tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78848357918649662392024-03-12T22:38:53.146-03:00Symantec SucksThis blog contains my personal opinions and observations regarding Symantec's Norton-branded products, including Norton Internet Security 2007 (and now NIS 2008 too).
All trademarks are property of their registered owners. These trademarks are used herein to refer to those specific companies and/or products.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-84565568416945815382011-06-19T16:32:00.002-03:002011-06-19T16:32:28.449-03:00Still number one.<a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Symantec+Sucks">http://www.google.com/search?q=Symantec+Sucks</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-28031178680975968372010-11-25T21:50:00.000-04:002010-11-25T21:50:09.398-04:00I find this amusing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/TO8SIoZJAtI/AAAAAAAACAE/reXLHppOa7Y/s1600/Norton+Likes+Me.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/TO8SIoZJAtI/AAAAAAAACAE/reXLHppOa7Y/s400/Norton+Likes+Me.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-35077409027979814862010-11-06T13:36:00.002-03:002010-11-25T21:34:09.215-04:00I just uninstalled AVG 9.0 FREE from my primary desktop PCI really like AVG. Very good and reliable software. Virtually nothing to complain about. But I'm going to try <b>MS Security Essentials</b> on my primary desktop PC.<br />
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I have to mention that when I uninstalled AVG, I then ran CCleaner to make sure that AVG had uninstalled cleanly. It had. Not a single Registry error found. Not one.<br />
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This compares to Norton Removal Tool (NRT) that <a href="http://symantec-sucks.blogspot.com/2008/10/symantec-removed-from-laptop.html">left 88 errors</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-82036044630930311252009-09-29T18:08:00.003-03:002010-09-14T22:25:45.456-03:00The Symantec OS - LOL...No, just kidding. It's the way around. <br />
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Microsoft has announced a complete security suite.<br />
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Free. Free is good. Why pay money for a three license pack when one could have a free license pack.<br />
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CBC News <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/09/29/tech-computer-windows-antivirus.html">http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/09/29/tech-computer-windows-antivirus.html </a><br />
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Security Essentials <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/">http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/</a><br />
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It remains to be seen if MS-Security Essentials will be as trouble-free as I have found AVG to be.<br />
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Update 2010 - yeah. It's slick and trouble-free. And free as in beer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-88091451072904012132009-07-18T00:39:00.003-03:002009-07-18T00:47:50.498-03:00Important news... ...BORING IS GOOD...<span style="font-weight: bold;">Nothing</span> has happened.<br /><br />AVG (the free version) is just working along perfectly fine.<br /><br /><br />It's working fine on the old XP desktop.<br /><br />It's working fine on the new Vista desktop.<br /><br />And it's working fine on the Vista laptop.<br /><br /><br />Having Norton Internet Security (2007 and 2008) was like living in a war zone. Having AVG (current free version) installed is, in comparison, like a warm tropical beach with a cool drink.<br /><br /><br />PS: While typing this post, I just updated AVG. Including some sort of program update. It was totally transparent and I note with some amusement that I'm not rebooting right now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-19018047145290794362009-03-20T09:38:00.004-03:002009-03-20T09:53:00.953-03:00Report:: Credit cards leaked to black market<span style="font-weight: bold;">REPORT:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Symantec renewal customers - credit card details end up on black market.</span> ...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Three of the victims of the scam had bought software renewals from a call centre which handles Symantec software licences.</span> ...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/20/call_centre_credit_card_fraud/">http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/20/call_centre_credit_card_fraud/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7953401.stm">h</a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7953401.stm">ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7953401.stm</a><br /><br />I'd put this embarrassing corporate misadventure into the <span style="font-style: italic;">Karmic-Balance</span> category. LOL.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">By the way, AVG's free edition is still working just fine so far as I can see. I haven't been forced to spend much time on it; it just works quietly and with <span style="font-weight: bold;">zero</span> fuss.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-78194902186386125942009-03-13T11:05:00.002-03:002009-03-13T11:19:13.298-03:00Symantec deletes reasonable PIFTS questionsI couldn't let this pass.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The appearance of a file in a non-existent folder suggests rootkit-like behaviour. PIFTS.exe attempts to contact a server in Africa, which has been traced to Symantec.