No hurry with Norton Internet Security

[Noreen]

From the current "New Scientist".

Steve Laughlin's computer came up with the message: "To continue using Norton Internet Security, please activate within 4915287 days." This, Laughlin quickly worked out, would take him to AD 15465, a wait of 13,457 years. It's nice to know there's no hurry.

http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19726462.500

[Rik]

Even then would be too soon for me.

[Gary]

Would take that long to uninstall it completely as well

[Simon]

I've seen a 2029 Norton hack, but that takes the biscuit!

[Rik]

Would take that long to uninstall it completely as well

[Niall]

Would take that long to uninstall it completely as well

It takes that long to boot your computer once you install it too

[Simon]

Indeed, Niall - 4½ minutes on mine, for NIS 2007!!  Never again!   

[madasahatter]

I wouldn't touch norton with a barge pole.......that had an extremely long extension fitted to it   

[Sebby]

Maybe it was just ensuring that it allowed a fair amount of time for itself to load before it required activation. 

[Rik]

Cruel, Sebby, albeit true.

[Sebby]

 

[cavillas]

I find nothing wrong with Norton as long as you don't install it.

[Rik]

A sentiment with which I agree, Alf.

[madasahatter]

I find nothing wrong with Norton as long as you don't install it.

Unfortunately, it's almost, if not impossible, to buy a PC these days without it already on. Wonder how much money they make out of that - I'm sure a lot of peeps will just use it because it's there, and pay up for renewal regardless. 

[Sebby]

Very true, Mad. Symantec manage to get a 30 day trial on nearly all PCs these days. 

[Colin Burns]

Would take that long to uninstall it completely as well

i didn't think that was even possible or do you have to pay for the priverlidge to remove it completly or whip out the OS disk and reinstall.

[Sebby]

The problem with a lot of PCs these days is that you don't get a pure OS disc, but rather a restore disc, so you're often forced to install the junk that you don't want in the first place.

[Lance]

There is a tool provided by Norton to completely clean up the machine after uninstalling. Why the uninstalls can't do it right in the first place is beyond me!

[Sebby]

That's true, Lance; it's just a nuisance that you have to have it in the first place!

[Lance]

I couldn't agree more. I would much prefer for manufactures to provide a disc or point to a folder with all of the extras rather than insalling them in the first place. It would then down to the individual to install them.

[Sebby]

Exactly. I prefer to build my own PCs, that being one of the reasons. It's more difficult with notebooks, but there are some usual culprits (Sony springs to mind).

[Rik]

I still question why Symantec can't write an uninstaller that does the job properly. Even their tool leaves files and folders behind (not to mention registry entries). I simply will not buy software from them until they clean up their act. 

[Sebby]

I don't think I ever will, Rik, because I can't imagine they'll improve it so much so that it'll be better than the current alternatives.

[Rik]

There's that too.

[madasahatter]

The problem is that they have no real reason to improve it - it's shipped with virtually every new PC so they'll be getting money from that, and a lot of people will go with it because of the old "it's well known so it must be good" argument. They've pretty much got the "don't really know what I'm doing with a computer" brigade market sewn up.

[Rik]

I agree. What annoys me, though, is the manufacturers who insist on putting it on without the option. It would be one thing to have it there as an option to install, but pre-installing... 

[Gary]

I agree. What annoys me, though, is the manufacturers who insist on putting it on without the option. It would be one thing to have it there as an option to install, but pre-installing... 

They just took £40 off my mothers bank account to renew, that's outrageous, sadly she did not see the small print that they will keep taking it from what ever method you paid with it for ever until you say stop it, and that's hard. Companies like Kaspersky and Eset give a good incentive to stay with them after after the first year, Symantec don't care and don't have to

[Rik]

Always read the small print, I guess, Gary.

[Gary]

Always read the small print, I guess, Gary.

she is not that kind of person sadly, and to damn drunk 90% of the time 

[Rik]

In which case, maybe Norton is better than the alternatives, which would require some response?

[Gary]

In which case, maybe Norton is better than the alternatives, which would require some response?

That's why she has it Rik, she does not update her applications let alone her av so its ideal idiot proof software for her

[Rik]

And for millions of others, Gary.

[madasahatter]

Didn't realise they just renewed it automatically - that's even worse than putting it on in the first place.

[Noreen]

Incidentally there's a new version of the Norton Removal Tool out. http://www.majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_SymNRT_d4749.html

[Rik]

Thanks for that. I hope never to need it, of course.