intelliGEORGE

I agree, with the lack of security from Microsoft's end no wonder IE is a platform for phishing and spy/malware. I left IE ages ago ever since I have been on Firefox I have never had a problem since, not once. Except the bastards at MS make certain resources available only via IE.

As for Nortons, programs like that IMHO are way to intrusive to basic PC users, as the "basic user" will need to know regedit.exe to undo or remove the bloody thing.

best4less

I honestly feel that Nortons is worse than any virus or trojan ever made.

__________________
Please wipe your feet before walking all over me

Studio1

True, FF is not a complete solution, but it often flies in front when IE fails to get off the runway.
There is no one "ultimate" anti-virus program either, they all have their strengths and weaknesses.

When you think about it, Windows itself is not a "complete" solution. It's only ever 90% effective.

I have friends and associates who have those banana computers... hmmm .. lemons? oranges? err well one of the fruits anyway and they swear by them - claiming that they don't get viruses, that everything comes with the machine - you don't need to go and buy anything extra like wireless cards, add-on modules etc and that they run every piece of software without issue.

I had a play with a notebook version once, but although I found it reasonably intuitive and was able to send some attachments with an email in under five minutes without ever having used one before, I just wasn't convinced.
It just didn't rock my world!

Studio1

Just last week I was at a friend's place and she said "Can you take a look at my neighbour's laptop? It won't go properly"... LOL
The offending machine arrived and I powered it up. Within a few seconds I was greeted by pop-ups, weird behaviour - things opening and shutting and a mouse pointer that was so sluggish it would hardly move.

My first observation? It was running Vista

My second observation? Nortons

Anyway, I had no access to the interweb where I was, so I had to rely on an outdated version of NOD32 that I had on a memory stick. So, I plugged it in and attempted to load it.
It took me close on 3 hours to do just this - the machine was so poxed up with viruses and trojans that every attempt to do something was thwarted.

It took ages just to get the various malwares to cease their activities before I could even get NOD to install.
When I finally did get it in, it pinged off around 26 viruses and spyware apps without even prompting it to scan the drives.

That didn't take into account the dozen or so that I removed manually.

Nortons however had suggested the machine was running perfectly!

forbirun

haa That story sounds so familiar with notons..
Anyway just thought I'd mention a few things
Easiest steps for ppl to flollow
1st spyware: try this its good and its free Download free spyware removal and protection program - Spyware Terminator

And for internet explorer. the reg problem.. In the run box on the Start Menu, type in:. sfc /scannow. This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service
You will need the xp cd for this..

forbirun