Norton Internet Security Online For Free (If you are an ATT/Yahoo Customer)

[Jason]

I do a lot of PC work for friends, and friends of friends unfortunatly... (I know, I need to get me a t-shirt that says "I will not fix your computer".)

But anyhow, most of them have the ATT/Yahoo DSL. Sadly though they have no AV/Spyware protection on their PC (which is the usual problem with their computer and why I'm fixing their PC in the first place)...

If you go to the AT&T Yahoo! Software Center and login using their email account info, you can install several products free.

One of the products is "Norton Internet Security Online", which is basically NIS minus the phishing protection (as far as I can tell). There is no expiration (as far as I can tell), and it is version 2007. I think you can install up to like half a dozen copies per account (so all PCs in a home would be protected).

I know many people don't like Norton... but free is free, and it's still a quality program.

I'm sure comcast and other ISPs have similar offerings. So if you ever do some freelance computer work for someone, check with their ISP to see what AV software they let you download and install for free. Anything is better than nothing, especially for novice users that like to click any link they see...

[MrObvious]

I don't like Norton because it is crap. I think a better option is to use Avira or Spyware Terminator and a nice software firewall (not ZA PLEASE!!!) like Comodo, Kerio, or OA.

[Josie Wales]

Comcast offers the McAfee Security Suite for free to Comcast subscribers. It includes a firewall, AV/AS, a file shredder, and other features. As Jason said "Anything is better than nothing, especially for novice users that like to click any link they see... "

[MrObvious]

Yeah but if you can give them good software it is worth it.

[dygital]

I wouldn't recommend Norton for anyone even if they paid people to use their resource-hogging software.

I'll stick with what works, what is effective and what is free. Norton has one of the slowest response times to outbreaks in the wild, which is only going to get worse.

AVG is decent, albeit some recent performance issues.
Avast! is great, albeit some e-mail connectivity concerns.
Avira is the best, albeit the promotional upgrade pop-up. (Of which, can be blocked in Windows Vista, by using native security controls.)
McAfee Security Suite is mediocre, albeit some performance and detection concerns. (Referring to the one that AOL gives to free for all AOL/AIM users.)
Norton is junk, but if someone likes blinking lights and 15+ processes scanning your activity excessively; then it's ok.

[MrObvious]

Avira > all for free, NOD32 > all for paid. /thread

I just use ST because of the spyware scanner.

[Jason]

My favorite "pay" software would be Kaspersky Internet Security. Though I haven't used v7 yet, but I can only assume it is better than v6 going from their track record.

[IceDragon]

I would't even install Norton if they paid me.