LandzDown Forum

As I mentioned in another thread, I've decided not to renew or upgrade my Norton AV and firewall this year (subscription expires late Sept).  I had decided on the Zone Alarm firewall at one point, but now also considering Kerio.  So I have downloaded both of them, thinking I could use one for the first 2 weeks, and then try the other if I don't like the first, for the 2nd 2 weeks of the trial period, before making a final decision.

And I know you're not supposed to run more than one firewall at the same time.  But I'm not clear on exactly what "run" means.  So can you have more than one installed, as long as only one is active or enabled?  Or can you only have one installed at a time?  And to save me posting the same question in a couple of weeks, when I'm ready to switch AVs, does the same answer go for antivirus programs?

Thanks for anyone's help   

Thanks Ghost
I was with you right up until you mentioned the Windows fw.  How come you can simply switch off the Windows fw, rather than uninstall it?  Or rather, why is it safe to switch off the Windows fw, but not the Norton fw (and av).  Because in my soon to be ex-security program, Norton Internet Security, I'm not sure if the fw can be uninstalled without also uninstalling the av at the same time.  I was planning to get my new fw set up, and figure out the basics of using it, before doing the same with new av program.  But its not readily apparent how to uninstall just the fw. 

Both the Norton av and fw, like the Windows firewall, CAN be simply switched off without uninstalling.  And I'll check the Symantec KB, and even tech support if necessary, for instructions on uninstalling one without uninstalling the other.  But why is it safe to simply switch off the Windows fw, but not the Norton fw?

I know, I'm probably thinking too much, again .  But it sure would be easier for me, to just switch off the Norton products until I have made my fw choice and have both new fw and av set up.  Then I could uninstall them both together.  If the Norton products CAN be uninstalled separately, I'll figure out how.  But I'm just really curious why the Windows fw can simply be switched off, rather than uninstalling it?

Can anyone explain it to me?
Thanks again.

Thanks SpiritWind.
LOL!  Yes, that's the reason I'm leaving Norton/Symantec behind.  90% of the problems I've taken to their tech support have been caused by a corrupted program, according to them, and I am urged to upgrade, to fix the problem, no matter how close my subscription is to expiring.  And if it's anywhere near my renewal date, as it is now, it is, I believe, impossible to make them try to solve the problem, other than upgrading and renewing.  Just the other day, I gave them a really hard time -- politely, but a hard time just the same.  This was on their Chat Support, and the tech just hung up on me!  I tried to get enough documented in the chat, in case the transcripts are ever read, to demonstrate the tech's petulance.  Probably won't do any good.  Man, would I HATE to work there!!!

But I still don't understand about the turning off vs uninstalling.  I mean, I understand how the Windows fw is part of the entire os.  The Norton fw IS sold separately, but in my case, it's part of Norton Internet Security; and as I said, doesn't appear that it can be uninstalled without uninstalling the whole thing.  Maybe a better question would be what is it about the Windows fw, aside from being part of the os, that allows it to be safely activated and deactivated by switching it on and off?  And what is it about other firewalls which makes it unsafe to switch off instead of uninstalling?

Ok, thanks SpiritWind.
I think I understand.  I'm still not completely clear why switching off the fw and/or av isn't sufficient, when it comes to possibly installing other fw and/or av programs, but I trust you know what you're talking about.

It appears I've been successful in uninstalling the Norton product and installing my new firewall (Kerio) and anti-virus (AVG).  I still see some Symantec products in my HijackThis log, and I'll post about that in the HT forum.  And I'm seeing the Restricted Zone icon in the bottom right corner (IE6), when I'm clearly not at a Restricted Site.  I'm hoping the latter can be resolved by tweaking certain settings in the new programs.  But for the most part, I'm online and using the internet, and it appears I'm safe and secure. 

Thanks again, SpiritWind.