OT: computer security: Norton, McAfee

[Darshana]

Here is a basic thing I don't know/understand and there is no one here right now for me to ask:

on my computer, is there a reason I need both Norton and McAfee?  I think somebody who set up one of my computers put one on free, and then I also had the other thing.  Anyhow do I need to renew them both and pay for it, or is McAfee enough?

[MrB]

You'll probably get as many expert opinions as there are members of BollyWhat, but I'd say you do not need both. The chances of one picking up a problem that the other does not are very small, and each imposes a noticeable performance hit on the system which you don't want to suffer twice. I would also worry about them tripping over each other, but have no idea if that is a problem in practice.

I have a slight personal preference for McAfee, which we've been using at work for many years with no virus breakouts in a population of several hundred PCs, but I expect Norton does an equally good job.

[Dil Bert]

Each Mac and Windows system needs a firewall and antivirus software; you can mix and match or get them both from the same vendor.  There are free as well as paid options.  And since this is BW,  maybe I should say that installing pirated versions of these or any other software can open your computer up to hackers.

If you're running Windows, you can get both free from MS: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/ for antivirus; the firewall is already on the computer in the Control Panel; you may have to turn it on.

If you're using OS X, the firewall comes with it: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1810  I'm using Norton for the antivirus.

Once a week or so it's a good idea to backup your computer, download the latest updates (including antivirus updates) and then let your computer run a virus scan overnight.  You may want to disconnect your computer from the Ethernet/turn off wireless while doing so.

[Darshana]

Thanks so much!!  Let me see if this advice solves my problems.  I have 3 computers and before posting I had just paid for a McAfee renewal which says I can install it in 3 places, then another one said I had to renew Norton.  So I'll see if this works.

Another question - Mcafee asks me how often I want my computer scanned - but it never lets me choose the TIME - so then it starts scanning when I am doing something else, and interferes with what I am doing.

From your answers I get one idea of how to stop this, which is to run it manually, but is there another way to tell it to do it at 5 am or something? 

[MrB]

Setting the scan time for McAfee depends on which version you have. The section starting on page 29 of this guide should be applicable - setting the scan time appears on page 31.