I'd say.... neither. Why splash out on Norton when Avast! do a very good product that is free for home use and is way better than AVG Free. http://www.avast.com But, if you really have to use AVG or Norton then my opinion would be not Norton - it causes too many problems.

Do not use Norton!!! I trashed it after having it for many years. Now I just use AVG. It's free and works terrific!!!!

I say neither. Try Avira. The free version has some annoying pop-ups, but that is a small price to pay. I wouldn't suffer through them if it weren't decent.

what their not saying about Norton's is that it is a system Hog, uses lots of system resources. When I started out I also used Norton's Gold, shelled out my $100.00 each yr, thought I was doing my PC good, till I started building them and testing different software. What works for one person could be the fact they never do much, e-mail, very few people, very cautious where they go etc. pretty safe But another who is all over checking every thing out, gets e-mails from lots of folks, not very cautious "I've got a friend like that and work on that PC real often" cause he likes MacaFee. Another fault of Norton & MaCFee is the subscription runs out but folks forget and still think their covered and 6 months down the road, and 50 virus... well you get the picture. main point is Norton's is big and doesn't always get what is suppose to, you may think you covered but its when you put another program on there is when you see you weren't as covered as you thought. AVG 8.0 Spybot S&D Glary all take less than Norton's and are free so that be said here's my list for FREE software and yes Norton's must be unistalled first. and instructions for msconfig as spyware tends to hide there too. if you wish instructions for any one program just let me know. SIMPLE STEPS TO DOWNLOADING VIRUS & SPYWARE PROTECTION (& steps for protecting PC) For XP NEWEST AVG 8.0 BOTH ANTI-VIRUS & ANTI-SPYWARE (for those running Vista you must have all updates done plus SP1 to use) http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe AVG anti FOR SPYWARE, MALWARE, ROOTKITS http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antispyware/ Click on the right hand side of page where it says download latest version 11.84MB When next page opens watch for yellow bar at top which you may have to click to allow download to start, click and choose save to desktop. Then open from there. AVG Vcleaner-cleans 704 viruses and variants http://www.scanwith.com/download/AVG_Vcleaner.htm Now for your next layer of protection download the following also but remember you can only run one program at a time, but each of these will fine things the other didn’t. Spybot S&D found at www.safer-networking.org DOWNLOAD SPYBOT SEARCH & DESTROY ONCE YOU HAVE TYPED www.safer-networking.org IN THE YAHOO OR GOOGLE SEARCH BAR (you may see yahoo or google asking if you mean .com instead of .org it is suppose to be .org at the end of web site) 1. IT WILL SAY HOME OF: : The home of Spybot-S&D! 2. UNDER THIS YOU WILL SEE THE WORDS: Download. Home of SpyBot-S&D, and 6 different languages. Simply click on the language of your choice for example; ENGLISH 3. THIS IS THE HOME PAGE, LOOK DOWN AND FIND UNDER PRODUCTS, SEE 1.6.0 AND RIGHT UNDER PRODUCTS WORD YOU SEE PICTURE OF S&D CLICK IT, THIS IS ALL SAME LINE. 4. NEXT PAGE SAYS OVERVIEW, SCROLL DOWN AND SEE AREA, CLICK FIRST DOWNLOAD. 