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OK, so the power supply on my desk top went out on Saturday, so I replaced it - no big deal after the initial scare. (Yes, all was backed up.) Since the graphics card fan went ballistic a few months back (again, replaced, not too big a deal once the troubleshooting was done), I decided that after nearly 4 years of faithful service, it was time to pick up a new machine before I had to do it in a rush. And I can also get the expense to offset some of this year's taxes by doing it before the end of the year.
So here I am with a new box. Intel i7-3770, 12 GB RAM, 2 TB HD, 27" screen, blah, blah, blah. And Win8.
Ok, sez, me, I'll find out what Win8 can do. Initial reaction: not bad, once I stopped reaching for the Start button and just went to the Start screen. I've just started playing, but it looks OK so far.
So, I noticed the machine came with Norton Internet Security and I've taken that off of every machine I ever owned if it somehow got installed. I've been using Microsoft Security Essentials without any problem, thank you. So I go to look for MS Security Essentials and lo and behold, MS says that you don't need SE, since it is replaced by Defender and is built into Win8.
So, if Defender on Win8 replaces SE on previous versions of Windows, is there any reason not to disable Norton? Does anyone have any info on why Norton would be installed, other than someone wanting to sell a Norton license? Is there any reason not to rely on Win8's Defender?
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Walt Fair, Jr. wrote: I can also get the expense to offset some of this year's taxes
Brilliant! My Mac cost me quite a bit... wonder if I could do some tax trickery to get some monies back. Hmmm.
Walt Fair, Jr. wrote: Is there any reason not to rely on Win8's Defender?
Irrelevant. Any Norton software is a solution worse than the problem and should be removed ASAP.
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Agree with both points. esp. the second one! Norton AntiVirus is a virus!
I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
Stephen Hawking
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I concur, but is the built-in Defender in Win8 sufficient? If so (and I hope it is!) then Norton will be made to be history quickly. Certainly I won't register it, but if Win8 by itself isn't good enough, I'll be looking for something else.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Yes, it is sufficent. It is the exact same engine as MSE.
I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
Stephen Hawking
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AspDotNetDev wrote: Walt Fair, Jr. wrote: I can also get the expense to offset some of this year's taxes
Brilliant! My Mac cost me quite a bit... wonder if I could do some tax trickery to get some monies back. Hmmm.
Well, if you use it for business, it is a business expense. Note that it would be considered a capital expense, but you can write off the first $10k (I think?) as expense. You'll have to list it on the depreciation form when the submitting tax return.
Note, I'm not a tax lawyer, neither do I play one on the interwebs.
AspDotNetDev wrote: Walt Fair, Jr. wrote: Is there any reason not to rely on Win8's Defender?
Irrelevant. Any Norton software is a solution worse than the problem and should be removed ASAP.
My thoughts exactly, but I do want to make sure I don't leave the system open to known problems.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Walt Fair, Jr. wrote: I'm not a tax lawyer, neither do I play one on the interwebs
I'll probably do what I usually do. Plug info into tax software and hope I win.
Walt Fair, Jr. wrote: I do want to make sure I don't leave the system open to known problems
I fight malware in other ways. 1) Backup and be prepared to restore. 2) Don't let others on my network. 3) Keep all software up to date. 4) Avoid sketchy software/websites/email.
Has worked pretty well for me.
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AspDotNetDev wrote: I'll probably do what I usually do. Plug info into tax software and hope I win. When I started my first business, people told me I needed an accountant, but I didn't have any profits to pay one, so I did my own taxes then paid an accountant his hourly consulting fee to answer my questions. Ever since then, I've done my own taxes and passed IRS audits with no problems.
As far as equipment purchases, that's pretty straight forward.
AspDotNetDev wrote: I fight malware in other ways. 1) Backup and be prepared to restore. 2) Don't let others on my network. 3) Keep all software up to date. 4) Avoid sketchy software/websites/email. Yes, I do the same. However, I prefer to have protection in case I have a brain-fart and do something stupid.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Agree with both above. Norton AV is evil, along with it's offshoots. IMHO, the only good software Norton produce is the "remove all Norton cr@p" utility, which I have used on a number of occasions.
Cheers,
Peter
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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I give another vote for the remove Norton.
I believe it is probably part of the OEM agreement to install a bunch of bloatware on all new machines, useful or not. There is probably an MS Office activation on there as well.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Shame, I remember when Peter Norton"s software was quality stuff - didn't the company get taken over ? Symantec springs to mind
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