RSSSymantec update removes Web filtering program
by Ed Oswald
An update for the company's Norton Antivirus software has yet again caused problems with its customers' computers.
While Symantec is saying it was just a mistake involving a routine software update, the problems caused by the mixup had likely cut off the Internet access of tens of thousands of customers of Solid Oak Software.
As a result of this action, those using the software suddenly found themselves unable to access any Web site at all. The problem, which occurred after last Monday's update, was not fixed until the end of the week.
What may be worse is this is the third time a Symantec update has caused problems with CyberSitter software. This latest problem led to an angry response from Solid Oak president Brian Millburn calling Norton products "worse than any virus I can think of," according to PC Magazine.
To its defense, Symantec said that it had moved the detection of the program from the "trackware" catagory to "parental controls." Since both are considered security risks, programs in these categories are closely monitored.
However, during the switch, the program was mistakenly identified as Bloodhound.unknown and blocked. The company gave instructions in how to restore Internet access, which included turning off the AutoProtect feature and installing the latest update that corrects the bug.
30 Comments
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First thing i do with new systems is remove pre-installed BS, esp. system hoggers: everything McAfee & Symantec(though to be fair, the latter one is much improved-- but that's not a 'great' compliment in itself after years of prolonged ineptitude. I just state this to show no hidden agenda + an open mind to someone mending the error of their ways.). As well as most overly-restrictive, dumbed-down default settings, Security Center, Windows Defender, MOST system seller & peripherals software, most non-Google toolbars, email alerters, IM's, etc.
Otherwise a powerful, modern system starts performing like systems from a 1/4 century ago with all crapware previously mentioned PLUS related security apps performing a lot of like-redundant functions...such as ad/cookie/flash/popup blockers, immunizers, site & web filters, etc. If one starts utilizing all those, plus regularly erasing tracks, cookies, history-- pretty soon there's a ton of legitimate sites, functions, and benefits one totally loses out on-- besides having a glacially-slow system.
For a new Vista system, all that is needed is windows firewall on(OS too new to recommend any third-party alternative, especially of the free kind), a decent free antivirus, Google toolbar popup blocker function, one's favorite IE-engine alternative browser(one won't be able to access ALL sites, content, and features if browser engine is non-IE), adding one's favorite sites to Trusted Zones, and regular / periodic scans from 'more than one' amongst one's favorite spy apps(not necessary to have one turned on all the time either).
That's it-- i browse anywhere & everywhere i want w/o getting infected.
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Hahaha, "Symantec" has been synonymous with "garbage" for over 8 years now! Apparently it's still going on strong.
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Even better, just install BitDefender 2008... By far the best Anti-Virus.... Read the reviews
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What I find truely funny about all this is that this kind of conflict is bound to happen. Too few people have an understanding of computers. Give you young child a computer and put them online and watch how the waste-of-time software thought to make it safer actually makes the computer unusable and worthless. If the user needs Cybersitter then that user shouldn't be online. This is not to mention the uselessness that Norton has become.
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Well put...today's powerful systems end up running slower than those from a quarter century ago...And there is such mass hysteria re EVERYTHING: browsing security, terrorism, narco money laundering, sex, stem cell tech, etc.-- Good way I guess, to: sell more security products, obtain higher news ratings / circulation, get unpopular laws / political agendas approved...
We've thrown common sense out the window in so many different areas...
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LOL! Get a clue people and switch to a Mac, you won't have these problems.
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Oh I haven't laughed this hard in a long time, thanks for that. Fine, I'll be the first moth to your flame.
I'd take my net not working to my operating system erasing my data during a move operation any day.
No but seriously, consider the fact that this is a symantec issue and not a MAC vs. WINDOWS thing.
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Having a MAC doesn't have anything to do with anything.
Besides, You show me a walmart that sells MAC's for $300 and I'll show you ALOT more MAC users.
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Actually, if people switched to mac like you say, people would start writing viruses for Macs and we'd have the same problems (if not from viruses, from antivirus companies porting their products to Mac).
It is currently impossible to tell whether the lack of viruses and malware and related problems on Macs and Linux is due to the lack of demand for them (because they don't have large user bases there is little point to write malware or antimalware for them!) or due to tbe security of the OS. It will become clearer as time goes on and more users try out Windows alternatives.
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or another option would be to sell Mac OS (Leopard, Tiger, Puma or whatever its called now ! :-) )
as being able to install on any generic hardware - like what Windows, Linux and others can
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I guess you've never heard the saying, "You get what you pay for."? And those same cheap garbage Walmart computers are fast filling up the local mom and pop computer repair shops. ^--^
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Viruses on a Mac are practically impossible thinks to the Mac's Unix foundation. http://www.apple.com/getamac/viruses.html If the Macintosh market share was 100% there would still be 0 viruses just like today. Your market share argument falls a little short when considering that the average Mac user is in a higher disposable income bracket. If I'm a malware writer, I realize that I only have to compromise far fewer Macs to make money then PC's. Most of my PC friends either live in the projects or dirty trailer communities (Ring a bell?)
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Quicktime buffer overflow, still unfixed, remote system access.
Keep living in your dream world. It is amusing to witness from over here.
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I'm not disagreeing with that. But, wether you have MAC, Windows, or Linux...it's all a problem. These things are issues in the Entire PC world. It's about computer technology period. NOT just Windows. Paying extra for a PC from the local Apple store isn't going to fix problems like these. So much of it has to do with user ignorance.