5. THESE ARE THE MIRROR SITES, THERE ARE 11 TO CHOOSE FROM, Safer-Networking Ltd. #1 ON THESE CLICK DOWNLOAD AND BOX OPENS, CHOOSE WHERE YOU Safer-Networking Ltd. #2 GOING TO SAVE FILE TO, DESKTOP, MY DOCUMENTS AND OPEN AND Safer-Networking Ltd. #3 AND RUN FROM THERE FILE IS 14.3MB ( only 2 steps here) (these are always my first choice as they usually work well first time) BN FileForum (This is my second choice just a little harder to use, more steps) PAGE WILL OPEN, (BLUE DOWNLOAD NOW 14,380 KB) CLICK blue / NEW PAGE OPENS. MAY HAVE TO CLICK YELLOW BAR AT TOP OF PAGE TO ALLOW FILE TO DOWNLOAD ON THIS ONE, AND THEN DOWNLOAD WILL BEGIN 6. BOX OPENS CHOOSE SAVE AND DO SO TO YOUR DESKTOP OR TO YOUR DOCUMENT FILE AND OPEN AND RUN FROM THERE FILE IS 14.3MB Superantispyware found at http://superantispyware.com SUPERANTISPYWARE DOWNLOAD ONCE YOU HAVE TYPED http://superantispyware.com YOUR SEARCH BAR IN YAHOO YOU WILL SEE: SuperAntiSpyware.com- (AntiAdware, AntiSpyware, AntiMalware) CLICK 1.LOOK FOR BIG BLUE BOX ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE SAYS DOWNLOAD FREE VERSION HOME USERS - CLICK 2. NEXT PAGE SCROLL DOWN, AGAIN LOOK FOR THE BIG BLUE BOX SAYS DOWNLOAD FREE VERSION HOME USERS - CLICK Next page opens and again click the blue box that says download FREE version home users. 3. NEXT PAGE DOWNLOAD SHOULD START AUTOMATICALLY (6.16MB), Version: 4.15.1000 ****NOTE (if it doesn’t start at once look at the top of the page for a light yellow bar, its basically a security bar, click and choose allow, it usually has to do with Active X) If still does not open look on the page under the words Download progress: If the download does not begin shortly please (click here is in blue) Click it 4. DO SO AND A BOX OPENS, SAVE TO DESKTOP OR MY DOCUMENTS, OPEN AND RUN FROM THERE And finally go to this web site for this program to clean up your internet history, cookies, browser history, recycle bin, IE Explorer, etc all the boxes can be preset and basically in 4 steps you can clean computer. It does so well that disc clean usually only will find 32-100MB after its done http://www.snapfiles.com go to the freeware section, look for Internet Cleanup, then look for the software called IE Privacy Keeper IE PRIVACY KEEPER DOWNLOAD WHEN YOU TYPE www.snapfiles.com IN YOUR YAHOO OR GOOGLE SEARCH BOX THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE WHEN IT OPENS Snapfiles - software reviews, download freeware and trial programs - CLICK 1. WHEN THE PAGE OPENS LOOK FOR A TAB AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE THAT SAYS FREEWARE - CLICK 2. WHEN PAGE OPENS SCROLL DOWN AND FIND INTERNET CLEANUP TOOLS - CLICK 3. WHEN PAGE OPENS SCROLL DOWN TILL YOU SEE THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE LIKE ABOUT THE 14TH ONE DOWN - CLICK THE BLUE DOWNLOAD BUTTON FILE SIZE IS 1128kb 4. NEXT PAGE OPENS IF DOWNLOAD DOESN’T START LOOK FOR A LIGHT YELLOW BAR AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE, CLICK THE OPTION TO ALLOW TO OPEN, USUALLY HAS TO DO WITH ACTIVE X ***NOTE If for some reason still doesn’t start click the blue words click here they are in the middle of the page in tan box. 5. WHEN THE BOX OPENS SAVE TO DESKTOP OR MY DOCUMENTS, OPEN AND RUN FROM THERE. Last but not least do Defrag at least 2-4 times in a row even if program says not needed, as XP Defrag program isn’t the best and needs to be run more often. GLARY UTILITIES DOWNLOAD GO TO www.pcworld.com 1. WHEN PAGE OPENS , LOOK AT THE TOP OF PAGE WHERE IT SAYS DOWNLOADS CLICK 2. NOW TYPE IN THE SEARCH (blue) BOX - REGISTRY REPAIR PROGRAMS - CLICK AND GO 3. LIST WILL OPEN, SELECT THE HALF WAY DOWN PAGE WITH GREEN ARROW - GLARY REGISTRY REPAIR (ITS FREE) CLICK IT 4.. NEXT PAGE, YOU WILL SEE A RED ARROW AND DOWNLOAD NOW IN BLUE WORDS - CLICK 1.30MB 5.. NEXT PAGE BLUE BOX DOWNLOAD FREE REGISTRY REPAIR NOW- YOU CAN CLICK HERE BUT REAL SLOW (works on 98, XP, ME, 2000, 2003, Vista) just not 64 bit supported 6.. For a faster download click where it says - mirror here 7.. NEXT PAGE IF IT DOES NOT START IN 5 SEC LOOK FOR A SECURITY BAR, WHICH IS LIGHT YELLOW AT TOP