How do I get rid of Norton Internet Security? Migration assistant problem

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How do I get rid of Norton Internet Security? Migration assistant problem

I have a new MacBook Pro and I used a firewire connection and migration assistant to transfer files. Unfortunately, the assistant transferred all my applications, even the ones I didn't want, like Norton Internet Security, which slowed down my old G4. I deleted all the Norton files, but there are still icons for Norton Auto protect and Norton Quick Menu on my System Preferences menu. I'm afraid they are responsible for the messages I get on booting up saying the system detects Norton but can't open the application. I'm also afraid its the reason that suddenly my new superfast MacPro is less fast. I can't figure out how to delete it from the system preferences - any ideas?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Sep 4, 2008 7:25 AM

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Answer 1

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eww

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Sep 4, 2008 7:39 AM in response to mer309

See your Norton Internet Security manual or online documentation for uninstall instructions. There may be an uninstaller application on the installer disc or available for download. If you find nothing on the disc or in the manual, go to Symantec's website and look there. Frankly, uninstalling anything Norton is a nightmare — it's the next worst thing to having anything Norton on your computer. For example, uninstalling a recent version of Norton Utilities for the Mac could supposedly be accomplished by downloading an uninstaller from Symantec's website and running it. But it didn't do the job properly and left troublesome debris behind, so Symantec finally published an alternate method of removing NU — in 35-40 tedious manual steps. Handy, eh?

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Answer 2

mer309 Author

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Sep 4, 2008 9:23 AM in response to eww

Thanks so much, I'll give your suggestions a try and see what happens.

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Answer 3

Sep 4, 2008 9:11 PM in response to mer309

Hi,
Here you go. Use this to remove this insidious product. Remove it from your other Mac too. You don't need it and you definitely don't want it! Burn the installer disc too! There have been no viruses effecting OSX to date, but Symantec comes close!

Symantec remover - http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/22098

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Answer 4

mer309 Author

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Sep 5, 2008 5:31 AM in response to Silly rabbit

Woe is me...I tried the Symantec Uninstaller, the latest version too, and since I had already deleted every Norton file I could find in the finder, I got this message: "The Symantec Uninstaller did not find any Symantec products to uninstall. The Symantec Uninstaller removes Symantec products from the current startup disk only."

But clearly there is still something on the computer, because I get these funny messages about the system not finding the NIS apps and my internet connection is running way slower. Here's what I'm thinking: maybe the uninstaller only works when the whole thing is installed? Maybe I should re-transfer my NIS package from my old computer and then try the uninstaller?

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Answer 5

mer309 Author

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Sep 5, 2008 8:57 AM in response to eww

I retransferred the files and used the Symantec Uninstaller and I got the same message - it couldn't find any Norton applications! Maybe it is because I didn't "install" the files on this computer, I merely transferred them from my other one using the Mirgration Assistant (and boy do I regret it). I looked all over the Symantec site for how to uninstall manually, but they no longer have the instructions for old 2003-2004 versions on their site.

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Answer 6

Sep 6, 2008 1:31 AM in response to mer309

Ouch! Start searching with either spotlight or through the search box of a finder window to see if you can find something related to Symantec. How about the trash? Are there mystery files appearing in the trash after a restart? You could try installing the software from the install disc (if you have it) and see if the uninstaller will get rid of all the files. Sadly, you wouldn't be the first person who ended up having to reinstall the OS because of a Norton infection.

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Answer 7

mer309 Author

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Sep 8, 2008 1:06 PM in response to Silly rabbit

I searched everywhere and I think I'm going to take your advice and do an erase and install OS.

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Answer 8

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Sep 8, 2008 1:41 PM in response to mer309

Yes, a number of people have posted on various forums to say that the current Symantec Uninstaller always reports that it can't find any Norton garbage to take out, even after they've reinstalled one of Norton's applications to make sure it's really there. So one has to wonder: does Symantec ever test ANY of its software before releasing it? Could anything possibly be more useless than an uninstaller that never finds anything to uninstall?

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Answer 9

Sep 8, 2008 8:57 PM in response to mer309

A sad end to this story. However, when you add up the time it has taken you searching for this horrible little monster, a complete system install would have been quicker.

I think you've learned a valuable lesson - Norton anti-virus is a virus on a Mac. It should ship with a warning on the packaging, "This software can and does cause major problems on Macintosh computers and may result in having to reinstall your operating system!"

If you are concerned with viral infections, which you shouldn't be, you can use a free anti-virus software called ClamX. It does its job well and does not dig into your directory.
Link - http://www.clamxav.com/.

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Answer 10

mer309 Author

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Sep 9, 2008 5:11 AM in response to eww

I just re-installed OSX and I am very happy to have my new MacBook free from the clutches of that nasty Norton. I agree, reinstallation is the easiest way to go. And I also agree that Norton IS a virus. I can't believe they get people (like me) to pay for it. Do you really not need security on Macs? That makes me a little insecure. On the other hand, I am now so traumatized that I hesitate to put any anti-virus back on.

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Answer 11

Sep 10, 2008 4:27 AM in response to mer309

Please let me reassure you. There are NO viruses effecting OSX to date. There was one virus effected OS9 ten years ago, but nothing since. The fear of viruses is a residual effect from using that other OS, which shall remain nameless, but not shameless. The only danger a Mac user faces is, spreading a virus through a network by forwarding junk emails with an infected attachment, not that anybody is that stupid, or are they? If you are using one of the main email providers, Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, etc, all he attachments are scanned automatically as these organizations cannot afford to have viruses in their systems.

In a nutshell: Relax and enjoy the freedom of using a Mac.

Furthermore: Most ex-users of the nameless OS feel the need to run defrag programs on Macs. Unnecessary! Just leave your Mac turned on overnight and it will do it itself.

You may remember the Mac slogan, 'Think Differently'. Well, Macs do!

Enjoy your clean install. 🙂

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Answer 12

Oct 18, 2008 12:30 PM in response to Silly rabbit

Thank you so much. I just spent two hours online trying to figure out how to get Norton Antivirus 9.0 off my new machine. Norton hasn't worked for years (since I got OS 10.4) and it's the kind of thing I didn't want polluting my new MacBook.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/22098 was the only thing that worked. I did have to get a newer version of Stuffit Expander to get this to work-- the trial version was fine.

I first tried manually deleting the program, but couldn't get rid of the Quickprotect icon next to my airport status. I re-installed the program before using this uninstaller.

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