Nice analogy, lanlynk. Love it.

Mary, I didn't realize the difference. Guess I will order the Pro version for malwarebytes sooner rather than later. I'm really annoyed with the way Norton keeps trying to get me to buy a new program.

Sharon,
Norton anti-virus (don't know if that's what you're referring to in the above post) is NOT the same as Malwarebytes: they check for different "bad guys".

I've used Norton anti-virus for several years (had McAfee and I HATED it!)and have never had them ask me to buy anything except renew when the subscription is over.

Sharon, like Mary says, all Norton is doing is asking you to renew your subscription every year or whatever time period you have subscribed for. They may update the programs itself too.

Well, I'm back again. Norton popped up today and again said to uninstall Malwarebytes. I just excluded the Malwarebytes files that Jenny listed a couple weeks ago, but I'm back to square one.

Funny thing, though: also on my Norton "don't scan" list is one that I didn't put there: "\system volume information\". I don't know what it is nor how it got there!

Can I just keep ignoring what Norton is asking me to do and get on with my life?
Should I get rid of that additional line item that I didn't put there?

It's probably something Norton put there.
Avast does something similar. There's a discussion about it at
http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-In...can/td-p/456684
where the poster "SendOfJive" tells why it isn't necessary to scan system volume information (3rd post down).


I would not get rid of MalwareBytes. It's capable of detecting malware that Norton isn't. I'd complain about it to Norton support though. If I had to choose between them, I'd keep MalwareBytes and find a new antivirus.


It's up to you. I wouldn't scan it regularly, though I might scan it once in a while.

Thanks, Jenny.

I totally agree with Jenny. I would choose Malwarebytes first.

I recently built a new computer for a friend and installed Windows 7 on it. He had just renewed his Norton subscription about 2 months ago on his old XP machine. I asked him if he wanted me to go ahead and install Norton with the subscription. He told me he was so aggravated with Norton and all the stuff it popped up with asking him to make decisions he had no idea what to do. It's like what Homer6 said - it was out front directing traffic. So I installed Malwarebytes Pro and Microsoft Security Essentials and he told me that after just 2 weeks with his new computer, it was the best $60 he ever threw away.

I'm not telling you to ditch Norton because it really is a good antivirus program, but when the next time to renew comes up, you might want to consider exploring some other options.

As my friend told me, it was all about the aggravation factor!

I'm kind of regretting getting Norton, but I've never had any problems of any kind before. I've read online that the problems I'm having have to do with 2013 Norton, and not earlier versions (not that they put the year on their packaging anymore). That earlier versions ran side by side with Malwarebytes Pro with no problems. Bummer.

Mary, Norton was asking me to re-subscribe. However I just found them annoying. I am currently using Avast and MalwareBytes Pro. I did a complete system scan with both programs. One trojan was found and corrected (quarantine?/Removal?) Anyway my system is good so far.

There is an announcement (verbal) when the virus definitions are updated (Avast). I think this might get annoying but I'm not sure yet. Is there a way to stop the announcement? Or have it update in the background without telling me?

I like these programs so far, better than Norton. I have been using Norton Antivirus exclusively for many years. Now it just seems complicated and big and intrusive. I wasn't sure what it was doing sometimes and it seems counterproductive to have a program operating on your behalf without knowing what it's doing.

Had to get that off my chest. I'm happy with what I have now.

Sharon

Sharon, there is a way to turn off those verbal "announcements." Sometimes I would hear a voice saying something and it would scare the dickens out of me! So I disabled it on my XP computer.

I never had any "verbal" announcements, thank goodness. Just a popup saying my subscription was almost up.

Avast talks to you. The paid version anyway. I got rid of it when they annoyed me half to death reminding me to resubscribe. I had a little trouble removing it...finally did...but I found out when I researched it that some people can't get it off their system without using a special program that Avast does provide. How fun.

I'm using MS Security Essentials now. As Drac said, it doesn't fight with Malwarebytes and I'm perfectly happy with it.

Gil.

Norton doesn't talk to you, but Avast does and has scared me to death before I disabled the verbal notices! Once I thought someone was in the house with me before I figured it out and felt like an idiot.

Mary, what kind of popup" did you get? I always just get an email a couple of months prior to my subscription needing renewing.

This year I didn't get anything saying to update to a 2013 version either. It updates itself all the time.

I've had Norton for 14 years and it has never given me any trouble, although it did let a Trojan through one time (which was trouble).

So far, no trouble for me between the Norton and the Malwarebytes. Keeping my fingers crossed!