No hurry with Norton Internet Security

Noreen · Mar 06, 2008, 17:54:24

From the current "New Scientist".

QuoteSteve 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 · Mar 06, 2008, 17:59:27

Even then would be too soon for me.

Gary · Mar 06, 2008, 18:06:15

Would take that long to uninstall it completely as well

Simon · Mar 06, 2008, 18:07:44

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

Rik · Mar 06, 2008, 18:12:13

Quote from: Killhippie on Mar 06, 2008, 18:06:15
Would take that long to uninstall it completely as well

Niall · Mar 06, 2008, 23:03:26

Quote from: Killhippie on Mar 06, 2008, 18:06:15
Would take that long to uninstall it completely as well

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

Simon · Mar 06, 2008, 23:18:58

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

madasahatter · Mar 07, 2008, 01:06:01

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

Sebby · Mar 08, 2008, 10:53:44

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

Rik · Mar 08, 2008, 10:56:18

Cruel, Sebby, albeit true.

Sebby · Mar 08, 2008, 11:17:08

cavillas · Mar 08, 2008, 11:50:39

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

Rik · Mar 08, 2008, 11:51:47

A sentiment with which I agree, Alf.

madasahatter · Mar 16, 2008, 13:44:32

Quote from: cavillas on Mar 08, 2008, 11:50:39
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 · Mar 16, 2008, 15:10:45

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

Colin Burns · Mar 16, 2008, 15:34:21

Quote from: Killhippie on Mar 06, 2008, 18:06:15
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 · Mar 16, 2008, 15:46:15

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 · Mar 16, 2008, 15:48:46

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 · Mar 16, 2008, 15:51:25

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

Lance · Mar 16, 2008, 15:58:34

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 · Mar 16, 2008, 15:59:57

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 · Mar 16, 2008, 16:34:16

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 · Mar 16, 2008, 16:37:08

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 · Mar 16, 2008, 16:37:37

There's that too.

madasahatter · Mar 18, 2008, 08:40:23

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.