Security and Anti-Virus

[chris973]

Adding a 2nd laptop running Norton Internet Security causes Internet connectivity issues - any ideas?

I have a Comcast-provided modem with a Netgear router and home WIFI network. My desktop is hard wired to the router and is protected with the latest Comcast-provided Norton software. Everything works fine.

I recently added a new laptop to my home network - this uses the 30 day trial version of Norton Internet Security (19.1.0.28). Whether I connect the laptop via WIFI or Ethernet, there is an issue with the Norton software that causes Internet connectivity to be lost for the whole home network.

I have checked with Comcast tech support regarding Internet connectivity issues with multiple computers

http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/internet/internet-connectivity-troubleshooting. Their advice is "Disable your firewall and/or antivirus software if they’ve been recently changed or upgraded. If this solves the issue, contact the software manufacture." Clearly disabling the firewall and AV software is not a long term solution.

I then contacted Norton tech support directly but Norton claim their software is not at fault and there must be a problem with my network. Note - if I disable the Norton Internet Security software on the laptop, the problem disappears. 

Is anyone familiar with Norton software to explain why it is causing connectivity issues and what the remedy is?  I would like to retain Norton Internet Security Suite on my laptop and use the Comcast-provided Norton for my desktop. Is this possible or do I have to use a single version of Norton on both machines?

Thanks

[ModMaster]

Can you clarify something for me please? Are you saying that when you disable Norton on your laptop (wireless) that this fixes your PC's (hard wired) internet connectivity issues?? I don't belive that Norton can or will work that way at all. Their are also other free AV software that should protect you. AVG Free is among the best of the best and I can't see why anyone would ever pay for Norton.

[chris973]

No, let me clarify.

• When the laptop is turned off, there is no issue at all with the desktop-router-modem connectivity (as expected).

• When the laptop is turned on but the Norton Internet Security on the laptop is disabled, there is no issue at all with either the desktop-router-modem connectivity or the laptop-router-modem connectivity (via WIFI or Ethernet). 

• When the laptop is turned on and the Norton Internet Security on the laptop is ENABLED, there is an issue that results in frequently dropped WAN connections for the whole network (which obviously impacts both the desktop and the laptop as well as my internet phone and requires the cable modem to be manually re-started).

I'm wondering if there is some kind of software conflict between Norton Internet Security Live Update on the laptop and Norton Security Live Update on the desktop that's bringing down the WAN gateway?

Not sure if that helps diagnoze what is going on?  I've not come across AVG before.

[ModMaster]

You may want to check out this link.. http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-252882-wireless-connection-keeps-dropping I'm not sure how reliable or accurate the web page is but this person claims to have had a similar problem with Norton and solved it by switching AV programs. I can understand software causing networking problems on the local computer its installed on. I still don't think Norton can do this to the entire network, but you seem to have this issue narrowed down to it. Also, you can always try resetting your router to default settings by holding the reset button for 10 seconds. Sometimes that helps with connectivity issues. Good luck.

[Queen-Evie]

I agree that the thing to do is get rid of the 30 day trial Norton on the laptop. Uninstall it. You will, at the end of 30 days, have to buy it or install another AV. May as well do it now.

If you are set on Norton for the laptop you can install the Comcast offering by using another Comcast email address.  If that doesn't solve the issue then you can use one of the free products.

[USAF_E-8_RET]

Hopefully I am not too late for you to try something simple that may help.

Go to the following link and see if it helps:

 https://www-secure.symantec.com/norton-support/jsp/help-solutions.jsp?actstat=activated&buildname=&c...

I am not on a network, nor do I use Wi-Fi - but I beleive the Full Trust setting may provide your answer.

BTW, your copy of the Trial NIS is not up to date.  Please open NIS and manually Run LiveUpdate (located on drop-down under PC Security on left side of main page of NSS) as many times as necessary for it to respond "no more updates found". If a reboot is requested, reboot and then continue to Run LiveUpdate until it responds "no more updates found" and then reboot one last time.

Support > About should show Version 19.7.1.5.

Please keep us posted.  If no helpp then follow Evie's suggestion.  These instructions are for your NIS install on your laptop.  The settings location will vary slightly with the NSS install.

If you decide to install NSS, please let us know as we can provide direction in the best way to remove NIS and clean the asystem and then install NSS.