Norton anti-virus question

[Big Lou]

:hammer: I also asked tis on World Start

Quetion on Norton anti-virus
Could someone enlighten me on software purchases
I admit I am no authority on software.
i have a new laptop computer and it had Norton anti-
virus installed on a trial basis,it now says to renew or
as I take it purchase a Norton anti-virus disk. Fine &
dandy ,but what do they mean after one year you will
have to renew subscription? Maybe I am way out in left field on this. Are they saying you have to pay for a renewal? I thought a disk was good forever.Like I said I'm dumb on buying sotware.Any input appreciated.

[LeRoi]

You must purchase a subscription once a year from Symantec (Norton) to keep your virus definitions up to date or you could purchase a new version every year.

I still use NAV 2001 and purchase a subscription every year. Probably will get a new version next year.

[Susan C.]

Yes, Big Lou--the disk is good forever. But without the virus updates, does little good. In order to have the latest virus updates (and there are new virii coming out sometimes several times a week), you have to subscribe to the NAV for the period of one year; every year. Without it, you cannot protect your computer from the latest virus threats. $20 for the updates in NAV 2003. Well worth it; I myself have never gotten a virus on my computer. Consider the alternative; a virus wipes out your computer or sends worms and things to your Internet friends.

[Ranger Bob]

Actually you can download the Norton Anti Virus definitions without renewing the subscription by going to the Symantec's download page. What the renewal gives you is the ability to download the virus updates via LiveUpdate and you also are able to get the program updates so you can keep the software up to date.

http://www.symantec.com/downloads/

[ray7101]

So Ranger Bob, all they are giving you for payment of the fee is an automatic download of the updates? When you can go to their site and download on a regular basis. Very strange.

[Amie]

This is on Norton's website:

For retail editions of Norton AntiVirus, Intelligent Updater now searches for a valid subscription to virus definitions before it applies update.Virus definitions are available from Symantec with a paid subscription. If you purchased a retail version of Norton AntiVirus, Intelligent Updater detects whether your subscription is up-to-date. If your subscription has expired, you must renew it before using Intelligent Updater

So you might be able to download the new definitions, but Norton won't recognise them if your subscription has run out, else why would anyone bother paying, just to get program updates.

Amie :amie:

[Ranger Bob]

I did not know that they had started doing that Amie on the definitions. In the past you could download the patches and install them yourself but I have not done that in a long time.

No Lou, the subscription gives you much more than the updated definitions. You get the program updates as well. Well worth the $19 fee.

[Elly1]

Wanna hear me whine about Norton?
This summer when I resubscribed, it was $14.95 fora a renewal (I believe it is now $19). If, however, you hesitate to give your credit card info over the Internet, they impose a $10.00 processing fee for sending a them check.

I resent this big time, but I do it, as I believe it would cost me much more if something happened to computer because of a virus!

BTW, Big Lou, like you, I figured that Once I bought the program it was good for life (or at least several years). Now I know different!

[Ranger Bob]

Yes Elly it is cheap insurance if it just stops one virus.

When I can no longer upgrade SystemWorks 2003 I will probably convert to AVG since it free because I hate the idea of software activation and I believe starting with SystemWorks 2004, Symantec's is going with software activation. Hopefully when they loss enough money they will come to their senses and decide to do away with activation.