Topic: Pages loading at smail pace

[Lona]

JK.....I'm still using Norton Antivirus and it is quite compatible with Zonealarm. I have been using it now all week without any problems. I even think PC is working a lot faster. I'm still however, getting that Sockets de Trois trojan coming in every now and again but ZA is blocking it.

[Dack]

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,10357746~mode=flat~days=9999

Looks like Symantec messed up the live update for ME and 98 users in the 12th of May updates.

Lots of info on the link but worth a read.

Slowdown seems to come down to their redirector service which scans web pages as they download for viruses. Someone tried the verizon home page and it took 3 seconds to download without the update, 3 Minutes with the update.

[Simon]

I can't get that link to work, but there could be your answer, JK, thanks to Dack.  

As this problem only seems to affect the Firewall, the best idea might be to change Firewalls, at least until the problem is sorted out.  I'm very surprised that this has been ongoing since 12th May, without Symantec issuing a further update to repair things.  Lona suggested Zone Alarm, and I suggested Sygate.  Take your pick.

Once you have uninstalled Norton Firewall, check your definitions in Anti-Virus again, and if they have not re-appeared, try re-installing NAV.  Make sure you do as much of this as possible, offline, so as not to put your system to uneccessary risk.  You will have to uninstall Norton Firewall before installing an alternative.


Edit: Link working now.  

[Simon]

It might be me being paranoid, but having read this thread, and some of Dack's link, even though the Norton problem is not supposed to affect XP, I thought I would try a different Firewall myself (having been using Norton for the last year), and I have to say that now using Sygate, my browsing speed seems to have dramatically improved.

 

[Lona]

author=Simon link=board=45;threadid=12197;start=40#msg94694 date=1086432042]
It might be me being paranoid, but having read this thread, and some of Dack's link, even though the Norton problem is not supposed to affect XP, I thought I would try a different Firewall myself (having been using Norton for the last year), and I have to say that now using Sygate, my browsing speed seems to have dramatically improved.

 

I know your right Simon as my speeds have increased dramatically since removing Norton Firewall. I tried Sygate but whenever the sockets de Trois trojan attacked Sygate shut down and left me with no firewall. Zonealarm is blocking it OK but I just wish I could find a cure to stop it coming in every 2 mins.

[Simon]

I think you'll just have to wait until it gets bored, Lona.    I had a Phinneas Phucker trojan about 100 times yesterday!!  

[JK]

Hi All
I tried to mail Symantec without any success, but I have faxed
the UK wing of their company and am waiting for a reply.
When I receive the reply I will post the comments here.
Lona has changed her firewall programe, why does she have to.
I am paying Symantec a subscription for updates, I do not want
to download an update that will screw up my PC. At the moment
I have basic firewall protection and doubtfull virus protection.
My lastest PC magazine has free Panda virus and firewall software, do you have any views on this product?

[Lona]

Hi All
I tried to mail Symantec without any success, but I have faxed
the UK wing of their company and am waiting for a reply.
When I receive the reply I will post the comments here.
Lona has changed her firewall programe, why does she have to.
I am paying Symantec a subscription for updates, I do not want
to download an update that will screw up my PC. At the moment
I have basic firewall protection and doubtfull virus protection.
My lastest PC magazine has free Panda virus and firewall software, do you have any views on this product?

I've heard Panda is ok, JK. My subscription is due in September so I'd rather just uninstall it and enjoy happy surfing with no aggrevations.  

[Dack]

The sockets trojan is a false positive from Norton apparently -can't think why I don't like Norton/Symantec products :whistle:

It uses the same sockets as the PnP service for 98,Me,XP.

More info here:
http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=146365

And a simple solution here:
http://www.diamondcs.com.au/info/port5000listening.htm

[Simon]

I am paying Symantec a subscription for updates, I do not want to download an update that will screw up my PC. At the moment I have basic firewall protection and doubtfull virus protection.

That's a very valid point, JK, and although I am a fan of Norton / Symentec generally, I think they should respond to this as a matter of urgency.

Did you re-install NAV to see if you got your subscriptions back?

The sockets trojan is a false positive from Norton apparently -can't think why I don't like Norton/Symantec products :whistle:

Nobody's perfect.  I'm sure the other brands have had their share of screw ups.  

However, I have to admit, having used the Firewall for some considerable time, I was reluctant to change, but the significant improvement in browsing speed since switching back to Sygate (my original favorite), has  proved that NPF definitely slowed down browsing on my PC.

[Dack]

Problem I find with Norton is people never believe it can be faulty and so even when you've shown them the problem they still insist on using it It is also in such widespread use that it's one of the first targets for any trojan/virus.

I fixed a computer about 3 weeks ago where Norton was the culprit (a 100% processor loading problem). Installed Avast, did all the updates - got the system running very smoothly.

A week later I got a call saying it had all gone faulty again - he'd uninstalled Avast and put Norton back on "because it was better"  :brick:

Others have their problems but I've not seen as many problems from them as I have from Norton infested machines. (Have a google search for "norton problem" and see how many you find).

The other thing that I believe causes problems is the fact that Norton was a well known target for the crack files (the fact that if you put your clock forward when you installed it meant your subscription lasted longer was also a widely known 'feature'). There are a lot of people out there with 'cracked' or 'tweaked' versions - which can lead to all sorts of other problems.

[Simon]

Have a google search for "norton problem" and see how many you find.

Point taken.    Top of the Google search is the problem Lona and JK have had.  http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=11131

There are a lot of people out there with 'cracked' or 'tweaked' versions - which can lead to all sorts of other problems.

Are there?  :not2:

[JK]

As of this time I have received no reply from Symantec.
I will give them a chance but do not expect a reply.
They seam not to care a less that the software upgrade has caused
so many problems. Perhaps Norton should rename there companies updates as sockets de toris v1 central. Download the updates and lose your internet access.

[JK]

Still no reply from Norton and do not expect one.
I have spoken to friends who use other products and they have
never heard, see or come across the Sokets de Trois v1 Trojan.
It appears to be just a Norton thing. With attacks at 40 to 50
an hour it now makes sence that they were not real attacks but
Norton software problems. problems which the company will not
admit to.

[Simon]

I'm surprised they haven't come back to you, JK.  Maybe they are overwhelmed with complaints?  Nevertheless, what I would suggest is to try another firewall for now, at least until Norton have sorted the problem out, which would hopefully be at the next Live Update.