With a score of 8.6 out of 10, Norton Antivirus continues to be a stalwart in the realm of digital security, having been established in 1982. Its longevity raises the question: has it maintained its relevance in an ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape? After a week of thorough analysis and testing of its 360 Deluxe package, the findings reveal that Norton’s tools are not only fast and effective but also user-friendly. The company’s commitment to privacy and security protocols is commendable, although it lacks certain features that competitors offer, such as digital footprint visualization and online account management.
Norton Antivirus Features
Norton’s core antivirus software encompasses all the essential features expected from a premium tool, including real-time protection, manual and automated scans, and scan scheduling. Notably, every Norton plan includes the Genie Scam Detector, an AI-driven tool that scrutinizes text messages and web activity for signs of cybercrime, along with a password manager. Additionally, users benefit from 2GB of cloud backups—an offering not commonly found among other antivirus providers.
Beyond the basics, Norton provides security packages that include a VPN, dark web monitoring, privacy management, and parental controls. Advanced plans even offer financial security features like identity theft protection and credit monitoring. However, it’s important to note that Norton does not provide identity theft insurance, which may be a drawback for individuals with substantial assets. For the average user, though, the cloud backup feature is likely to be more beneficial than high-level identity theft insurance.
Norton Antivirus Plans and Pricing
Norton offers four distinct cybersecurity plans:
<th class="c-shortcodeChartcharthasBg”>Plan <th class="c-shortcodeChartcharthasBg”>Norton Antivirus Plus <th class="c-shortcodeChartcharthasBg”>Norton 360 Standard <th class="c-shortcodeChartcharthasBg”>Norton 360 Deluxe <th class="c-shortcodeChartcharthasBg”>Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Plus
| Identity protection features | Cloud backup space | Who it’s best for | Price |
| Scam protection; password manager | 2GB | Average users with only one device to protect | for the first year; per year after |
| VPN; dark web monitoring | 2GB | Average users with up to three devices to protect | for the first year; per year after |
| Privacy monitor; parental controls | 50GB | Parents; users with four or five devices | for the first year; 0 per year after |
| LifeLock Identity Theft Protection; stolen wallet protection | 250GB | Users concerned about identity theft | 0 for the first year; 0 per year after |
While Norton does not provide family plans for its main antivirus offerings, family plans for LifeLock are available to protect multiple family members from identity theft.
Norton Antivirus Usability
Setting up an account with the Norton 360 Deluxe plan proved to be a straightforward experience, with the installation process for the primary antivirus and additional tools like the VPN being quick and user-friendly. The account dashboard is intuitively designed, featuring clear links for managing connected devices, scam protection, and dark web monitoring.
Account Navigation
The dashboard is organized with a helpful block that guides users through feature setup upon first login. While the billing management link is somewhat hidden within the My Account drop-down menu, the overall navigation remains accessible, allowing users to manage their security with ease.
Installation and Setup
Norton’s installer efficiently downloaded the core antivirus in approximately two minutes, allowing users to select desired features right from the start. Following installation, a prompt to run a Smart Scan simplifies the process of checking device security, a feature that enhances user experience significantly.
Norton Antivirus Performance
Over two days of testing, Norton demonstrated impressive performance while executing common tasks such as web browsing and image editing. The software operated smoothly in the background, utilizing minimal CPU and disk space, which suggests that even advanced tasks like gaming or video editing can be performed without hindrance.
Background Performance
During routine activities, Norton consumed only around 0.2% of CPU power and 0.5% of disk space for real-time protection, indicating its efficiency. The initial Smart Scan was completed in just two minutes, showcasing Norton’s ability to deliver quick results without compromising system performance.
Active Scans
Full scans were equally efficient, taking under ten minutes while using between 1% and 2% of CPU resources. This efficiency stands out compared to competitors, making Norton a reliable choice for users seeking effective antivirus solutions.
Norton Antivirus Security
Norton’s security measures are robust, consistently earning high marks in third-party testing. The antivirus has maintained a perfect security ranking from AV-Test for over a decade, demonstrating its effectiveness in combating malware and cyber threats.
Overall Security Score
With comprehensive encryption protocols and a transparent privacy policy, Norton’s security practices are commendable. However, the company has experienced a data breach in the past five years, which slightly affects its overall security ranking.
Norton Antivirus Customer Service
Norton provides a knowledge base and community forum for self-service support, alongside 24/7 live chat and phone support. While the knowledge base is well-organized, the reliance on AI for answering questions can be frustrating, as it often delays access to relevant articles.
Overall Customer Support Score
Despite the solid knowledge base, the challenges in reaching human representatives and the quality of phone support lead to a customer support ranking of 8 out of 10, which is lower than some competitors.
Norton Antivirus Value
When compared to other leading antivirus solutions, Norton’s pricing is competitive, particularly for its higher-tier plans. However, the absence of certain features, such as identity theft insurance, may deter users with significant assets.
Overall Value Score
In conclusion, while Norton offers solid value for average users, those seeking advanced protection features may find better options with competitors. This results in a value ranking of 8 out of 10.
