Post #15,196
10/26/01 12:22:34 AM
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AntiVirus Data File Updates
Symantec just now wants to charge me $9.95 a year to get AntiVirus updates.
Since when does getting files to help me clean out viruses something that should be charged? Now I can see having to buy NAV 2002 if I own NAV 2001, but for data file updates?
What Anti-Virus programs are left now that do not charge for Data file updates? FBOG!
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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Post #15,201
10/26/01 2:06:58 AM
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What? You want to use their software forever, free?
I have some sympathy, but for something that needs frequent updates, I'm not sure how much my heart bleeds for you. I mean, even though I may have purchased Turbo Tax 1980, I wouldn't expect it to work properly for 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, ..., 2002.
"Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it."
-- Donald Knuth
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Post #15,254
10/26/01 10:21:01 AM
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Oooh. I might have to agree with Norm...
I'm not sure.
When you write *antivirus* software.. there's a little difference in upgrades and support. (At least in my opinion).
I can see why they want you to pay, and why they want you to upgrade, but that's new to me for charging for the *data file*.
Normally, the AV guys go out of their way to make it easy and cheap to use their stuff - I forget who we had, but the terms of the license were such that you could install on every computer of every employee, even home.
Probably was F-Prot..... But they *wanted* to get the lock in, one, and wanted to get on every machine.
Norm: try out F-prot...
[link|http://www.f-prot.com/f-prot/download/|http://www.f-prot.c...ot/download/]
Hrm. The DOS one's still free, and Linux is free. Interesting.
Addison
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Post #15,500
10/28/01 4:48:58 PM
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Correct, imagine this:
You buy a Word processor, Word 97, but the data formats keep changing. In order to load Word 2000 or Word XP documents, you have to buy the new version of Word. Plus you have to pay a subscription fee, because the data format changes each week and has to be updated as people create new Word documents.
Imagine, the AntiVirus makers, charging for a subscription to get AntiVirus data files. Some people don't update at all and get hit with the latest Outlook/Word/VBA/Windows virus/trojan. Now imagine that most people either cannot afford or don't want to pay $10USD a year to get those data file updates. Imagine the type of Viruses and Trojans that get spread around because of that. All because the AV companies want to get more money.
I think that AV software should be open sourced anyway, that way we can combat the viruses out there more. Any Open Sourced AntiVirus software, or is everyone in it for as much money as they can [possibly make?
I mean you guys holler about Windows XP needing a key to continue working after 10 hardware changes, but all of a sudden paying for AV data file updates is not an issue?
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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Post #15,526
10/29/01 12:24:25 AM
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Open source AV?
Good luck. I can't see it flying. Really. Having been involved in understanding virii and anti-virus software in years gone past, I would be surprised if people with the right kind of expertise and enthusiasm couldn't find gainful employ with an anti-virus software vendor. Would the same people be interested in writing an open source anti-virus software? Methinks not.
Wade.
"All around me are nothing but fakes
Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"
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Post #18,832
11/19/01 3:21:50 PM
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Not Open Source, but "Free-as-in-Beer":
AVG 6.0 Anti-Virus, from [link|http://www.grisoft.com/|[link|http://www.grisoft.com/|http://www.grisoft.com/]].
Also available from [link|http://www.grisoft.cz/|[link|http://www.grisoft.cz/|http://www.grisoft.cz/]] (Czechoslovakia); the magazine I got the link from recommended that for the better download speed -- but then it's a British mag (PCW, for those of you who follow Pom PC Publishing), so I suppose that only helps us on this side of the Atlantic.
Christian R. Conrad
The Man Who Knows Fucking Everything
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Post #15,503
10/28/01 4:54:15 PM
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Not the same as Tax Software
Tax Software isn't updated every week with a new data file from the IRS. Even if both the IRS and Computer Viruses are blood-suckers. ;)
I am not talking about buying NAV 2001 and getting NAV 2002 for free, I am talking about getting the AV Data Files updated. They are like Service packs in a way. This AV thing is such a racket, I suspect the AV companies may be writing their own viruses to spread into the wild to sell more AV software! :(
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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Post #15,502
10/28/01 4:53:16 PM
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Not free
I paid for it, and expect to use it until I find a replacement to buy. I should be getting data file updates for free because I PAID for the software and that entitles me to customer support. Unless it says in the agreement that I have to pay for customer support or that they can terminate customer support.
Hey, anyone want to work on an open source AntiVirus project? ;)
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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Post #15,383
10/27/01 3:28:47 AM
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Standard practice.
I'm surprised it's taken Symantec to long to come up with it. But then, early versions of NAV were really stinkers, so they probably wanted to snare people as many ways as they could.
Wade.
"All around me are nothing but fakes
Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"
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Post #15,384
10/27/01 3:42:07 AM
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Waddya mean...
..."*early* versions"?
All AV software sucks, but NAV sucks more than most.
Peter
Shill For Hire
[link|http://www.kuro5hin.org|There is no K5 Cabal]
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Post #15,385
10/27/01 4:27:14 AM
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Heh.
I don't know about current versions, but v1 of NAV was bad even amongst bad AV software. I reviewed a heap when it came out. Tragic does not begin to describe it. Truly, it was a version that should have never escaped.
Wade.
"All around me are nothing but fakes
Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"
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Post #15,501
10/28/01 4:50:15 PM
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Not to mention
that it eats up processor time like a Mo'Fo, I try to schedule it to run at times when I am not that busy with the system.
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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