RE: Remote Desktop and VPN issues

First pass do "symantec".  Then a probable second pass searching for
"norton".  That should catch pretty much everything.  You'll find
entries related not only to the products themselves but to their Live
Update module.

Also, note that if you have pcAnywhere installed that'll show up.  If
you have it and need it, best to simply re-install it when done with the
registry cleanup.

Supposedly, Symantec has a removal tool on their site that'll do the
cleanup that Uninstall fails to do, so you might invest a few minutes
searching it first.

CounterSpy has the same engine as the MS Anti-Spyware app because the
technology is cross-licensed (it pre-dates MS buying Giant).  CS
enhances that with an additional engine.  It has consistently been rated
tops or nearly so in most shootouts.  AIR it costs about $30 for a
2-year license good for 2 PCs; an apparent ideal fit for your
environment.

NOD-32 is a highly rated AV product.  Smallish footprint, frequent
updates, etc.  But not free.  A free trial is available.  I use it on my
wife's PC while I use AVG on the others.

Brian Livingston's Windows Secrets newsletter does ongoing ratings and
links to reviews of the various personal security products.
http://www.windowssecrets.com/

Ed Foster's Gripe Log is now doing an annual survery for AV software:
http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2005/8/1/0559/03379  F-prot,
F-Secure, and Kaspersky would also be decent alternatives.

Re: DNS: Control Panel - Network Connections and go into the Properties
of your LAN connection.  Click on Internet Protocol and then on
Properties.  On the General tab, you'll probably note that "Obtain DNS
server address automatically" is checked.  (BTW, that's a little
redundant: Domain Name Server server").  Change it to "Use the following
DNS server addresses" and put in 4.2.2.2 / 4.2.2.4.