How necessary are certain Norton "features"?

Question

Every time I try to open a Excel or Word file on my computer (a Dell desktop running Windows XP), Norton runs a virus scan on the file. This is driving me crazy because for my job, I must be opening and closing files constantly. Taking up to a full minute or more to scan a file before even thinking about opening it is becoming beyond just "inconvenient".

In the Norton control panel, "Auto-Protect" is turned on. When I click on the link to find out more information about what that is, I'm told one of the features is:

"Keeps your system safe at all times by checking for viruses every time that you use software programs on your computer, insert floppy disks or other removable media, and modify or access documents"

Is this even necessary? I was raised as a Mac user, and on my Mac, I wouldn't hesitate about turning this "feature" off. However, since I'm on a windows machine, I am hesitant to turn anything off. Is this level of protection really necessary?

Answer 1

Yes, the 'Check MS Office documents' feature is totally unnecessary. Turn off "MS Office" in the Norton options! MS Office has its own checking and there is absolutely no need to check documents which you yourself created! Don't turn off Autoprotect altogether, though.

Here is Microsoft's advice:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/329820

"When the Norton AntiVirus plug-in is disabled, the Norton AntiVirus Office plug-in does not scan documents when you open the documents. Even if the Norton AntiVirus Office plug-in is disabled, the Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect feature still provides on-going protection by scanning any file that you run, download, open, create, or delete.

To disable the Norton AntiVirus Office plug-in, use one of the following methods, depending on the version of Norton AntiVirus that is installed on your computer.
Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Norton AntiVirus 2004, Norton SystemWorks 2004, Norton AntiVirus 2003, Norton SystemWorks 2003, Norton AntiVirus 2002 or Norton SystemWorks 2002 is installed:

Disable the Norton AntiVirus Office plug-in.
To do this, follow these steps. Norton AntiVirus 2002 is used as an example. (Warning This workaround may make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.)

** NOTE that I disagree with MS about the level of risk but they have to say this to keep Norton sweet! If you set your Office applications to always ask before allowing VB Scripts to run, you have a similar level of security, especially if you never receive Office documents from outside sources!

1.Start Norton AntiVirus. To do this, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Norton AntiVirus, and then click Norton AntiVirus 2002.

Note If you installed Norton AntiVirus as part of the Norton SystemWorks 2002 program, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Norton SystemWorks, point to Norton AntiVirus, and then click Norton AntiVirus 2002.

2.Click Options.

NoteIn Norton SystemWorks 2002, click Options, and then click Norton Antivirus.

3. Under Other, click Miscellaneous.

4. Under How to keep Microsoft Office documents protected, click to clear the Enable Office Plug-in check box, and then click OK.

5. Restart the computer."

Norton is a very memory hungry application in its later versions (after 2003). Obviously, since it's a work PC, you can't do much about that apart from recommending that your company change to using McAfee!

Make sure that your PC receives regular updates to Norton. It is almost worse than having no anti-virus at all to have anti-virus that is not updated, since it gives one a false sense of security!

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

I got rid of Norton because of its' functionality, resource hogging, and some other reasons with Symantec itself. I now use the AVG Antivirus and it's free to download at http://www.download.com

Regarding Norton, if you are comfortable about where you are surfing and where you are getting some files from, I would turn the Auto Protect off. It drove me crazy also.

Another option would be to turn it off when you are working with your own files and then turn it back on when you are headed for the internet. (I know...another pain in the butt to do this all the time.)

I can't remember all the options in Norton, but there may be a way to turn off only some of the functions. Try looking for things like "tools" or "options".

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I would not keep it off all the time but it is not necessary, like you say for your job you are always opening files, you could turn it off, but if you could run a full system scan at the end of our day that would be a good thing to do

Answer 5

The alphabet wasn't created specifically for the English language.