OF PAGE, CLICK THE OPTION TO ALLOW IF FOR SOME REASON IT STILL DOESN’T USE THIS OPTION: LOOK FOR THE LINE THAT READS CLICK HERE IF IT DOES NOT 8.. BOX OPENS SAVE TO DESKTOP OR TO MY DOCUMENTS AND OPEN AND RUN FROM THERE http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/ SPAM Type in Spam in the search box in the upper right hand corner- new page opens with a list of 5 page, on page 3 you should find this program Spamihilator (2000/XP/2003/Vista 1.08MB) click download, new page opens, watch for yellow bar at top as you may have to click to allow to start download. Click save to desktop or my documents. Then click run to open. or to http://www.snapfiles.com and to their freeware section to find other software also. (can only run one virus program at a time on a PC but you may have as many spyware programs as you wish as long as you run only one at a time, and only one firewall) A GREAT FREE ONE IS ZONE ALARM FOUND AT www.snapfiles.com under the freeware section, personal firewalls. Also found at snap files, are Defragmentation Tools - there are several programs to choose from I recommend you check them out as the one that comes with XP does not always do the best job. Another little great tool for you is go to Google or Yahoo : One of the best pieces of FREE software there is today that will show you what is on your computer is known as: Belarc once it is downloaded you simply run and time you wish to see what is installed on your PC, from OS to Model, hardware, software, hot fix’s and the Keys to software on PC. This makes it a valuable program in that you can run it every so often and print off and save for you keys if for no other reason. *** Note: It is wise to only run one virus program at a one time but run as many spyware as you like, only run them one at a time, other wise they will conflict with each other, it is good to have more than one as each will find some thing the other did not. Unistall any other program as they may conflict such as Norton,MacAfee etc. The only one this list that runs in safemode F8 is AVG anti-spyware, which does work great in safemode. Also wise thing to do is to run the virus & spyware program once without internet connection and then again with internet, as some times the virus will try to block program other wise when internet is running. This list has been drawn up by me and designed by me and is not copyed from anywhere as it has been suggested, please feel free to use as much as you like, and I hope it helps in some way. G_tech XP MSCONFIG (RESETTING START UP ORDER) 1. START 2. RUN 3.TYPE IN - msconfig 4. WHEN THE BOX COMES UP CLICK THE START UP TAB 5. THESE ARE THE PROGRAM THAT ARE ALL TRYING TO OPEN WHEN PC FIRST COMES ON 6. YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF ITEMS WITH BOXES WITH CHECK MARKS IN THEM, IN GENERAL THE ONLY ONES YOU NEED ARE: THE ONES FOR VIRUS & SPYWARE PROGRAMS SUCH AS AVG, SPYBOT ETC. *** If this a laptop turn a few items at a time off, you have to be a little more careful as you need touchpad, monitor etc. by default xp will not let you turn off any thing that will harm PC, it will come right back on. 7. CLICK APPLY AND OK AND THEN COMPUTER WILL REBOOT AND A MESSAGE WILL TELL ABOUT THE FACT YOU HAVE RESET MSCONFIG, JUST PUT CHECK MARK IN THE BOX AND CLICK OK AND YOUR DONE. THIS WILL SPEED UP HOW FAST YOUR COMPUTER BOOTS UP! **** If for some reason there’s a problem and you need to turn ever thing back on just go back to run- msconfig- startup-enable all- apply and ok System will reboot and see#7above and your back to normal. ^^^^ If you see a box with a check mark in it but basically a blank area following where it should tell you name of software (this is spy ware) uncheck box and remove with other item in #6.

