Eset Smart Security 4 or Norton 360 3.0?

d.dassledoof

New Member
Its time for me to renew my antivirus and im stuck deciding between these two. I want want something with minimal system impact but still does a good job keeping my computer safe. Eset seems like a solid choice, but I 've also read a lot of good things about the new norton 360 3.0. A lot of bad things too, but im really wondering if these are just people who hate norton and havent tried the latest version or if theyve actually compared the two. I would agree that the past nortons sucked also. I used to have it a couple years ago and switched because it slowed my computer down. Some articles say its a little better than eset but I just dont know what to believe. Norton is 10 bucks cheaper. Right now Im running Vista 64 but i plan on upgrading to 7. I also game on my PC so having low impact on performance is important. Im also going to use it on a build for my mom, who is a complete computer novice, so I suppose simplicity is somewhat important as well. Any suggestions would be helpful.
 

My Computer

Hi,

I m on Norton 360 3.0. Non-intrusive, pulse-updates and pretty much keeps the nasties out (for now).
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    QuadCore Intel Core i7 920
    Motherboard
    Intel X58
    Memory
    12 GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3-1333 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Radeon 4890 1GB xFire
    Sound Card
    Xonar HDAV1.3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 2408WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1600
    Hard Drives
    2xVelociRaptor 150GB (OS)
    1TB WD HDD (Storage)
    PSU
    Corsair HX1000W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Keyboard
    Razer Lycosa
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
Norton. Eset is lightweight but the detection rates arn't as good. Just bought Norton 360 v3.0 myself.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z46GDU
    CPU
    [email protected] w/6MB L2 cache 1066MHz FSB
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    9300M GS 256MB + Intel Integrated 4500MHD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.1" WXGA True Colour Tough
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 7200RPM
    Internet Speed
    1MB/s
I'd suggest AVG, it's free. I run a Norton AV server at work, and I would never recommend anyone who isn't on a domain to install any of Norton's crap on their computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sager NG2096
    CPU
    Intel P8700
    Memory
    4 Gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    9600M GT
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung PN50A550
    Screen Resolution
    Primary 1680 X 1050, Secondary 1920 X 1080
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Revolution
    Internet Speed
    Satalite :-(
    Other Info
    Running SUSE, Solaris, Kalyware, and BSD through vmware whenever the mood strikes
AVG may be free but it doesn't scan for rootkits or provide anything other other than basic protection. Running Norton on a domain and at home are entirely different.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z46GDU
    CPU
    [email protected] w/6MB L2 cache 1066MHz FSB
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    9300M GS 256MB + Intel Integrated 4500MHD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.1" WXGA True Colour Tough
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 7200RPM
    Internet Speed
    1MB/s
AVG may be free but it doesn't scan for rootkits or provide anything other other than basic protection. Running Norton on a domain and at home are entirely different.

Your argument is easily open for interpretation. Do you have volcano insurance on your home? I'd say running Norton is like having your children positioned on the roof with sniper riffles while you throw molotov cocktails out the windows at your neighbors for being too loud. You'd be surprised what little virus protection you need when you don't aimlessly download the entire internet. The five computers in my house do just fine with a Spybot and AVG.

If you're paranoid about rootkits, the free version of Avast! has you covered.

Also ClamWin is worth looking into.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sager NG2096
    CPU
    Intel P8700
    Memory
    4 Gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    9600M GT
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung PN50A550
    Screen Resolution
    Primary 1680 X 1050, Secondary 1920 X 1080
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Revolution
    Internet Speed
    Satalite :-(
    Other Info
    Running SUSE, Solaris, Kalyware, and BSD through vmware whenever the mood strikes
AVG may be free but it doesn't scan for rootkits or provide anything other other than basic protection. Running Norton on a domain and at home are entirely different.

Your argument is easily open for interpretation. Do you have volcano insurance on your home? I'd say running Norton is like having your children positioned on the roof with sniper riffles while you throw molotov cocktails out the windows at your neighbors for being too loud. You'd be surprised what little virus protection you need when you don't aimlessly download the entire internet. The five computers in my house do just fine with a Spybot and AVG.

If you're paranoid about rootkits, the free version of Avast! has you covered.

Also ClamWin is worth looking into.

I like it!! :D

Yes & no. Our general advice so often has to be generic. There are a lot of newbies coming on who just don't realise what they are clicking on & downloading. They must have some sort of protection me thinks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    LAPTOP. HP Pavilion dv7-1005TX .
    CPU
    IntelCore [email protected] x2
    Memory
    4.00 GB installed, max capacity 8 GB.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT & 512MB DDR2 dedicated graphics mem.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.0" diagonal WXGA + High definition brightview widescreen infinity display.
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 900
    Hard Drives
    SPECS.
    Drive 1. 298.09 GB Fujitzu MHZ2320BH G2 ATA Device
    Drive 2. [ All as above.]