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Maybe it too difficult for them to fix. After all, Mac is an eye candy. Usefulness = 0
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I'm all for alternative software and OS, but folks who claim *nix variants are safe are either disingenous fanboys or really clueless.
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Why can't they just stick with virus scanning?
I use Norton Corporate AV at home and work. The corporate version is very unobtrusive and has a small memory footprint. The comsumer version of Norton and Mcafee are just insanely huge and always popping up some warning or "you are safe because if us" message.
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I was a Symantec Fan / User up to about 2005, then became to Bulky. I loved the AD-Blocking Capabilites, but too much of a memory Hog after 2005.
Good Replacement, just Bought (Not Cracked) ESET Smart Security 3.0. (http://fileforum.betanew...t_Security/1175818695/1) Small Footprint, no Spyware / Toolbars or other crap coupled into it. Combine it with IE7Pro (http://fileforum.betanew...ail/IE7pro/1168277137/1) Add-on for IE or Ad-Block Plus (http://fileforum.betanew...%5B%5D=2&os%5B%5D=3) for the Firefox users and it blows all other AV / Firewall / AD-Blocking out of the water.
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"...calling Norton products "worse than any virus I can think of," according to PC Magazine."
I can agree with this statement. I've had more issues troubleshooting Symantec products than virus infections...
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Norton keeps my computer repair business going!
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Same goes for Windows itself. Just yesterday (sunday) I was paged to a home for someone who's machine couldn't connect to the net after suspend. Solution? Don't use DHCP. Problem solved. Thanks MS! $$$$
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By mjm01010101 posted Dec 10, 2007 - 2:38 PM
Same goes for Windows itself. Just yesterday (sunday) I was paged to a home for someone who's machine couldn't connect to the net after suspend. Solution? Don't use DHCP. Problem solved. Thanks MS! $$$$
___________
Well that's odd...I'm using dhcp on my network and my 3 computers suspend and wake up fine.
But keep going, continue generalizing hardware and driver issues with MS OSs - it's fun to see the variety of non MS OS problems people actually blame on them.
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I sure will. Thanks. None of these issues cropped up for me on linux when I connected to the same network.
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Are you suggesting Grandma Ethel use Linux of any flavor? You CAN'T be serious.
When Linux looks or feels half as nice as Windows, give me a call. I've tried it out about five times now (and no not the "dual boot" and run back to mommy Microsoft when it didn't work, I mean actually tried it for about a month) and couldn't stand it each time. Everything is so friggin obscure, nothing is in a logical place, and what's even WORSE is that you have to build freaking installation packages?! To hell with that. I'll stay with MS, thankyouverymuch.
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Well, when I can get Linux to run my Dual Net MSI Wifi card with bluetooth out of the box without sudo this and sudo that, when I can enable 3d support for my Gt8800 in Ubuntu without switches and code (at least as well as it installs into Suse), when I can install the variety of software titles and games that are available for Windows (without Wine), then it will be comparable and albeit viable.
PC techs would all have 1000x more work if everyone ran Linux, let's face facts. I'm not saying it's horrible...it's...pretty, and useful. But it's in no way comparable nor viable to Windows at this point.
As for the dhcp issue, we both know that that is not a universal issue and is limited to either the drivers or the hardware/software you worked on; if I had these same issues on another OS, I'd be downright stupid to blame the OS (unless ofcourse it was a well known, documented bug/issue).
In all sense of logic, don't take an issue between Symantec and another vendor and make it a MS OS vs. XXXXXX issue.
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Have you tried Ubuntu? They're getting close. I had to use the console to fix a few things that were irking me, but nothing that isn't similarly hard to fix in Windows using registry hacking, command prompt tools, etc.
You don't have to build packages. In fact, it's 100x easier to install programs with Linux than Windows. With Windows you have to Next Next Next I agree Next Next Check Uncheck Next Next Finish. With Ubuntu you can use the Add/Remove Programs dialog or the more advanced package manger to add/remove packages. A/RP is obviously focused on GUI programs and would be better for a novice user. Just a few clicks and your programs are downloaded and installed automatically.
I don't know where you get the idea that you need to build anything to install it. You do not need to build anything unless you really really want to. You might be confused because a much praised Linux pro is that you CAN download the source code for a great many open source Linux programs and modify them at will, something Microsoft will NEVER allow.
One time you might think you need to build from source is if Ubuntu is serving an out-of-date package--which a normal user wouldn't notice or care about anyways. But a couple projects I had this problem with both had their own package repositories that had the up-to-date package, and I just added it to my repository list, and triggered a package upgrade. Not for the faint-of-heart, but like I said Joe Average doesn't care if they're running Firefox 2.0.0.9 or Firefox 2.0.0.10.
If you DO build something, it's about 100x easier than building projects on Windows. Whenever I build something on Windows I usually have to add include/library paths for dependencies by hand. On Linux, ./configure, maybe grab a few packages you forgot, ./configure again, then make and make install. I should also mention that having every program in the path environment just rocks.
As for look and feel, check out compiz-fusion newly included with the latest 7.1 release of Ubuntu. Has so much eye candy even Vista would get sick, and you can turn any of it on or off at will... the configuration is admittedly not for less advanced users but the defaults are nice enough.
If you try out Ubuntu on a virtual machine, be advised Virtual PC doesn't play well with it and there are two or three tweaks you need to do to get it to work right. I recall VMWare products run it much better.
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My stepmother uses ubuntu, and knows no difference. She might as well by my grandmother.
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ROFLMFC0CKOFF! Norton keeps malware coders from having to write too many "variants"!
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