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tw · 02-20-2008, 12:07 AM

Most criticism I hear about security software is more often traceable to their pathetic explanation of what the software does what the various setting really do. For example, how many would understand which ports are blocked, or if a port is even blocked. And blocked how?

MacAfee’s Security Center - how you control and setup their various softwares - is a human interface disaster. It took forever to grasp their hierarchy. Now, if I want port 139 blocked on WiFi but not on the LAN, can I do it? Or is that setting really applied? And do those setting remain when I reboot? All this is vague if not explained at all.

But then every Norton installation in the past year and a half has been a disaster. For example, Norton will charge for the upgrade to Windows 98 - which their software does not work on. The upgrade to Windows 2000 will literally destroy register setting rather than announce the software does not work on Windows 2000.

Consumer Reports rated all these softwares recently. Noted was a lower rating of Norton compared to MacAfee. I believe that is a reversal. But even Consumer Reports did not complain about what these software packages all make difficult. You really have little idea what is and is not being protected. Then they require a complete package purchase forcing you to buy other bells and whistles. Ok. Many software companies do that. But at least others explain what those new bells and whistles do. Somehow I am supposed to know what it does only from the Trademark name?

And yes, some blocking functions do get turned back on after rebooting the computer. Good luck to others even knowing what is and is not still protected. Thunderbird stops working? So which function caused it? Good luck trying to find out which blocked port blocked that software. Yes it can be done. But good luck especially if you are not the only user on this computer.

02-20-2008, 12:07 AM	#21
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	Most criticism I hear about security software is more often traceable to their pathetic explanation of what the software does what the various setting really do. For example, how many would understand which ports are blocked, or if a port is even blocked. And blocked how? MacAfee’s Security Center - how you control and setup their various softwares - is a human interface disaster. It took forever to grasp their hierarchy. Now, if I want port 139 blocked on WiFi but not on the LAN, can I do it? Or is that setting really applied? And do those setting remain when I reboot? All this is vague if not explained at all. But then every Norton installation in the past year and a half has been a disaster. For example, Norton will charge for the upgrade to Windows 98 - which their software does not work on. The upgrade to Windows 2000 will literally destroy register setting rather than announce the software does not work on Windows 2000. Consumer Reports rated all these softwares recently. Noted was a lower rating of Norton compared to MacAfee. I believe that is a reversal. But even Consumer Reports did not complain about what these software packages all make difficult. You really have little idea what is and is not being protected. Then they require a complete package purchase forcing you to buy other bells and whistles. Ok. Many software companies do that. But at least others explain what those new bells and whistles do. Somehow I am supposed to know what it does only from the Trademark name? And yes, some blocking functions do get turned back on after rebooting the computer. Good luck to others even knowing what is and is not still protected. Thunderbird stops working? So which function caused it? Good luck trying to find out which blocked port blocked that software. Yes it can be done. But good luck especially if you are not the only user on this computer.