I hate to trash Norton (because it's so easy to do). Many users don't know Norton is giving them issues because they don't remember how fast their system used to be before they started using it. I've seen looks of shock on some of my clients' faces when they saw how fast their system ran once Norton was completely removed (and replaced with a leaner anti-virus product). But I digress. Just a few points though, you don't need Norton to prevent pop-ups anymore. Alternate browsers (like Firefox) do a pretty good job of blocking pop-ups. Even the latest versions of IE block pop-ups now, although I can't attest to how good they are, since I've been a Firefox user for as long as it has existed.

If you trust experienced IT people, forget about Norton. It's not worth the money you pay for it. Terrible support. Bloated software. AVG is way better, even its free edition. I strongly believe that the day Norton quits the market of security software, the Web will become safer and more protected because Norton users switch to better programs.

Thanks G_tech for your response. The information is invaluable to anyone reading and understanding the subject matter. I recently received a malware off the net called System Guard 2009. This program popped up every few minutes telling me I had viruses and needed to purchase their solution right now. I would never think of spending money with a con artist, and Norton which I have, was doing zero good in taking care of the problem. I went on the net to find out about this malware and it is well documented as very bad stuff ,blogs- all over the place. The seller and all programmers working for them should be in jail yesterday for messing with me. That and a lawyer should be the only talk going on now but that's another subject. Long story short- Norton wanted $90.00 to take care of the problem through phone support. I told the tech, "That's what I had paid an annual subscription since 2006 for", and on my watch they had better find a fix for free very fast before they would ever get a cent from me again. I told the rep, from India no less, there were plenty of free fixes on the net and ask how the bug got on my computer in the first place after paying them so much money. Stupid is all I can say about his response. He knew about the bug and gave me a choice, pay $90.00 or go on Nortan web site an get the info to manually fix. Not! I went to http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/malware-removal/remove-system-guard-2009 and followed the instruction of the writer, who like G_tech, left kick in the butt details on how to solve the problem and it did. After uninstalling Norton, which is paid for, and will never have reside on my system again. I ran the freeware "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware", which I will buy the pro version of,to show my appreciation for their service to me. 1. It use to take over 15 minutes plus from the time restart computer was clicked to the time I could do anything. Please understand that Norton took at least 3-5 minutes of that restart time. This was before I had the SYSTEM GUARD 2009 malware bug. 2. It took a Norton scan over 8 hours to find 4(four) issues after the SYSTEN GUARD 2009 invasion, And could not fix it. 3. After uninstalling Norton and running "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.34" using it's quick scan (6 minute 51 seconds) the problem was solved. It found: 2 memory process infections, 2 memory module infections, 29 registry key infections, four (4) registry values infected, 0 registry Data items infected, 5 folders infected, and 24 files infected. This is after Norton had done its thing or should I say THANG. 4. After this process was completed it took only 2 minutes 15 seconds from the time I hit restart the computer to the time I could right click the clock in the lower right corner of the task bar and select task manager to verify processes running. 5. After following G_tech's advice and downloading the "Glary Registry Repair", I'm down to less than 1 minute 40 seconds, from restart computer to right clicking the clock and selecting task manager (Also control alt delete gets you there) and seeing processes running without any changes to the startup program sequence in MSCONF. 6. Without any other changes on my part,the processes running went from over 70 with Norton Internet Security installed and before the SYSTEM GUARD 2009 problem, to 36 right now. Summary: 1. It is my thanks to people like G_tech and others with solutions to questions which stimulate thought we are so good at. 2. There is no such thing as enough anti virus scanning software, as long as they are not running at the same time, for together we may be protected and it's great if it's free. Therefore AVG rules. 3. Pay the fiddler when the song is good. 4. There is nothing harder than the softness of indifference.

I bought Norton 360 2.0 and had nothing but problems. Symatic support uninstalled and re-installed it 3 times for me over a 5 week period. Every time they said it should work correctly now. Finially, when I got sick of Norton not running scans and it was all in the red, I uninstalled the Norton. I bought OneCare from Microsoft. Ran the scans and it found 12 trojans and 3 viruses that Norton did not detect. My computer is running good once again. No thanks to Norton. *trojans came from LimeWire~deletet that and downloaded HotWire and no problems!