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/10/norton_pifts_mystery/">ht</a><a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/10/norton_pifts_mystery/">tp://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/10/norton_pifts_mystery/</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" name="intelliTxt" id="intelliTXT">These conspiracy theories were further fanned by Norton's decision to delete threads on its forums related to the update. ... Symantec claims it wasn't censoring posts, but rather fighting off a spam attack. "<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Within minutes, several dozen user accounts were created commenting on the initial thread, and/or creating new threads on the topic,</span>" the company says in a statement. "<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Over the next few hours, over 200 user accounts were created. Within the first hour there were 600 new posts on this subject alone.</span>"</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/249314/symantec-apologises-for-patch-havoc.html">http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/249314/symantec-apologises-for-patch-havoc.html</a><br /><br /><br />Well duh. You make a major, multi-layer, screw-up like that, then fail to explain yourself promptly, and then you're surprised and shocked that your customer base reacted with dozens or even hundreds of perfectly-reasonable questions?<br /><br />What - are you really that stupid?<br /><br />(Yes.)<br /><br />Please - get a brain and have it installed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-75040185004248101912009-02-10T14:00:00.004-04:002009-12-04T02:22:15.717-04:00Worth mentioning - just for amusement's sake<em>Auntie-virus firm Kaspersky Labs has had its US website violated by an anonymous hacker who claims to have gained access to the company's customer database.</em><br />
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See the full story <a href="http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/901/1050901/kaspersky-hacked">here</a>.<br />
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Perhaps this amusing story will put the Symantec Fan-boy (of previous post fame, now going by the handle "OkiNava") in a happy mood.<br />
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<span style="font-size:78%;">Oh. Wait. Noooo... Do you you think? No way!! You don't suppose...?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-81354356350171040632008-11-30T18:52:00.002-04:002008-11-30T19:04:25.879-04:00This blog is more-or-less dormantThis blog is pretty much dormant because I have (several months ago) removed all Symantec products from: 1) my old XP desktop, 2) from my Vista laptop, and 3) from my newer Vista desktop. Therefore I have nothing more to observe and report about Symantec products.<br /><br />I have installed the free version of AVG on all three PCs and it is very much trouble-free and efficient. All three PCs are percolating along nicely. My frustration level is dramatically reduced.<br /><br />I cannot comment on NIS 2009 because I've never seen it. I have seen some reports that it is better than the previous editions (well, duh, it couldn't possibly be worse!). But I'm not going to try it, not even if it were provided for free (why waste my time?).<br /><br />If NIS 2009 (or later) comes as a free trial with your PC, then you might as well give it a fair shot. But if you start seeing the same old errors, don't be scared to try a freeware AV solution (such as AVG or others).<br /><br />Good luck everyone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-10595891051283072622008-11-30T18:22:00.004-04:002009-01-11T11:35:14.649-04:00Comment moderation enabledSome Symantec <a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://symantec-suckssucks.blogspot.com/">fanboy</a> has started taking issue with this blog. That's fine, but he is making accusations that are simply not true.<br /><br />1) I am nothing more than a <span style="font-weight: bold;">former</span> customer of Symantec. No, I've never worked for them.<br /><br />2) My comments are about <span style="font-weight: bold;">NIS 2007</span> and (recently) a bit on <span style="font-weight: bold;">NIS 2008</span> (thoughtfully provided as a free update to the long-suffering NIS 2007 customers).<br /><br />I'm <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> reviewing NIS 2009. I've never seen it. After my experiences, I certainly <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> buying it (LOL!). I don't think I'd even take it for free at this point. For anyone looking for details about NIS 2009 and how much improved it might be, they will have to look elsewhere.<br /><br />3) NIS 2008 updates took forever - just like NIS 2007. The only thing that I'd noticed is that they had hidden the details. Perhaps they've fixed this long-standing, glaring error since I've removed it from my systems.<br /><br /><br />For those interested in the full story, then start at the bottom of this blog.<br /><br />[BTW - That's about 110 posts 'south' of here... (LOL).]<br /><br />This blog is based mostly on <span style="font-weight: bold;">cut-and-paste screen capture images of Symantec mistakes</span>. There is <span style="font-weight: bold;">no arguing</span> with plain and simple facts like those documented in this blog! Dumb errors are dumb errors. Lack of QA is lack of QA. <span style="font-weight: bold;">[Suck it up 'Sunshine'.]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">There's nothing to argue about.</span><br /></span><br /><br />When I started this blog, there was no question that Symantec Sucked Big Time (at that time). If Symentec sucks somewhat less now, then perhaps I'm entitled to some of the credit for spuring their improvements. If so, then "You're welcome."