How to Get Rid of Norton Security Scan
I was tired -- it was either very late or late or early and I absent mindedly clicked YES on a message that came with a notification that Java needed updating. The cursor arrow was even sitting right on the Yes box. This lack of vigilance on my part plonked Norton Security Scan onto my desktop. I didn't want it so I started the process of trying to remove it.
I tried Add/Remove on the Control Panel, and it came back. I tried the Uninstaller provided by the company, and nothing happened. I emailed asking for help, but NSS isn't even on the product list you must choose from to submit the request so I had to lie about what product I had to get their attention. I searched for an answer in the Google Pack forum and others, but found mostly teeth-grinding frustration at not being able to make this monster clear out.
Source: http://imageport.wordpress.com/category/general/
Finally I arrived at the website of the hero of this piece: Ask Dave Taylor . I now understand that the solution lies in removing Symantec files from C Drive and then emptying the trash after deleting NSS via the Control Panel. I followed Dave's instructions, except for the bit about going into the registry because ironically his link for how to first back up the registry returns me to a Symantec site, and I will not have anything to do with them again. It is with great satisfaction that I can say: NSS has left the building -- or at least my desktop.
PLEASE BEWARE -- NSS seems to piggy-back on a collection of other programs and services such as Google Pack, Java updates, Adobe Shockwave, and even some programs needed for some HP printers. The actual list is much longer I'm sure. Watch carefully for messages like this one:
Source: http://digitalwildwest.com/category/shockwave-player/
To Ask Dave & the person from whom these instructions originally came, David Rice-->
Source: http://www.myspace.com/liliusdey
AND to Symantec -- whose online instructions are not complete enough to help people like me get rid of their 'gatecrasher', and who told me when I wrote asking for some help that the file was probably damaged and then implied I ought to keep my computer running better with Windows Update -->
Source: http://stu-ath.livejournal.com/
QUESTION 1: When did Norton cross the line from being a company with a mission to help people and become the very sort of intrusion many of us want to prevent from getting into our computers?
QUESTION 2: What are some other programs to which have you found NSS attached? We really should try to compile a 'hazmat style' list to warn others. NQ
