This is an ethical question. Norton anti virus, set to ask permission before making changes, discovers a person is running a hacked version of XP, and locks out the system by removing the anti-piracy hack, without asking permission to make changes. Is this ethical? Is this legal?
Norton locks out pirated XP after finding hack
- Thread starter oilyriser
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Norton..........scoring points with Microsoft. (spoken to the tune of "makin' copies" ala SNL.)
Don't know about the "legal" part but if one is looking for a free operating system and free software, I recommend you look at Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Edubuntu, etc.
http://www.ubuntu.com/
I have an paid for Version of Windows XP Media edition on the same hard drive and can boot into either Kubuntu or Windows but spend most all of my computer time in Linux.
You can even buy desktop computers from Dell and others now that come with Linux installed.
The Microsoft update site could have also caught the crack and uninstalled it?
Why not buy it? There are several sites on the internet where a legal copy can be obtained at a reasonable price.
http://www.ubuntu.com/
I have an paid for Version of Windows XP Media edition on the same hard drive and can boot into either Kubuntu or Windows but spend most all of my computer time in Linux.
You can even buy desktop computers from Dell and others now that come with Linux installed.
The Microsoft update site could have also caught the crack and uninstalled it?
Why not buy it? There are several sites on the internet where a legal copy can be obtained at a reasonable price.
Well considering MS itself cannot identify a validly purchased copy, what are the chances anyone else can.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=142
I, of course, have a problem with any company who assumes I am a thief as a starting point.
Should you need to "validate" your copy of Windows, you of course can slip the install disks in. I alway carry a full compliment to install disks and licenses keys while on business travel....
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=142
I, of course, have a problem with any company who assumes I am a thief as a starting point.
Should you need to "validate" your copy of Windows, you of course can slip the install disks in. I alway carry a full compliment to install disks and licenses keys while on business travel....
My question would be then, Why Run garbage Norton
No and no.
Not sure if it is legal but it is no more unethical than running an unlicensed product.
I'll second the vote for Linux. There are so many great distributions... I also like (and run) Ubuntu on most of my machines. I don't even dual boot anymore. I strictly run Linux. I don't have to deal with malware, spyware, viruses, BSoD etc. It just runs for weeks on end and does everything I need it to do (which is quite a bit).
I'll second the vote for Linux. There are so many great distributions... I also like (and run) Ubuntu on most of my machines. I don't even dual boot anymore. I strictly run Linux. I don't have to deal with malware, spyware, viruses, BSoD etc. It just runs for weeks on end and does everything I need it to do (which is quite a bit).
Symantec is just an awful corporation. They *USED* to have good products some 7-8 years ago. The Live update program updates all related Symantec DLL's and stuff OFTEN. Are these files truly regression tested? Nope. Who tests the software...you guessed it, the general public! Norton A-V 2005 brought my old HP laptop to a crawl. Promptly removed the (to take a word from one of my BITOG brethren from Oz) rubbish. I was surprised to see that it actually removed itself properly. Many times in the past the Live Update or the NAV would refuse to uninstall properly. ick.
Now, they're playing software cop for Microsoft. When did MS ask for their assistance? I'm sure this 'feature' didn't just appear one day, it was developed with MS's knowledge.
I would say "Linux", but if the person is so unsavvy with computers, it may not be worth the headache of teaching them.
Solution: tell them they need to buy another Windows license, or buy another cheap computer that comes with one. Or buy a cheap 17" iMac.
One more reason not to use any Symantec product. It's such a shame that they are slowly but surely ruining the Veritas product line.
Now, they're playing software cop for Microsoft. When did MS ask for their assistance? I'm sure this 'feature' didn't just appear one day, it was developed with MS's knowledge.
I would say "Linux", but if the person is so unsavvy with computers, it may not be worth the headache of teaching them.
Solution: tell them they need to buy another Windows license, or buy another cheap computer that comes with one. Or buy a cheap 17" iMac.
One more reason not to use any Symantec product. It's such a shame that they are slowly but surely ruining the Veritas product line.
Unsavvy users make the best Linux candidates as long as they don't have to do the setup (which is getting pretty darn good with distro's like Ubuntu.
Take my parents. In their 70's doing everything on the computer (email, web, pics, bills, office (openoffice.org of course), banking etc.
Used to use Windows and I was over there twice a week minimum fixing some ---- Windows ----. I set them up on Ubuntu, gave them a quick tour of how to use. Spent the next two weeks going over their once a week for an hour to answer questions etc. They got the hang of it quickly and now I NEVER get calls. When I'm over there visiting I check things out make sure everything is working (always is) and updated. They are happier and I'm much happier.