    CONFIG. C:\287.65 GB, D:\298.09 GB, E:\10.44 GB.
    Case
    Laptop / notebook.
    Cooling
    Stock.
    Keyboard
    IBM enhanced
    Mouse
    Synaptics PS/2 Port touch pad.
    Internet Speed
    ADSL [ Too slow.]
    Other Info
    Webcam.
AVG may be free but it doesn't scan for rootkits or provide anything other other than basic protection. Running Norton on a domain and at home are entirely different.

Your argument is easily open for interpretation. Do you have volcano insurance on your home? I'd say running Norton is like having your children positioned on the roof with sniper riffles while you throw molotov cocktails out the windows at your neighbors for being too loud. You'd be surprised what little virus protection you need when you don't aimlessly download the entire internet. The five computers in my house do just fine with a Spybot and AVG.

If you're paranoid about rootkits, the free version of Avast! has you covered.

Also ClamWin is worth looking into.

I like it!! :D

Yes & no. Our general advice so often has to be generic. There are a lot of newbies coming on who just don't realise what they are clicking on & downloading. They need some sort of protection.

You're right, some people do need to have more protection because they are unaware that a healthy percent of the infections are lack of judgement based on the user. Here's an interesting bit from download squad that made me chuckle

Symantec's Hall says free antivirus is for chumps

The bottom line, no single program is going to protect you from everything. Norton is simply way too invasive for me to suggest to anyone. If you could get basic coverage insurance on your car for free, or pay every month for additional stuff such as rental reimbursement, towing, etc... then there are those who will pay more for peace of mind, and those who are content with taking a little risk. Security Software is nothing but insurance. If you think it protects you, well then there should be a positive result popping up sometime soon for you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sager NG2096
    CPU
    Intel P8700
    Memory
    4 Gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    9600M GT
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung PN50A550
    Screen Resolution
    Primary 1680 X 1050, Secondary 1920 X 1080
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Revolution
    Internet Speed
    Satalite :-(
    Other Info
    Running SUSE, Solaris, Kalyware, and BSD through vmware whenever the mood strikes
I certainly wouldn't touch anything Symantec. Norton used to be good when it was Norton but like a lot of things it got bought out and the buyer started to make it into something no sensible person would want.

That being said I've hear that the latest versions are not as bloated and apparently do their job well but I still wouldn't touch them, too many horror stories on the NG's and Forums.
Myself I use NOD32 v4 alongside Windows Defender the Vista firewall and SuperAntiSpyware Pro. Until recently I also had SpywareBlaster on here but as I'm now running IE8 feel there isn't the need for it anymore.

Of course one of the best solutions in security is common sense and Safe Hex ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Home
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy x360 Convertible 15-bq0xx
    CPU
    AMD A9 Stoney Ridge Technology
    Motherboard
    HP 8312 (Socket FP4)
    Memory
    8.00GB Dual-Channel Unknown (?-0-0-0)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) 512MB ATI AMD Radeon R5
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Aud
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor on AMD Radeon R5 Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    119GB SanDisk SD8SN8U-128G-1006 (SSD)
    931GB Hitachi HGST HTS721010A9E630 (SATA
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse
    Internet Speed
    62.86Mbps down 18.19Mbps up
    Other Info
    EPSON78D0CF (XP-332 335 Series) (Default Printer)
just switched from Norton 360 as it just became too taxing on my pc and ran in the background whilst I was working making it grind to a halt. Switched to Bitdefender which is cheaper and all I would say what ever you do, if you switch from Norton, make sure you use their uninstall tool or the moment you instal another AV Nortons firewall stays up and runs along side the new one causing random restarts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Compaq dx2300 Microtower
    CPU
    INTEL PENTIUM D 3.00Ghz
    Memory
    2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP L1940T
I'm not sure how Norton isn't classfied as Malware
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sager NG2096
    CPU
    Intel P8700
    Memory
    4 Gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    9600M GT
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung PN50A550
    Screen Resolution
    Primary 1680 X 1050, Secondary 1920 X 1080
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Revolution
    Internet Speed
    Satalite :-(
    Other Info
    Running SUSE, Solaris, Kalyware, and BSD through vmware whenever the mood strikes
I use Norton IS09 on 3 systems and Kaspersky IS09 on one system. Both are excellent with very little intrusion. But I have also heard a lot of good things about NOD32 - but never used it myself.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Q6600
    Memory
    4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Hard Drives
    2x250GB HDDs
    1x60GB OCZ SSD
    6 external disks 60 to 640GBs
    Other Info
    Also 1xHP desktop, 1xHP laptop, 1xGateway laptop
Back
Top