AV software

sobranie · Nov 12, 2007, 17:15:42

I have a laptop and tower on my desk. Both fed thro. a router to IDNet with same account,addresses etc etc.
Query, am I a single user as far as purchasing an anti virus prog??
Or, am I classed as 2 users with 2 computers?
Reason I ask, I will shortly be considering a move to a different av prog. but I'll be damned if I have to keep paying twice for the same thing.
I have emailed the av prog suppliers with this query and would also be interested to know the opinions of other members.

Rik · Nov 12, 2007, 17:17:09

Licences are generally per machine, I have three NOD licences, for example.

Simon · Nov 12, 2007, 17:20:55

F-Secure and Kaspersky, among others, now offer multi-user licences.

Rik · Nov 12, 2007, 17:27:50

Perhaps I should have phrased that slightly differently, Simon. I have a 3-user licence for NOD, not three separate licences, otoh, all the machines are licensed.

MoHux · Nov 12, 2007, 17:33:42

I have two O/Ss on one desktop, but separate HDDs. If I were to change to Nods new suite of progs, would I need one or two licences?

$:-\$

Rik · Nov 12, 2007, 17:35:42

That one would tax a philosopher, Mo. Adobe's licensing was 'per CPU', but I've never seen it expressed that way by Eset. Logic says one licence to me, but you'd be safest to ask.

sobranie · Nov 12, 2007, 17:56:40

Just had a reply, 2 machines=2 licenses or 1 license for 2 machines at an enhanced annual rate.
I consider that 2 machines connected to 1 ISP with the same address should be counted as 1 machine.
Do I take this to its logical conclusion in stating that IDNet should charge 6 times for the same IP address/account if one has 6 machines in use at home (Like a pal of mine down the road).
Ooops, I hope that I haven't opened a can of worms here!!

Tks for all replies so far

Glenn · Nov 12, 2007, 18:03:28

So if using the above logic, where I work, with approx 1500 PC's all on the same external IP address, would only need a single user licence. I think the AV companies would soon go out of business, or a single licence would cost a fortune.

MoHux · Nov 12, 2007, 18:05:20

Quote from: Rik on Nov 12, 2007, 17:35:42
That one would tax a philosopher, Mo. Adobe's licensing was 'per CPU', but I've never seen it expressed that way by Eset. Logic says one licence to me, but you'd be safest to ask.

LOL Yes, I will ask if I decide to do it. I say only one. My argument would be that although it is two O/Ss, you can only use one at a time.

Rik · Nov 12, 2007, 18:07:28

I agree with your conclusion, Mo, but not your reasoning - that could extend to having different OS' on different machines, which is a definite no no - though on a single machine, it would have to be an either or, more so than two machines. I go with Adobe's method myself, it's very easy for everyone to understand.

colirv · Nov 12, 2007, 18:09:42

Quote from: sobranie on Nov 12, 2007, 17:56:40
I consider that 2 machines connected to 1 ISP with the same address should be counted as 1 machine.

The av sellers could price their product per connection, in which case it would be more expensive but you'd only need to buy one. They price it by machine, i.e. cheaper, so you need to buy two. Sounds reasonable to me.

MoHux · Nov 12, 2007, 18:16:05

Quote from: Rik on Nov 12, 2007, 18:07:28
I agree with your conclusion, Mo, but not your reasoning - that could extend to having different OS' on different machines, which is a definite no no - though on a single machine, it would have to be an either or, more so than two machines. I go with Adobe's method myself, it's very easy for everyone to understand.

No, I can't agree Rik. Two machines can be operated at the same time by two operators. Two O/Ss on one machine and you can only use one O/S at a time.

Rik · Nov 12, 2007, 18:16:19

Quote from: sobranie on Nov 12, 2007, 17:56:40
I consider that 2 machines connected to 1 ISP with the same address should be counted as 1 machine.

Do you have one OS between the machines? Software is almost always licensed on a 'per CPU' basis, though it may not be worded exactly that way. Microsoft used to have a policy of allowing an 80/20 copy, ie you could put a copy of Office on a desktop machine and a notebook, providing that only one machine was in use at a time, but that's very rare. Instead, most software is discounted if you buy multiple licences.

Rik · Nov 12, 2007, 18:16:58

Quote from: MoHux on Nov 12, 2007, 18:16:05
No, I can't agree Rik. Two machines can be operated at the same time by two operators. Two O/Ss on one machine and you can only use one O/S at a time.

Provided you can't run a virtual machine, Mo, I concede your argument.

MoHux · Nov 12, 2007, 18:21:32

Rik · Nov 12, 2007, 18:24:40

sobranie · Nov 12, 2007, 23:05:27

I've noted that Kaspersky anti virus are offering 2 years for up to 3 machines for around £27.00.
See here;

http://www.kaspersky.co.uk/store?chapter=170330270&pcs77=3&prodid=77

OK, looks a great offer BUT anyone using KAP and would care to comment pls.

jftr, have u/g nod32 recently to version 3. sommat or other and the 'puter feels like it's wading through treacle at times especially when using outlook express.

Simon · Nov 12, 2007, 23:56:55

Kaspersky is well respected and should offer full, reliable protection.

ducky22 · Nov 13, 2007, 04:40:51

I found the new version of Kaspersky to be quite a resource hog. Nothing on the scale of Norton tho....

I use CA security centre (www.ca.com). I believe it also has a 3 user licence for around £30. It has been flawless so far!

Glenn · Nov 13, 2007, 07:39:54

There is a deal on at the mo too http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/53897/kaspersky-antivirus-internet-securi

Ann · Nov 13, 2007, 09:19:23

I have the CA antivirus. It's very good in that it doesn't slow anything down at all. But what drives me bonkers about it is that it nags you to renew a month before it expires and when you do renew it doesn't add a year on to the renewal date, it starts again from the day you renew. So if you don't wait until the last day, you lose some weeks each year. I have complained about it and they gave me a month free but it's wrong and deceptive and it annoys me to hell that they get away with it. Of course, I ought to vote with my feet but I've looked at other AVs and can't seem to get on with them.

Edit: I think they read my post

my expiration date has magically changed. Looks like they've sorted themselves out. Maybe my moaning to them last year had some effect eventually

Rik · Nov 13, 2007, 09:26:23

I hate it when software does that, Ann. I've had a few 'discussions' with Webroot over the years on that subject. Other apps seems to reward early renewal, eg Digiguide.

Ann · Nov 13, 2007, 09:29:17

OOh I just updated my post to say that's it magically fixed.

I use DigiGuide too.. good guys they are. They've made some changes to the program because I asked them to. It's nice to make a difference. I got all the aberrant apostrophes removed too!

Rik · Nov 13, 2007, 09:52:15

It's a great program, Ann, especially with Sky and the number of channels to be scanned there. It also justifies buying a widescreen monitor.

Gary · Nov 13, 2007, 13:20:37

I use the kaspersky internet security suite 7 and would not call it a resource hog at all, it uses about 46k vm size and that's with firewall anti spam file antivirus web antivirus, proactive defence and registry guard and antibanner running and http scanning and privacy control and antispam.

they offer a three user license as well and have an excellent help forum should you want to ask there about the suite http://forum.kaspersky.com/