Careful out there!!!

[bernardo]

I got the McAfee bug and it ruined my computer completely...Despite the fact that I run Vista and the bug was targetting XP-SP3 users.Sorry for the expression targetting but I've gone into arguments with mcAfee technician regarding why I running Vista I got it? I have sent my computer for repair as it has to be formated and decided to have them install window XP Home Edition intead of Vista. I've always had trouble with vista and FSX and have been dissatisfied.even though I've spend most of my FSX years tuning that system to run properly in vista. And now MS is up to theire old tricks of stopping support for XP as well as vista in the near future. I have asked the repair man to install my old trusty Symantec in it...And well I'll have to start all over again...DRAAAAAAAG!....With my FSX installation as soon as I get the computer back from repairs ...

[Randy_Cain]

Hi, Bernado...

I was once a Symantec fan myself, til a tried a system that was not running Norton and saw how much free memory was available. (My friend had a comparable system with the same amount of RAM and same OS, just mine was "hijacked" [not the hacker kind] by Norton Antivirus) When I went to remove it, I still had Norton Antivirus apps running in it for YEARS! It wasn't til I had the drive WIPED that I was able to get rid of it. I've used AVAST ever since. No difference in quality, as best I can tell, but uses FAR fewer system resources and doesn't linger when you ask it to leave.

I don't know if it's "better" or not, but my system has been scanned each time it goes to the shop for repairs/modifications/upgrades and has been clean for some 6 years now. AVAST sees about 5 cookies a month that it's concerned about, but has been able to isolate all of those. ..but then I don't do a lot of surfing, either.

Read some reviews that are NOT written by those trying sell you something, THEN choose. ...if you're really looking for better performance. You can by as much RAM as you like, but XP only sees 3. xxx some-odd GIG, so more than that is pointless ..in 32 bit, anyway.

Yours,

[johnhinson]

Just my three-pennyworth . . .

Don't worry about lack of "support" from Microsoft on XP as that costs UK£36 at the moment! You need to be desperate to use that!

What is crucial to watch is when they discontinue security updates, and they wouldn't dare do that at the moment with the current number of users. They would never keep the egg off their faces.

Norton gained a bad reputation for memory-hogging many years ago but they have worked hard on that and I think they are on their third version since then and they seem to get slicker every time. They have just given me a free upgrade to the latest version and that works brilliantly. Their support is second to none - it is free and email and telephone help is excellent and they will even link into your machine and work on it if necessary. As for removal - yes, the standard "uninstall" does not remove everything but it will not leave programmes running. They have a free utility on their web site that will 100% clean off every piece of their installation for any version. The only negative point is the online renewals are expensive - I can buy a replacement CD in the shops for about half the price and use the number for renewal. It is just my opinion but I wouldn't go anywhere else.

John

[jesse]

John, I agree. I used Computer Associates for a number of years, but their programs seemed to fall short of what protection I was looking for. I dropped them a year ago and installed Norton Internet Security 2010 and I have been happy with it ever since. So far, no major problems and they do a constant update on signatures to keep the system clean.

Jesse

[Tom/CalClassic]

Moved to the Chat forum, thanks.

[pung]

About 6 months ago something got past my Norton & disabled it---lots of luck trying to get any assistance. I bought a different brand, it scanned cleaned out my system and has worked great, and using much less resources.

[Deleted]

I scored some pretty nasty malware a while back. The folks over at bleepingcomputer dot com gave me some diagnostics to run and then gave me the correct remedy for my problem.

I'm not affiliated with them in any way, and they didn't ask for money.

Try em out.

[sunny9850]

I have had good and bad luck with both Norton and McAffee one of which was my personal choice the other is what the IT gurus picked for the company. I guess the discussion proves only one thing....none of them are 100% protection.

That is why a regular HD Backup on an external drive is important. If the excrement is propelled into the wind generator it takes an hour or two with a good setup and you are back in business.
Without the need to call Techsupport or bringing the box into the shop.

There are different products out there for that .. some even free but they are not all created equal.

My personal choice and that of our machine suppliers is Snapshot.
Works like a charm and is reasonably priced.
Admittedly most of my uses of the software and backup restore are because of my own doing and not some hacker or virus.
But I can redo the entire system in about two hours.

As for the OS ...if you have to start over with a new OS I would ditch Vista for sure...but I would not go backward to XP.
I'd sppring for W7 ....it is better especially for FSX which I think you use most of the time.