<br /><br />And I note with interest that I haven't been tempted in the slightest to start complaining about AVG. It is not only 'Free', but also virtually trouble-free.<br /><br />PS: This blog is more-or-less dormant.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-52622378940644643442008-10-10T10:38:00.005-03:002008-12-13T21:35:28.854-04:00AVG updates are Lightning Fast compared to NISI notice that AVG can update the virus database in about the same time that it takes Symantec Norton Internet Security simply to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">check</span> for updates (but not download them).<br /><br />When Symantec NIS <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">[2007/2008, in case you've not been following along...]</span> checks for updates, it downloads dozens and dozens of little files (46 individual files at last count). Each file is small, but each download takes some back-and-forth latency. It all adds up so that it can take roughly a minute to simply check for updates. Which is inexcusable.<br /><br />AVG checks for updates using a much more intelligent algorithm. It takes almost no time at all. And even when there are updates, they tend to be fairly small (most have been well under 1 MB). I've seen AVG update the database in less than a minute, which is comparable to the time it takes Symantec just to CHECK for updates.<br /><br /><br />One of the problems in many software companies is that the programmers demand and receive very high-end computers and ultra-fast connections to the Internet. It would be better, as a corporate QA decision, to mandate that all programmers must use a trailing edge computer and a dial-up access to the Internet to try out their software at least a few times per week. It would help to reveal to them how out-of-touch they are with the real world.<br /><br />My PCs are not all trailing edge (one is), but I can see how crappy their algorithms are even with decent PC hardware.<br /><br />Basically what I'm pointing out is that it would help if management applied some intelligence to the overall process of creating software instead of letting things run on autopilot. When we pay for software, we're paying for some intelligently-designed product. Use your head.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-36866259522792799062008-10-06T21:29:00.003-03:002008-12-13T21:34:14.331-04:00Symantec-free zoneThis blog may go more-or-less dormant now this household has finally achieved Symantec-free status.<br /><br />The free version of AVG seems to be fine.<br /><br />I hope that this blog has been a valuable exercise for all concerned. I certainly allowed me to vent my spleen about the extremely poor QA of Symantec software - which may have peaked with NIS 07 (the "<span style="font-style: italic;">Windows ME</span>" of antivirus software).<br /><br />It has to be admitted that NIS 08 is marginally better than NIS 07, but some of that was simply window-dressing such as hiding the 46-file progress dialog. But it was a nice gesture to allow the long-suffering NIS 07 users to have a free update to NIS 08.<br /><br />But there is still much that can be improved.<br /><br /><br />Thanks very much for tagging along.<br /><br />Later folks.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">PS (13 Dec 2008):<br /><br />Dung4Brains wrote: <span style="font-style: italic;">"...there isn't a single post on this blog with any constructive criticism."</span><br /><br />When things are as bad as NIS 2007/2008, then <span style="font-weight: bold;">any</span> criticism is constructive.<br /><br />It has been very obvious that some Symantec folks have been monitoring and reacting to this blog. It's been to their benefit. Many of the software problems first identified here have now reportedly been 'fixed' (or at least hidden). Sometimes the timing has been hilarious, like when they apparently disabled the cut/copy features from the 46-file LU progress window.<br /><br />Imagine how much money they've spent on their various ineffective quality assurance processes. For all the good it did them. It wasn't until I started this blog that they're paid any attention to some of these long-standing issues. They should send me a damn paycheck for all the work I've done for them. I've done better QA inspection on their software than their own people.<br /><br />Hey Symantec: <span style="font-weight: bold;">You're welcome.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-65425866864112197472008-10-06T21:14:00.005-03:002010-11-06T13:40:10.441-03:00Symantec removed from laptopWell, end of an era. Good bye Norton aka Symantec.<br />
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Last evening I removed NIS 08 from the laptop. That's the last of the three PCs around here.<br />
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Something of amusing interest was noted during this process.<br />
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I had downloaded the Norton Removal Tool (NRT) and the latest version of AVG. I then took the precaution of rebooting, was disconnected from the Internet, and then ran NRT. It uninstalled all the Symantec rubbish fine so far as I can see.<br />
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(But I haven't run a Registry Checker, such as CCleaner, to see if it cleaned up properly. Last time, on my XP desktop, <u><b style="color: red;">NRT left 88 items of junk</b></u> that needed to be cleaned up.)<br />
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Anyway - I then rebooted to have a clean start and installed AVG (which also went smoothly).<br />
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Amusingly, AVG identified 5 "infections" when it ran the first scan (see screen capture below).<br />
