8.3/ 10
SCORE
Norton Antivirus
Pros
- Extensive parental controls available on some plans
- Cloud backups for your most sensitive data
- High-quality safe browser
Cons
- Identity theft protection features are only for US-based users
- Higher resource usage than most competitors
- Reaching human customer support is difficult
Norton, which began its journey as an antivirus company in 1982, has evolved into a comprehensive cybersecurity provider. Its offerings now include a password manager, a safe browser, cloud backups for critical data, and privacy monitoring tools. For users in the United States, the LifeLock plans add an extra layer of identity theft protection and insurance. My experience with these tools revealed their intuitive design and effectiveness, particularly the parental controls, which make Norton an excellent choice for families.
The flagship product remains the antivirus software itself, characterized by easy setup and user-friendly navigation. The desktop versions come equipped with optimization tools for both Windows and MacOS, enabling software updates and junk file removal with minimal processing power and time, allowing users to swiftly return to their tasks.
Norton’s safe browser, along with its scam detection and privacy monitoring features, empowers users to manage their online data usage while safeguarding against phishing and other threats. Although the included storage may not suffice for a complete device backup, the cloud backup feature is a valuable addition not commonly found in other antivirus solutions. Parents can also take advantage of Norton Family, which facilitates the installation of parental controls on their children’s devices.
Norton antivirus features, plans, and pricing: Cybersecurity for all, identity theft protection for the US
Norton’s antivirus software encompasses all the essential features expected from a premium tool, including real-time protection, manual and automated scans, and scan scheduling. The cybersecurity suites extend beyond antivirus capabilities, offering scam detection, dark web monitoring, and identity theft protection for US residents.
A standout advantage of Norton is its parental controls, a feature that is often absent in many antivirus tools. This makes it particularly appealing for parents or caregivers who frequently allow children to use their devices. The cloud backup service, while limited in storage, provides additional security for important documents, although users seeking extensive backups may need to explore other options.
However, one notable drawback is the absence of family plans; while users can add devices to their plans, they do not receive individual login credentials or identity protection. For those looking to include multiple users, alternatives like Bitdefender or Malwarebytes may be more suitable.
Free Norton tools
While Norton does not offer a free version of its antivirus, several free cybersecurity tools are available, including a password manager, data breach scan, safe browser, and safe search. The Norton Genie app allows users to share suspicious messages or content with an AI for quick analysis, providing insights into potential scams.
Norton AntiVirus Plus
Norton AntiVirus Plus caters to users with basic security needs and limited budgets, offering a fully-featured antivirus, a password manager, and 2GB of cloud backups. The cost for one device is for the first year, renewing at annually. For five devices, the initial cost is , with a renewal fee of . For those with two or three devices, Norton 360 Standard is a more economical choice, providing additional features like dark web monitoring and a VPN.
Norton 360 Standard
Norton 360 Standard is designed for average users concerned about scams and privacy but not identity theft. It includes the core antivirus and password manager, along with a VPN, scam protection tools, dark web monitoring, and parental controls. The plan costs for the first year and upon renewal, covering up to three devices.
Norton 360 Deluxe
Norton 360 Deluxe serves as a minor upgrade for parents and users with four to five devices seeking enhanced cybersecurity. It encompasses all features of Norton 360 Standard, plus parental controls via Norton Family and up to 50GB of cloud backups. The pricing is for the first year, renewing at 5 annually.
Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Plus
This plan is tailored for individuals concerned about identity theft, offering privacy monitoring, one-bureau credit monitoring, and LifeLock identity theft protection, along with up to ,000 in stolen funds reimbursement. It includes 250GB of cloud backups for added security. The cost is 0 for the first year, renewing at 0, covering up to 10 devices. This plan is exclusive to US residents due to its focus on US-specific monitoring systems.
Norton antivirus usability: Fast, simple setup for tech newbies and pros alike
Upon setting up an account with the Norton 360 Deluxe plan, I evaluated Norton’s usability across three key areas: account navigation, installation/setup for the primary antivirus, and setup for additional tools like the VPN. Most of Norton’s tools were straightforward to set up, even for those less technically inclined.
Account navigation
Signing up for Norton is a user-friendly process, requiring basic account and payment information. If you opt for a LifeLock plan, you’ll also need to enter your monitored address and credit card details. Following this, you can download your antivirus or access the account dashboard.
The account dashboard prominently displays all Norton services linked to your account, with clear buttons directing you to manage these tools. While upsells for additional services appear, they are not intrusive enough to detract from the user experience.
Installation and setup
Upon signup, Norton offers two options: install the antivirus on your current device or send download links to others. I chose to install it on my active computer, and the process took just two clicks and about a minute. Norton then presented an expanded setup screen, allowing me to toggle various features on or off, all of which are enabled by default for ease of use.
After completing the essential setup tasks, Norton recommends running an immediate smart scan, which I appreciated. This scan took only two minutes, and the entire initial setup—from account creation to accessing the antivirus dashboard—took around five minutes, making it accessible for non-tech-savvy users.
Norton antivirus performance: Moderate resource usage for rapid scans
Over two days, I ran Norton while performing everyday tasks like browsing the internet and editing images. Norton operated smoothly in the background without disrupting my computer’s performance. The speed of various scans was impressive, although deep scans utilized more resources compared to leading competitors.