Stefan

[bernardo]

:-/Thanks all you for these words of advice; But it's too late now...I can't get hold of the technician repairing my computer and putting in XP. I got the news all too late

I am still trying to get hold of somebody at McAfee offices here; that is not a salesman who is in Holland in conference? ( This is who has contacted me the past two times; No technician!?) it's very frustrating. I feel I have run out of choices. yestreday when the guy called me told me off because I was being impatient; just now I tried McAfee Denmark and got someguy who sat at a meetiing and told me " How the hell did you get hold of this number. It was in the internet,I found it via Google and McAfee Denmark in my search: My daughter just got a brand new laptop with W-7 in it we got the disc so perhaps I can install that one inmy computer when I get it back and if I'm dissatisfied with the result of FSX and XP Home edition. Right now I'm using Fs9 to play around,in my old computer and I'm amazed at what a stable platform that was,back then. From my saved addons on Cd-ROM I installed the L-1049G onto my Fs9; Wow what a difference form FSX.But the only thing I'm missing is the folder with the squeeky brakes and the exhast effects(Flames). Hvae managed great with the L1649A Flames and all; But the "G's" don't have flames?

Sorry Tom if I posted in the wrong forum? I didn't know where else to post. Thanks yu all for replies. I'll have to wait now..Till I get my computer back...

I'd like to add that I was nnot hit by a virus or malware of anykind...McAfee sent out an update to theire definition that was wrongly written and has ruined computers all over the world; Hvae spent the best part of the day trying to get hold of supporters at the telephones provided here In Dk But Always busy and I've got tired of Mozart by now I've even written e-mail which come back with a short addition in the bottom to go to theire support pages...When I go there I can choose e-mail/chat support I fill in the form and then it comes back a few minutes later with the same addition at the bottom. May be I was fast off the gun! Panic attack when this happened. But an antiviral company that makes an error like this resulting in damaged computers as if they had got hit by virus is NOT to be trusted ever again. " I'm sorry to go public with this opinion" Here's alink a friend sent me from the US:
blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=8129&tag=nl.e550

[louross]

Been using Windows XP, AVAST, and Firefox for many years. There's my sugggestion.
No malware, no pop-up ads ,no viruses, no etc, etc, etc. All this came from many IT computer engineers- company and private. (BTW, AVAST is free.) MS no longer supprts XP. So what?
A number of advantages to AVAST, a number of problems with McFee and Symnatec or what ever the're calling themselves these days.
Good luck!
lr.
(P.S.) Vista was such a bad program I thought MS had finally given up on it.

[raymengel]

Hi,

In November of 2009 I purchased a new PC--had to go with Win 7. I optioned out of McAfee and the computer tech. installed AVAST instead. That is what they use and recommended; so far so good for me. Everyday it does a system search looking for potential "bad guys".

I also had several other freeware programs installed that search for Mal and Spyware stuff. So far so good as well. I will not go back to McAfee. I hope to have the same set up one day soon for my lap top.

Ray Mengel
Spokane Valley, WA

[bernardo]

Still waiting for my computer to come back from repairs...At least I have this old computer which I used in my Fs9 days.It has a better G.C. Than my FSX computer but it isn't as powerful,Still I'm not stuck. Luckily the bug didn't hit this machine even though the same day of McAfee sending out the bug Symantec Corporate edition which is the antivirus I have installed in this one cought a trojan. Which also tried to get acces to my FSX machine at the time of McAfees' mishap.

I will certainly not be using McAfee anymore. I was due to renew my subcription in July. But since what they send out is damaging and costly ( Even if this is a one time episode) The McAfee people I have managed to talk to are selling agents and I doubt they can help me.Beside machine has already been fomatted.

2-5-10

Got my computer back form the shop with XP SP2 and Symantec corporate edition,all driver updates installed and ready to run. Couldn't wait to get home.Got stopped at every traffic light.

Have installed FSX SP2 and have begun my addons installations...But something I think is not right. In vista when I used the mouse and clicked on it in FSX it made a tick/pack sound,While waiting for my computer I was playing around with my old Fs9 installation in another win.XP computer we have here.There the mouse also makes this noise. But it's not in this one.Eventhough it seems to be working ok? Have managed to install L1649A with squeeky brake sound and all...Believe or not. ;D