I am currently a user of Norton, and have been for many years. Over the Fall, my subscription expired, and actually quit working. Not just quit updating, but quit protecting my computer based on the existing definitions. UNfortunately, my parents bought a 3-pack license for the latest version of Norton Internet Security, gave me the extra, and I know that it will do the same in about 10 months.
I thought I'd switch to McAfee, which I've known about for years, or BitDefender, which made the top of the list on toptenreviews.com this year, but I was able to find complaint posts on those two products as well, stating they too now lock down basic protection when the subscription is up.
I'm CONSIDERING Avast as my FUTURE replacement and as the one I might suggest to those who come to me for computer help/advice and want to know, WILL it quit working completely when the subscription for updates runs out, or will I BE ABLE to coast.
Understand, this is a political point for me. I consider software on my computer to be mine. An argument put forth on the Norton board was that magazine companies quit sending you magazines when the subscription runs out. Sure, but they don't IMPOUND THE ONES YOU ALREADY RECEIVED. I don't want to be complacent, because if it works for antivirus, I could see Microsoft deciding to ship OS subscriptions next. I intend to refuse to "rent" where I have always purchased before, and for the same price.
Do I switch to Avast in the future? Or do I keep looking?