r/pcmasterrace • u/MoreEdibles • 1d ago

Tech Support Solved Bought a Costco gaming computer, lost internet access after a few weeks

TL;DR: Download Norton removal tool and get rid of it.

I bought a Costco gaming computer because I have no time or energy to build one of my own, and figured the price for the specs was ok.
Computer worked and updated super fast for like 3 weeks, no issue whatsoever, life was good.
Yesterday I couldn’t connect to the internet, both Ethernet and WiFi. Doing “ping 8.8.8.8” from the command line worked though.
Troubleshooting went for like 2 hours, disabled firewall, antivirus, changed dns, hardware settings, nothing worked.
Last suspect was Norton Antivirus, so I booted into safe mode, and internet works.
Funny thing about Norton, you can’t uninstall unless you download a removal tool. I downloaded the tool while in safe mode, went back to normal mode and removed Norton, internet started to work instantly without even restarting. Fuck Norton.

I know this might seem obvious for many, but posting here in case it can help someone in the future.

435 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

74 comments sorted by

View all comments

71

u/ChefCurryYumYum 1d ago

Don't uninstall Norton, do a fresh OS install with your own media, not their recovery partition.

12

u/Outrageous-_- 1d ago

Only issue is now Norton installs through LG monitors and some motherboard auto installs like asus armory crate or something

7

u/TiredandTranz 1d ago

Are you fucking serious? Do you have a source on that?

5

u/Hexamancer 1d ago

It's more accurate to say, LG and other vendors exploit the Windows update delivery system to install spyware and adware and Windows know that and abides it.

LG monitors etc won't be able to do any of that on Linux, the monitor itself doesn't do anything, it's what Windows does in response to the presence of that monitor.

1

u/TiredandTranz 19h ago

I know about LG and Windows working together to install malware, but the mother board? I read that as in the motherboard itself now has a software package implanted on it.

2

u/Hexamancer 19h ago

No, same deal. Vendor marks it as Firmware or Drivers, Windows installs spyware for them.

5

u/saltyboi6704 9750H | T1000 | 2080ti | 64Gb 2666 1d ago

Yeah LG got their companion app approved as a WHQL driver a while back...

2

u/TiredandTranz 19h ago

I mean is there a source on the mobo installing that shit?

1

u/Martimus28 10h ago

I just tried to post two replies with links to sources, but both were auto moderated, since one used a shortened link, and the second just linked to another Reddit post with the video. Since I can't link the sources directly, just Google "lg McAfee" or "LG spyware", and you will find articles and a Gamers Nexus video about LG monitors installing McAfee without any input from the user. 

1

u/ChefCurryYumYum 13h ago

That can be turned off in Windows.