Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Symantec Exec Warns Against Relying On Free Antivirus

Posted by Soulskill on from the totally-unbiased-no-really dept.

thefickler writes "Clearly, the rise of free antivirus is starting to worry Symantec, with one of their top executives warning consumers not to rely on free antivirus software (including Microsoft's Security Essentials). 'If you are only relying on free antivirus to offer you protection in this modern age, you are not getting the protection you need to be able to stay clean and have a reasonable chance of avoiding identity theft,' said David Hall, a Product Manager for Symantec. According to Hall, there is a widening gap between people's understanding of what protection they need and the threats they're actually facing."

4 of 459 comments (clear)

  1. In other news by bmo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft warns against free operating systems. "They're so inferior! Look at ours, it runs the London Stock Exchange...oh wait."

    --
    BMO

    1. Re:In other news by sirroc · · Score: 5, Funny

      Some sources say that over 80% of desktop computers are infected with a virus called Windows.

      It was 90% ten years ago. Virus removal takes a very long time. Just ask Symantec

  2. Re:Be Afraid! Buy Our Product! by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 5, Funny
    When you decide to choose one AV program over another, what metrics do you use?

    two criteria:

    a) If made by Norton, Symantec, or is sold at PC World, I wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole.

    b) If it costs money, I won't touch it with a barge-pole.

    c) It I install it, and it sucks, it goes out.

    I have a large stock of unused barge-poles, please see my e-bay shop.

    --
    Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
  3. Re:Symantec products are apparently the same. by Hal_Porter · · Score: 5, Funny

    You have to admit that taking down the Windows network stack does mean your endpoints are indeed protected. At least the ones on your PC.

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;