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[Note - I intentionally used the word "infections" in quotes because I knew at the time that these five files were probably not active in any way. But still, why would Symantec leave them hanging around? Do these files have any positive benefit for humanity? Delete, or quarantine, the friggen things...]<br />
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This after the laptop having been protected by NIS 08 for all this time. Makes one wonder...<br />
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By the way, it is nice how fast AVG is able to check for updates. Their update algorithm appears to be about 30 times faster than Symantec's patented 46-file method.<br />
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Five "infections" found by AVG (missed by NIS 08?):<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SOqsDE0Mr_I/AAAAAAAABTo/p-uGKG17EtI/s1600-h/FiveFound.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254201084113367026" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SOqsDE0Mr_I/AAAAAAAABTo/p-uGKG17EtI/s400/FiveFound.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-2837599554704165042008-10-02T12:11:00.003-03:002008-10-02T12:18:13.556-03:00Two down, one to go...I've removed NIS from my new desktop. It was already gone from the old desktop as previously reported.<br /><br />It used to be that when the Symantec Subscription expired, it was just the signature updates that were no longer available. Now the entire second tab of the program is disabled. This appears to block access to many of the program functions. So, no question - time to remove it.<br /><br />I ran the Norton Removal Tool and rebooted. It appears to be gone, gone, gone. I reenabled the Windows Firewall and Defender.<br /><br /><br />I note with some amusement that the 'Memory Used' desktop gadget indication has dropped from about 45% to about 34% of the 2GB or RAM. This is with nothing running.<br /><br /><br />Next up - the laptop.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-39159340224427290452008-09-19T18:04:00.002-03:002008-09-19T18:16:16.367-03:00Now this is funny...I attended a public lecture last evening. It was the sort of lecture held in a very large university auditorium (several hundreds of people attended). The guest speaker used his laptop connected to a large projector aimed at a huge screen (more than 30-foot diagonal).<br /><br />Right in the middle of his PowerPoint presentation, which was extremely well done, a Symantec warning message flashed up. "<span style="font-style: italic;">Blah blah blah... run time blah blah blah... allow or not?</span>" It covered about half the screen.<br /><br />Hint to Symantec:<br /><br />Unless it is <span style="font-family: courier new;">The End Of The World As We Know It</span> , if MS-PowerPoint is running, and if the Video Output is turned on, then perhaps now is not a good time for error messages and warnings. Please consider disabling them until the show is over.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-66065383172571582192008-09-04T18:42:00.003-03:002008-09-04T18:51:10.959-03:00New 'annoying feature' report<div>NIS 08 on my Vista desktop PC.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm on another user's account and browsing around the C: drive seraching for where-in-the-flipping-hell Google squirreled away the Google Chrome browser executable. I thought they would have put it in plain sight. I just wanted to put a short-cut so that the other user could use it. But Google didn't make it that simple. I guess each user must install their own copy.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the course of searching, I opened a folder (later determined to be the MS-MRT program folder). Being on another account, I had to enter the Admin password to gain access to the file.</div><div><br /></div><div>On my...</div><div><br /></div><div>The system locked up while a very long green bar slowly scrolled across the address bar. The green bar slowed perceptibly as it neared the end. It took forever.</div><div><br /></div><div>I suspect that NIS 08, having seen that the MRT folder was unlocked, jumped in to run a virus scan. And made me wait and wait, in spite of having already tried to move the focus to another folder.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not positive this is Symantec's handiwork, but it has all the hallmarks.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-17663169276162849342008-09-02T18:35:00.004-03:002008-09-02T18:42:51.951-03:00Still crazy after all these years...The NIS subscription is down to the last 30 days and NIS 08 is going into full panic mode. Although everything is 'Secure', the silly NIS 08 software is displaying all sorts of orange exclamation marks (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;" >!</span>) warning of dire consequences. The thing is, these financially driven warnings obscure the true security status (which is fine, all secure). They should have used a green dollar sign (<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">$</span></span>) to make the distinction more clear.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SL2xvDg9PFI/AAAAAAAAA6k/kC09JRi0TDU/s1600-h/OhMyGawd2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SL2xvDg9PFI/AAAAAAAAA6k/kC09JRi0TDU/s400/OhMyGawd2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241540963284630610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SL2xvJqngBI/AAAAAAAAA6c/79agikXU12A/s1600-h/OhMyGawd1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SL2xvJqngBI/AAAAAAAAA6c/79agikXU12A/s400/OhMyGawd1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241540964935761938" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-69206556911422828652008-08-19T19:18:00.001-03:002008-08-19T19:22:11.175-03:00Cute... #7777I just stopped by to check my blog...