Background performance
During my testing, Norton consumed between 0% to 5% of CPU power and less than 100MB of memory while I engaged in routine activities. While this performance is commendable, it showed more variability than top-ranking tools like Malwarebytes and Bitdefender, which consistently used less than 0.5% of CPU power.
Active scans
Throughout my testing, I conducted several scans, including smart and full scans. The resource usage during these scans ranged from 10% to 40% of CPU power, which is higher than comparable scans from Bitdefender and Malwarebytes. However, Norton’s rapid scan speed, particularly the 10-minute full scans, mitigated the impact of this resource usage.
Usability and performance of additional tools: A mixed bag
Norton has introduced several cybersecurity tools to complement its antivirus, including device optimization tools, a safe browser, password manager, scam detector, privacy monitor, parental controls, and a VPN. Most of these tools are user-friendly and effective, although the safe search feature was cluttered with excessive sponsored links, and the VPN significantly slowed down my internet speed.
Device optimization tools
Norton provides a software updater, file cleanup tool, and startup manager, similar to the optimization suite integrated with Malwarebytes. However, Norton’s tools have the added advantage of being compatible with MacOS. The performance scan, akin to a smart scan, analyzes the computer for both viruses and operating system vulnerabilities, although it often leads to upsells for additional services.
Safe Browser and safe search
Norton’s Safe Browser offers enhanced security features, including an anti-tracking tool and malware detection capabilities. However, the safe search function is bogged down by numerous sponsored results, which diminishes its effectiveness. While the safe browser is beneficial for those seeking greater control over their online security, the safe search feature may not meet the expectations of most users.
Password manager
Norton’s Password Manager is integrated into the safe browser and can also be added as an extension for popular browsers. It allows users to securely store logins, credit card details, and addresses, with options for bulk importing and exporting data.
Scam Detector and Norton Genie
Norton’s scam detection tool operates in the background, scanning websites and text messages for suspicious activities. The Norton Genie AI tool allows users to analyze potentially harmful content, providing insights into identifying scams.
Privacy monitor
The privacy monitoring tool scans over 200 data broker sites for personal information. While it returned several results, there were questions about the accuracy of the data found. Users can request data removal manually or opt for the Privacy Monitor Assistant add-on for automated requests.
Norton Family
Norton Family allows parents to create profiles for their children, setting restrictions based on age and monitoring screen time. This feature is a significant advantage, as few antivirus tools offer such comprehensive parental controls.
VPN
Norton’s VPN masks users’ IP addresses while browsing. Despite improvements, it still lacks advanced privacy features and has a smaller server network compared to competitors. Users can manually enable the VPN or set it to activate automatically on unsafe networks.
Norton antivirus security: Excellent antivirus protection, solid privacy policies
Third-party lab results indicate that Norton consistently excels in detecting malware and other threats. Its password manager and backup systems utilize top-tier encryption protocols, ensuring data security.
Antivirus
Norton has maintained a perfect security ranking from AV-Test for over a decade, showcasing its reliability in threat detection. AV-Comparatives also reported a high online detection rate, reinforcing Norton’s reputation for effective protection.
Privacy policy and data breaches
Norton’s privacy policies outline its data collection practices, emphasizing the removal of personal identifiers where possible. While some data is shared with third-party companies for marketing purposes, Norton has demonstrated transparency in its handling of data breaches, promptly addressing issues as they arise.
Norton antivirus customer service
Norton provides self-serve customer support through a community forum and knowledge base, alongside 24/7 support via live chat and phone. However, the absence of email support may be a drawback for some users. My experience with the knowledge base revealed comprehensive and accessible information, although the search function could be improved.
Direct communication
Accessing direct support requires navigating through several steps, including specifying the type of issue. While the live chat feature connected me to a representative quickly, the phone support experience was less efficient, with a longer wait time to reach a human agent.
Norton antivirus value: Good for parents and those on a budget
Norton offers competitive pricing, particularly for families or users with multiple devices. Its unique free tools and affordable plans provide substantial value, especially for those seeking comprehensive protection without breaking the bank. However, users requiring advanced cybersecurity features may find better options with other antivirus providers.
Norton: Is it right for you?
Norton is particularly well-suited for users seeking robust online protection and parents wanting to safeguard their children’s internet usage. While it offers effective antivirus capabilities, alternatives like Bitdefender or Malwarebytes may be more efficient in terms of resource usage and overall cybersecurity features.
- Intuitive interfaces: From signup to scanning to setting up parental controls, Norton systems are remarkably easy to navigate.
- Helpful device optimization tools: The startup application manager and junk file cleaner can significantly improve your device’s performance.
- Robust Safe Browser: Norton’s Safe Browser includes various enhanced security protocols.
- Cloud backups: Norton allows automatic backups of important data to encrypted cloud storage.
- Parental controls: Norton Family helps manage screen time and restrict access to harmful websites.
- High device limits: Norton’s highest-tier plan covers up to 10 devices without additional fees.
Norton antivirus FAQs
Does Norton 360 slow down my computer?
No, Norton 360 won’t slow down your computer if you’re using a relatively recent machine. However, some older computers may experience performance issues.
How effective is Norton 360 against ransomware and malware?
Norton 360 is highly effective against ransomware and malware, consistently earning top marks in third-party testing.
Can Norton 360 protect multiple devices with one subscription?
Yes, Norton 360 can protect up to 10 devices with one subscription, depending on the plan purchased.
Does Norton 360 work on Mac, Windows and mobile devices?
Yes, