[maristredfox]

My 2006 Norton Internet Security is up for renewal, so I need to figure out if I should renew it or go with another program, and I've been having some issues with NIS on my Windows XP PC.

First, the bright yellow and green toolbar icon stopped appearing for some reason, then I got a really bad virus (which I have to bring in the professionals to remove). Could it be because I went from cable internet to DSL via a wireless router, which tends to drop internet service from time to time? I suspect that the lack of a 24-7 connection has messed with NIS; could this be the case?

Whether that's the case or not, should I renew NIS or go with something else?

Thanks,
Jonathan

[Cheeseball81]

I don't know for sure if that's the case but I have heard some negative feedback regarding NIS. Mainly that it's a resource/memory hog and can slow down a computer.
If you decide to go with another anti-virus, consider ones such as:
AVG, Avast, or NOD32

[Saussure]

I've read very good reviews on NIS 2009, which is no longer a resource hog and an exceptionally light program. I'm going to install it. Antivirus software, as with many things, seems to be a matter of taste with computer users...or rather with the computers themselves

[mrss]

AVG, and Avast are good anti-virus programs, but not suites. I've also read that Norton has put a focus on speed/performance. Here's a review from PC Mag on NIS2009
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330024,00.asp

With paid antivirus/firewall software, in the USA, there are often sales/rebates going on so that after you buy one copy of a program, you can get a competitors program later for a lot less, or even an upgrade rebate for sticking with the same vendor. So if the OP does go with NIS2009, he should check what it will cost at a store vs downloading at full price from Norton.