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SKtG4IBuijI/AAAAAAAAA5M/88ZaB1WFsiA/s1600-h/SS7777.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SKtG4IBuijI/AAAAAAAAA5M/88ZaB1WFsiA/s400/SS7777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236356921789680178" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-25088974074046857352008-08-16T22:36:00.002-03:002008-08-16T22:45:50.041-03:00Remember when I tried to count the issues?The previous post was #100 (as was pointed out by Fred).<br /><br />This just reminded me of the early days of this blog (waaay back then, all of about ten months ago), when I actually tried to count the problems. I think I gave up counting at 'Issue 19'.<br /><br />Nobody has ever explained to me how commercial software could be released with so many of such obvious problems. I know that Symantec is not alone in this regard, but they're certainly one of the clearest examples.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-65672566759549823632008-08-16T10:57:00.004-03:002008-08-16T22:50:39.367-03:00Clicky-clicky no worky-worky(Update 1: 100th post!)<br /><br />Just when I thought things had calmed down a bit. I guess I'll have to reboot the new Vista desktop PC with the '<span style="font-style: italic;">New-And-Improved</span>' NIS 08 to see if I can wake up the Symantec user interface.<br /><br />Update 2: By the way - this is the <a href="http://symantec-sucks.blogspot.com/2008/01/nis07-refuses-to-open.html">same problem as before</a> with NIS 07 and on a different computer. Common element? Symantec of course. I guess NIS 08 isn't all that different from NIS 07 - smells like some crappy code reuse (just a guess).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SKbc_G8f0qI/AAAAAAAAA44/W4AC3AwFjig/s1600-h/Clicky-Clicky-No-Worky-Worky.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SKbc_G8f0qI/AAAAAAAAA44/W4AC3AwFjig/s400/Clicky-Clicky-No-Worky-Worky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235114593619006114" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-18206328425680002612008-07-22T08:31:00.000-03:002008-07-22T08:33:47.628-03:00Commenting policy changeApparently this blog has caught the attention of Symantec. We are starting to see what are basically advertisements for NIS 09 Beta appear in the comment section. For that reason I am going to turn off anonymous commenting.<br /><br />Apologies in advance for any slight inconvenience that this may cause.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-88393569446391102582008-07-19T10:19:00.002-03:002008-07-19T10:30:49.776-03:00NIS 08 installed on Vista desktop PCWell - there is 50 minutes of my life that I'll never get back.<br /><br />The first download was 0.5 MB. Once I found the executable file (under Public/Downloads) and executed it, it downloaded another 68.35 MB. After the first restart, it was noted that NIS 08 was not up-to-date and required an immediate 'Run Live Update' and another restart.<br /><br />The grand totals are:<br />1) Almost an hour (skipping the recommended Full Scan)<br />2) Almost 70MB of downloading (not including the unknown LiveUpdate)<br />3) Two restarts<br /><br /><br />The long-standing issue of the world's most inefficient update process (downloading some 46 files to see if any downloads are required) has been addressed: they've hidden it.<br /><br />Now there is a simple three-step process. Each step still takes forever and the progress is completely hidden. There is an animation, but you have no idea if the update will take 2 minutes or 20 minutes. This is substandard.<br /><br />This new non-communicative LiveUpdate process also hides all of their can't-do-simple-math errors.<br /><br /><br />More later.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-30176411422085301372008-07-19T09:32:00.001-03:002008-11-13T03:31:50.420-04:00Step 1 goes badly...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SIHe1A3EJNI/AAAAAAAAA4k/VwG502OQcQ0/s1600-h/BadStart.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SIHe1A3EJNI/AAAAAAAAA4k/VwG502OQcQ0/s400/BadStart.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224702045071877330" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-39462583680478822872008-07-19T09:18:00.002-03:002008-07-19T09:20:35.213-03:00Support / Special / Upgrade2007The URL for the upgrade is interesting.<br /><br />It is filed under <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Support / Special / Upgrade2007</span>.<br /><br /><br />www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/support/special/upgrade2007...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884835791864966239.post-72540486550995099152008-07-19T09:02:00.004-03:002008-11-13T03:31:50.537-04:00Symantec blinks - free update from NIS07 to NIS08I've been a faithful user of Norton Anti-virus and their similar products for many years. I've never seen them offer a free update from one year's version to another. But it appears that they've decided that enough is enough with respect to the disaster that is NIS 07.<br /><br />They've just offered an update from NIS 07 to NIS 08.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you choose to download Norton Internet Security 2008, you will have the right to use this product until the expiration of your current subscription</span>...<br /><br />Well, that's fine. It aligns with my plans anyway...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SIHYX5KJldI/AAAAAAAAA4c/MWsEUPGrnDg/s1600-h/SymantecBlinks.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqLiIYV1FnA/SIHYX5KJldI/AAAAAAAAA4c/MWsEUPGrnDg/s400/SymantecBlinks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224694947718469074" border="0" /></a><br /><i></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0