McAfee vs. Norton

[RobDog888]

Like the poll title says.

[dglienna]

It's not a poll.

You should include others. I use Avast! on my laptop, the trial version of it on my server, and Norton's on the workstation.

[RobDog888]

Darn, you replied too fast man. I was still creating the choices! Anyways its there now. So vote away

[RobDog888]

I kind of wanted to stick to one of the two main AV companies. So if you really dislike either of the two you can make a suggestion and choose "Other".

[dglienna]

Norton's has been my choice for a long time, but I got sick of how long it took to do anything. Never tried McAffee (at least since Windows came out), but now I like Avast! because it is fast. Free is nice, too.

[RobDog888]

Yes, free is nice too especially when it comes to protecting 7 systems. I cant afford the Enterprise version of Norton but individually its manageable. Now with free, all the kids systems could be protected today They will be getting internet access and I'm not giving it to them until they are protected.

I just dont want any issues on my systems since they are vital systems.

[dglienna]

Well, the only problem with Avast! is that they want $400 for their server edition. I've enjoyed having my server online for the past two months during the free trial, but my take it offline when the trial runs out. Anyone else know of a free version that runs on W2K Server?

[RobDog888]

Oh ya, forgot, I need AV for my Server 2003 too.

[MrPolite]

so many votes
server2k3 -> use norton corporate edition

my personal experience... there are some viruses mcafee doesnt find and norton does, and vice versa. Both will do for the risky viruses. bleh

[nothingofvalue]

I have used AVG from Grisoft for quite some time now. It is completely free, always receives high reviews and has never failed me.

[dglienna]

Free for SERVERS???

[dee-u]

AVAST here...

[RobDog888]

I really need something reliable and easy to manage and has a version for Server 2003. Would running Norton Corp. Ed. for the server and something like Avast for all the rest of my systems present any issues? My Server runs IIS, Exchange 2003, and SQL 2000. I cant risk anything to screw it up.

[MrPolite]

uuh if you have NA corporate why would you need another AV?
I use corporate with xp pro and it's fine for everything. It's much cleaner than the normal version of norton (ie, it doesn't steal your system away from you, locking it from you AND the viruses)

[RobDog888]

I dont have it but if I get it and use a free AV for the systems I can save the money and recoup some losses for spending big $ on Norton Corp Ed. Or are you saying that Norton Corp Ed. can be installed on all my systems after I install it on the server and have no issues or license issues either? I think it comes with 5 licenses?

[MrPolite]

oooh nvm my bad
I thought by "the rest of my systems" you meant the other uses you have on your computer
hehe yeah it's an expensive piece of software, go with the free one. isn't panda free too?

[RobDog888]

What? Chineese food? I vaugly remember something about Panda. The thing is that I am trying to aviod any complications from some of these freeware AVs as my systems are now more important then ever.

How much was Norton Corp? Does it come with multiple licenses for workstations?

[dglienna]

Server Edition protects 5 systems (that are licensed.) All updates come to the server and get replicated to the clients. If you are going to get it, then spend the extra money for a few more licenses. Or else get it for the server, and anyone else that might connect to it. Do you have more than 5 licenses for the 2003 server? I have 20 with W2k Advanced Server.

[RobDog888]

I have 10 concurrent connection licenses for my Server 2003 but only have 6 systems that will connect to it. Maybe another system in the near future as needs are changing for my network and need to offload either my Exchange server or my SQL server to a dedicated server.

[dglienna]

The other systems don't have to connect to the server. They could just go thru a router and a switch, unless you want them to use Exchange as well?

I suggest a router with a Print Server built in. Belkin makes a good one.

[RobDog888]

Well thats probably another thread but so far one system connects to the domain and goes through the server but the rest go through my router and all have access to my shared printer off of my server.

This will change when I update my network hardware next month too and all will go through the server.

[tr333]

ClamAV is a good OpenSource AV scanner.
ClamWin is a windows GUI for the ClamAV engine.

