Turning off Norton AntiVirus when installing Final Cut

Question

Level 1

20 points

Turning off Norton AntiVirus when installing Final Cut

Hi,
I can't figure out how find -- and then turn off -- Norton AntiVirus protection on my Macbook Pro before installing Final Cut Pro. Does anyone know if it comes preinstalled? I know something is checking for virus when I download, but I can't find anything "Norton" when I search. Also, do you really need to turn it off to install Final Cut?
Thanks!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 16, 2009 2:37 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 16, 2009 2:45 PM in response to AlfieBB

Norton doesn't usually come pre-installed in my experience, aprticularly not on the pro range. It's possible I suppose, where did you buy the computer?

Why do you say that you know something is scanning for viruses when you download? via what app are you downloading and what 'message' are you getting?

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Answer 2

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Feb 16, 2009 2:54 PM in response to AlfieBB

Norton Anti Virus does not come pre-installed.

This is a good thing.

Never, ever use any Norton product on your Mac. You might as well just take a hammer to the hard drive.

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Answer 3

AlfieBB Author

Level 1

20 points

Feb 16, 2009 2:59 PM in response to J S Langham

I bought my Mac in New York one year ago. In fact, Norton did come preinstalled because I never installed it. When I download a file, a window pops up that tells me Norton is scanning for viruses. The thing is, I can't find Norton anywhere when I search with spotlight. I've also trolled Applications looking for it. I want to uninstall it. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks!

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Answer 4

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Feb 16, 2009 3:13 PM in response to AlfieBB

Where did you buy this Mac, second hand or from a dealer?

If the latter, never use that dealer again.

But to get to the point. There are no virii that can affect Mac OS X, the only thing AV softtware can do is stop you from forwarding a Windows virus to Windows users via email.

Norton software has never worked properly on the Mac. Search these boards for opinions about their products, you will find thousands and none have anything good to say.

Norton AV and other Norton products install dozens of files all over the hard drive. Many are deeply embedded in the System folder. To remove this from your system, back up all your irreplaceable files, grab your Mac OS X installer disk to *Erase & Install* your OS and applications from scratch.

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Answer 5

AlfieBB Author

Level 1

20 points

Feb 16, 2009 3:18 PM in response to AlfieBB

Hi,
One more point to add to my query. It's very strange because I just tried using the Symantec Uninstaller to get rid of Norton, and it told me there were no applications to uninstall. Yet, I just downloaded another file to test this, and again there is a window that pops up telling me that Norton is scanning my files for viruses. I am more confused than ever. How is this program on my Mac if I didn't install it and how can I get rid of it? Thanks!

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Answer 6

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Feb 16, 2009 3:22 PM in response to AlfieBB

it told me there were no applications to uninstall...

The uninstaller only removes the application, but you could have done that yourself anyway, just by dragging it to the trash.

Its the other garbage that you need to be rid of. See the last paragraph in my previous reply.

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Answer 7

Feb 16, 2009 3:24 PM in response to AlfieBB

Very strange....it makes me think that it might be a virus wearing a Norton disguise.

Perhaps if you run /Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor
you could see a Process Name that comes up when this Norton runs.
Maybe it has some strange name that you could see, then search for and destroy.

Good luck! Sounds creepy.

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Answer 8

AlfieBB Author

Level 1

20 points

Feb 16, 2009 4:04 PM in response to Nick Holmes

I bought the computer at an Apple store in New York City. As far as I know, it has always run the Norton AntiVirus program each time I download. I'm just amazed i can't find a file anywhere that says Norton. ... Activity monitor doesn't turn up any rogue file that I can recognize but odds are against it being a virus on mac, no? ... I'm a bit scared to reinstall Leopard but if that's the only way...

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Answer 9

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Feb 16, 2009 4:06 PM in response to AlfieBB

Then back it up, reinstall the OS and updates and then FCS and updates.

The you have a clean system

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Answer 10

AlfieBB Author

Level 1

20 points

Feb 16, 2009 4:23 PM in response to David S.

Thanks. I'll just add one more thing that I just noticed. The Norton tag is on my Yahoo email, in the attachment line. When I click it, it takes me to the Symantec site. Could the Norton be coming via Yahoo? If so, then I'll pursue it through Yahoo. I should be able to disable it. I'm way out of my league here. Thanks for all your help.

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Answer 11

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Feb 16, 2009 4:29 PM in response to AlfieBB

Back up the stuff that you can't replace like music, photos, mail, FCP projects etc.
Wipe the drive and reinstall. It's easy and will take 30 minutes, just get that garbage off your computer ASAP.

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Answer 12

Zebulun

Level 5

6,749 points

Feb 16, 2009 5:36 PM in response to Nick Holmes

Nick Holmes wrote:
Norton software has never worked properly on the Mac.

Not true, not true!

Once in 1998 Norton AV worked for me. My beige G3 was given a virus through a Photoshop file from the Macs that were at the studio I was working at then. Norton caught the bug and smashed it immediately. I informed the lame "IT" guy at that studio and he was amazed and then realized, it was causing problems with the graphics department. I used Norton AV fairly religiously until 2002 and OSX and it did work during that time. Haven't used it since.

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Answer 13

TildeBee

Level 7

31,923 points

Feb 16, 2009 8:20 PM in response to AlfieBB

Alfie --

When you download say, a software update, or something directly thru Safari or your
browser, you do NOT get this message???

It ONLY happens thru Yahoo email???

Then it is B.S. through Yahoo.
Wow!

I would deal with them, if I used them for email.
Yikes!!!
That is scary that they would even mention Norton!
Especially if it wasn't even installed on your Mac.

Let us know how you're doing, OK???

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Answer 14

AlfieBB Author

Level 1

20 points

Feb 17, 2009 5:44 AM in response to TildeBee

It happens with the 2 browsers I use, Safari and Firefox, but only with Yahoo email downloads. Mac Mail downloads do not appear to be scanned. There is no information available from Yahoo on this. Unfortunately, I cannot reinstall the operating system because the Leopard upgrade I bought last year is now lost. We moved apartments recently and a bunch of our discs went missing. So I guess all I can do is ignore this problem and try to install Final Cut without uninstalling Norton. If anyone has another idea, please let me know.

Thanks again.

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Answer 15

Eric W.

Community Manager

Feb 17, 2009 8:37 AM in response to AlfieBB

It sounds like this is only Yahoo! scanning email attachments for you and not something installed on your system. From the Yahoo! mail info page

http://info.mail.yahoo.com/

You care about security. So do we.

Virus scanning and cleaning
To help keep you safe, Yahoo! Mail partners with Norton AntiVirus™ to scan all incoming messages -- then alert you of harmful viruses and automatically clean those viruses from messages*.

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