Windows sucks bad. If Linux doesn't float your boat I would then consider Mac. All proprietary but works nicely and OSX is a charming piece of work. I have a Mac Mini and love that little sucker too but I still use Ubuntu 99.9% of the time. The Mac is a play toy (for me -- not saying that is all it is) and Windows is a waste of my time.
Take my parents. In their 70's doing everything on the computer (email, web, pics, bills, office (openoffice.org of course), banking etc.
Used to use Windows and I was over there twice a week minimum fixing some ---- Windows ----. I set them up on Ubuntu, gave them a quick tour of how to use. Spent the next two weeks going over their once a week for an hour to answer questions etc. They got the hang of it quickly and now I NEVER get calls. When I'm over there visiting I check things out make sure everything is working (always is) and updated. They are happier and I'm much happier.
Windows sucks bad. If Linux doesn't float your boat I would then consider Mac. All proprietary but works nicely and OSX is a charming piece of work. I have a Mac Mini and love that little sucker too but I still use Ubuntu 99.9% of the time. The Mac is a play toy (for me -- not saying that is all it is) and Windows is a waste of my time.
nothing norton makes is worth the cd its burned on.
ditch the norton and dont look back.
ditch the norton and dont look back.
^^ agreed.
Persoanlly Im not a fan of Linux either. I GUI interface was okay (FC6), but other than that, I wasn't really a fan of it.
Matt
Persoanlly Im not a fan of Linux either. I GUI interface was okay (FC6), but other than that, I wasn't really a fan of it.
Matt
We had a site license for both Norton and McAfee at work before I retired. Had no real issues with either.
If you are looking for a free anti-virus program, AVG is used by many folks.
Link To AVG
AVG supports many platforms including Windows XP, Vista, etc.
Comodo also offers a free anti-virus program but does not support Vista yet.
Link to Web Site
As I had previously mentioned, they have a free highly rated firewall too.
Another free anti-virus program that supports many platforms including Vista is Avast.
Link To Web Site
As I previously mentioned I run Linux just about all the time but do have Windows XP Media Edition that I run on occasion.
There are a lot of free options without trying to run a pirated version of commercial software.
If you are looking for a free anti-virus program, AVG is used by many folks.
Link To AVG
AVG supports many platforms including Windows XP, Vista, etc.
Comodo also offers a free anti-virus program but does not support Vista yet.
Link to Web Site
As I had previously mentioned, they have a free highly rated firewall too.
Another free anti-virus program that supports many platforms including Vista is Avast.
Link To Web Site
As I previously mentioned I run Linux just about all the time but do have Windows XP Media Edition that I run on occasion.
There are a lot of free options without trying to run a pirated version of commercial software.
The Norton was fully paid for, yet it acted like a spy on its customer, then delivered punishemnt without a trial.
Nothing wrong with Norton AntiVirus Corporate edition, it hums along quietly in the background
It would be neat to try a hacked illegal copy of Norton on a good XP system, to see if there's a reciprocal finking arrangement between the two companies.
I have cleaned computers for people that used Norton and Mcafee. Both programs miss a lot of trojans, viruses etc. Once I tried FREE AVG I never looked back. Much, much better than either Norton or Mcafee. AVG uses very little system resources so it doesn't slow your computer down. It works GREAT and IT"S FREE! I would never put Norton on any computer, it's garbage.
If you can't get XP working again on that computer then Linux is a good choice. I tried Knoppix a while ago and it worked great. It recognized all my hardware and I had no problems at all. Open office for Linux works great and files can be saved in Excel and MS Word format for portability to other users. You can surf the internet, do email and mostly anything you want with Linux now. Otherwise you will need to fork over about $150 or more to Microsnot for Vista or XP. Do you really want to do that? You're better off buying a new computer with Vista or XP already installed than to buy a copy of it for your old computer. That's my 2 cents.
If you can't get XP working again on that computer then Linux is a good choice. I tried Knoppix a while ago and it worked great. It recognized all my hardware and I had no problems at all. Open office for Linux works great and files can be saved in Excel and MS Word format for portability to other users. You can surf the internet, do email and mostly anything you want with Linux now. Otherwise you will need to fork over about $150 or more to Microsnot for Vista or XP. Do you really want to do that? You're better off buying a new computer with Vista or XP already installed than to buy a copy of it for your old computer. That's my 2 cents.
I've always had bad experiences with Norton, would bsod Win98 and bsod or slow XP. The thing is a resource hog as well.
There's always free stuff as posted above. AVG is good and then there's also trend micro as well.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
There's always free stuff as posted above. AVG is good and then there's also trend micro as well.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
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