OS X users should look at ClamXav.

[dglienna]

tr333, I can't find anything to do with W2K Server. Do you have any idea if it works with it? I'll be needing something soon, and would be willing to try somthing, as my needs are light.

[tr333]

ClamWin will run on 98/ME/2K/XP/2003. If it says it runs on 2K and 2003 (which i think is only a server OS) then i dont see why it wouldn't run on 2K server.

Note that ClamWin does NOT include an on-access real-time scanner.


you might want to take a look at the third-party software that supports ClamAV (eg. ClamMail). it really depends on what you want to do with the antivirus software.

[tr333]

you might also want to take a look at the OpenAntiVirus Project.

[RobDog888]

OpenAntiVirus sounds too risky. I need something stable and has a Server version. Seems nobody uses McAfee or Norton then?

[VBdynamic]

You can't use AVG Free on servers, but the Pro version will work with server 2000/2003. Or you can get the Network verson. Check out www.grisoft.com for more info

[-TPM-]

I've used both Norton/Symantec and McAfee, and in my opinion McAfee is far better.
I currently have Norton at work and McAfee on my personal laptop and I find that McAfee updates come out far more often. In my last company I setup ePolicyOrcistrator for management and it worked awesomely. It would probably be an overkill for 7 machines though…
I’ve also heard TrendMicro is good, never used it though.

[dglienna]

Avast! has updates almost daily, it seems. They also have a wave file "New definitions loaded" or something like that. They load when I turn on the machine, even from hibernation mode.

[RobDog888]

I have used McAfee what seems like forever and never had any issues with it and we ran it at work too using the ePolicy thing.
Seems McAfee and Norton are similar in protection but the ease of configuration and management is where the difference may lye.

Unless someone can convince me, I will be staying away from the free ones since I do need a server version too.

[dglienna]

Oh, I don't think Avast! will remain free. They're just trying to gain market share, before they start charging. The others are probably the same.

[Madboy]

avast! antivirus of course

[RobDog888]

I looked at AVG and it seems its $150 for th network version which will protect 5 systems and also includes a server version edition.

Avast! Server version is $400! but it doesnt say how many systems the license will cover or is it just for the server alone?

big $$$

[tr333]

i use ClamXav on OS X and it works fine, but ClamWin doesn't constantly scan every file. There may be other ClamAV derivatives designed for use on servers.

[Valleysboy1978]

Are there any free AV apps I can use for my home pc?

[RobDog888]

Looks like Avast! as recommended by some in the thread, but the server version cost big $$$.

[-TPM-]

IMO if it's that much invest it in backups instead, and just lock your server down.
If you want help with it I know a good network adim in your area that would be happy to get some contract work...

[RobDog888]

So do I but I have to build a website for him in exchange for network services.

I am thinking of getting a couple of licenses for the two workstations that are currently online and I dont use my server for anything other PDC, database server, and IIS. I dont surf or open emails on the serer so I can run scans from one of the systems to the server remotely. May take a bit more time but costs will be less.

I was hopeing to get more votes t sway me towards a AV company but I guess I will have to take a chance and go enie minie moe, blah, blah, blah....

[Kasracer]

I have used AVG from Grisoft for quite some time now. It is completely free, always receives high reviews and has never failed me.

Same here, though, honestly; there is no need for anti-virrus software. Just don't run any attachments and let web sites install stuff. Also use Opera or Firefox and have a firewall.

I haven't had a virus on my computer in over 10 years. The first time I had one, I did it on purpose to see what it would do and for much of that time i was directly connected to the internet running windows without all the updates

[dglienna]

Well, AVAST found about 5 viruses on the SERVER during it's first scan. It had about 10 years worth of data on it, but I know they weren't picked up lately. I just want to have some way to scan it. Plus, if I keep it onlne, I'll have to have another machine handy to let others use when they come over.