who OWN Norton report problems more than
| once as they have to correct the search? (one problem but made an
| error in search criteria?)
| How many INDIVIDUALS who OWN Norton report problems more than
| once searching to see is there is a new solution filed? (one
| problem, multiple searches?)
|
| How Many folks use AVG?
| How many USERS of AVG report problems?
| How many USERS of AVG have problems?
| How many USERS of AVG do not REPORT problems?
| How many USERS of AVG do not have problems?
| How many USERS of AVG use Google?
| How many USERS of AVG do not use Google?
| How many INDIVIDUALS who USE AVG report problems to Google? How
| many INDIVIDUALS who USE AVG report problems more than once as
| they have to correct the search? (one problem but made an error
| in search criteria?)
| How many INDIVIDUALS who USE AVG report problems more than once
| searching to see is there is a new solution filed? (one problem,
| multiple searches?)
|
| How many folks use AVAST?
| How many USERS of AVAST report problems?
| How many USERS of AVAST have problems?
| How many USERS of AVAST do not REPORT problems?
| How many USERS of AVAST do not have problems?
| How many USERS of AVAST use Google?
| How many USERS of AVAST and do not use Google?
| How many INDIVIDUALS who USE AVAST report problems to Google?
| How many INDIVIDUALS who USE AVAST report problems more than once
| as they have to correct the search? (one problem but made an
| error in search criteria?)
| How many INDIVIDUALS who USE AVAST report problems more than once
| searching to see is there is a new solution filed? (one problem,
| multiple searches?)
|
| Another variable to be considered..How many BUY
| Norton Anitvirus each year?
| Systemworks?
| The variable being that updating ONLY the anti-virus..could be
| another factor to consider as maybe it is part of the Systemworks
| package as a whole that has a conflict with part of the update
| from Norton, which includes live update. How many problems are
| subscriptions to part of the program?
|
| There are many more variables. such as the level of expertise of
| the users. Some would solve the problem on their own and never
| report it to anyone, never mind a third party like Google, or how
| accurate are Google's numbers? Do they keep track of each and
| every exactly the same inquiry? Could it be a NORTON user
| looking for info to decide whether or not to buy Norton or use
| AVAST OR AVG?, or is a user using more than one of these products
| at the same time?
|
|
| I will not go on and on about why your numbers are anecdotal and
| not mathematically sound. It is not your fault, and I am not
| faulting you. I am just saying, we do not have enough
| information to draw ANY statistically sound conclusions.
|
| What we do have are different personal opinions based on our own
| experiences and that of our friends and folks we know in real
| life and on lists like this.
|
| There are different products for a reason. Folks are different.
| Their approaches to problem solving are different. There is a
| need to keep trying to improve. I will quit now.
|
| I just ask that no one take any of this personal.
|
| The answer to this question is no different than what is the best
| car for you? Or the best type of house or best cookware. It has
| more to do with personal knowledge, and likes and dislikes and
| past experiences with references from others you respect and that
| intangible..."Because I like it"!
|
| I am not at this point advocating for any one product... I am
| just staying it is not possible to draw any conclusion from the
| information provided by Google as quoted here.
|
| I am just saying we are individuals and that is good!
|
| Again, Robert, I have said I get it FREE every year as does all
| my family members and dozens of friends. So where is the cost
| there? I do not think a dollar a year to cover postage and paper
| for the rebates (it is not that much) adds up to any real cost.
| That is less than 1/3 of a cent a day! So, that is yet another
| variable! Being a lady I will not point out that Google does not
| make any conclusions as to which product has more problems, just
| that there are more inquiries, not more problems. I agree that
| the rounded numbers are very suspicious Robert..yet another
| variable.
|
| Use what products you like, share your experiences with friends
| and enjoy life.
|
| Have a GREAT weekend all!
|
| Rose
| Las Vegas
|
|
| --
| <Please delete this line and everything below.>
|
| To unsub or change your email settings:
| //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk
|
| To access our Archives:
| http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/
| //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/
--
<Please delete this line and everything below.>
To unsub or change your email settings:
//www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk
To access our Archives:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/
//www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/
Other related posts:
