Norton not for XP any more.....

[lordkenmore]

Actually, it seems to me that web browsers have pretty much been more or less the same for quite some time. I took advantage of this about 10 years ago when I first acquired my own Internet service. At the time, I was running a 1994 Macintosh. It was over 10 years old, and so it was too old for practical Internet use. Getting a newer Mac was one option. But it cost $$$$, and my old Mac still met all but Internet needs 100%. So I ended up getting a cheap, used PC running Linux, figuring that the cross platform web browsers (e.g. Firefox) were pretty much the same no matter where one went.

My approach worked well for several years, although eventually I ended up with one computer system that does everything I do on a daily basis. There are things I miss about even the System 7.5 era Mac, but it's a lot easier having everything on one system.

 

[mich]

To the OP -

Norton Security | Award-Winning Antivirus & Security Software

Get all the features of Norton Security and more in Norton 360. Or try Norton 360 with LifeLock that combines device security, online privacy and identity theft protection into an all-in-one plan.

us.norton.com

 

I just checked the Symantec home page, and clicked on "Norton Security" which seems to be there current offerings for Antivirus. 

 

Looking at the supported Operating Systems list... it looks like your good. 

 

<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Operating Systems Supported</strong>

<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 9.5px; padding-left: 16px; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 10px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Microsoft<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10.5px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em;">®</span> Windows<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10.5px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em;">®</span> XP (32-bit) Home/Professional/Tablet PC/Media Center (32-bit) with Service Pack 3 (SP 3) or later</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 10px; line-height: 20px;">Microsoft Windows Vista<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10.5px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em;">®</span> (32-bit and 64-bit) Starter/Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Ultimate with Service Pack 1 (SP 1) or later</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 10px; line-height: 20px;">Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) Starter/Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Ultimate with Service Pack 1 (SP 1) or later</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 10px; line-height: 20px;">Microsoft Windows 8/8 Pro (32-bit and 64-bit)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 10px; line-height: 20px;">Microsoft Windows 8.1/8.1 Pro (32-bit and 64-bit)</li>
</ul>

 

[chachp]

Looks like we've come full circle!

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Just sayin'  </span>

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Thank you. I'd not heard of ESET NOD. I'll have to check it out.

My computing demands are not high, but I've found Linux to be an excellent alternative.

I've heard/been told/read the following tactics are generally helpful, not that they make your computer any safer, but that they make you a less easy target or require more "work' on the part of any hacker/hacking program/malware, etc.

1. Use Linux
2. Use Opera browser 12.16 (12.17 on Linux) because it is the last using their own Presto software and is not a google clone. Whatever the browser: disable third party cookies, allow per-session cookies only, and set the browser to clear all cookies on exit.
3. Passwords in a less common language. Use a mix of symbols, numbers, and caps as well. e.g if you're Estonian and hubby's b'day is 6/1 make your password " #Sixth!of?JUnE* " with the words in Estonian.
4. If you get an email from your bank (or anyone) where you have an account and a 'problem' is reported, close the window and manually type in that bank's web address and check for messages. if it's real, a message will be waiting for you.
5. Don't store user names or passwords on your computer.

Comments on the efficacy of any of these?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[mich]

Phishing...

I receive emails, all the time... asking me to update my Banking Information at Wells Fargo. Biggest problem is, I don't nor ever have had a account with them.

What, I'm talking about is Phishing. It's a way Spammers make money. They simply send out hundreds of thousands of emails out at once, with the biggest names in banking knowing they'll snag a few in the bunch.

By logging in directly to your Online Banking, instead of clicking links in e-Mails you can protect yourself from having your identity stolen.

Here's just one example of a Phishing Email.

Pro Tip - Look for <span style="text-decoration: underline;">misspellings, and poor grammar.</span> Along with very poor references such as "Dear Customer" instead of your name. Or Urgency in the email as any real bank would send out correspondence in the mail, or call you if there was a true account issue. 

 

Also - Look for the Padlock, or Green Security Seal as you log in. This means the information your entering is secure, and encrypted. If it's not there, look in the address bar, and make sure your at the real site, and not some look a like. 

 

 

 

[mich]

Password Wise.

The Best, and hardest passwords to crack are ones with lots of number & letters, with no words or phrases.

 

Passwords with your Pets Name, Anniversary, Birth Year, Wedding Date, or Phone Number can all be easily guessed and cracked by someone who knows you. 

 

Passwords like this...

 

WZ3hehYL

KS8RBhb9

7mAe5NDP

zsqf2fKg

Lhd3mKSH

 

Are very hard to crack. Even with automated click and run tools designed to crack them. Add in some "Special Characters" like  "   ! @ $ # ^     " and you've got a wonderful thing. 

 

Last but not least, the biggest problem with passwords, is password reuse. Consumers using the same password left and right for everything. Because guess what happens, if one of your passwords get stolen? All your digital barriers are gone, and they've got free reign over your life. 

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Good Point!!!

I meant to add that but forgot completely.

Many bogus letters are sent by people for whom English is not their first language and the mistakes in grammar have a "flavor" that is quite different from that of an uneducated native speaker.

Look for:

-Overly long sentences that are not rambling the way a native speaker would.
-A strange mix of very formal and very informal word choice.
-Spelling or usage that randomly switches between British and American.
-Errors in prepositions, especially errors like "in" when one must say "into" to make the sentence clear.

Another clue is use of machine translations. These have their own strange flavor.

Look for:

-Very stiff language throughout.
-Incorrect verb tenses.
-Pronoun usage that is vague. I.e. "it" or "that" without saying what "it" or "that" refers to.

Think 'Nigerian Lottery' e-mails and you have the idea.

To elaborate on what Mich said, no legit company would ever ask you to 'verify' anything... ever. Also, any kind of wording that conveys a sense of urgency without specifically stating the reason should be a major red flag.

Jim

 

[washer111]

I'm running Flashblock, and on a daily basis visit websites that require it.

It isn't invasive to the browsing experience, and it at least gives me the option of NOT loading videos and wasting bandwidth, when all I want is to check comments on them (since that sort of thing spikes my curiosity).

On Mac Safari, I run ClicktoPlugin, which works essentially the same. And it works as a Free Video downloader too, via right clicking on the flash video in question. The apps original intension was to save battery life on machines being used on the road, connected to the internet.

As for the screensnaps of sites you visited:
- Would never put anything in that was asking for that information. EVER. If you sign onto Netbank here, they ask for a user number and your password. Maybe they send a text if you use a verification process.
- Needing your PIN, CVV and CC numbers is absolutely unnecessary, and the latter two are only needed for online transactions, if you make them.

Funnily enough, a week ago I had an email from American Express, asking for information/verification of my card...
Trouble is - I DON'T have A-Mex. I wonder if they know this, or if there are people silly enough to think they do....

 

[mich]

Keep in mind...

In those screencaps you're not clicking some weird link in an email. You're typing in the web address or using the same bookmark, you always have used to logon. 

 

That's the key part. There's really not anything suspicious or off about it. Your doing what you've always done... and suddenly they just ask for a little more information. You *can't* login without it... so, there you have it. Most people really don't think anything of it.

 

It's my Bank, I trust them. I think is the mindset. Besides, the pages don't look anything out of the ordinary. Honestly, if I didn't know any better, I'd provide the information. It's just that good. Period. 

 

Americans in General, really need to be more cautious. If we didn't open eMail attachments, and spend so many hours playing farmville on Facebook, viruses like this probably wouldn't have so much of a chance to get us. 

 

 

 

 

[perc-o-prince]

Thanks to all. Ralph- I did read that blurb from Symantec but took a closer look when you posted it. It looks like this line is the one that saves me:

"We will provide virus definition updates for 3 years after the release of each major product version"

So, if I buy XYZ 2013 or 2014, it'll update.

Michael, thanks for the OS list that the Symantec website gives. I was going by the Staples description, and they don't include XP at all on that. I'll have to double check the desktop to see if I have SP3. If not, at least I know I can renew 360 through Norton and it'll work on both computers.

Chuck

 

[andic29]

We use the ESET Security Suite for all of our devices and we love it. We do a lot of gaming and we never even notice it running in the background. It doesn't bog our systems down the way Norton did.

 

[andic29]

Off topic...

@dadoes... my 4 yr old has been watching your calypso on youtube for 3 days now, it's driving us crazy but he loves it!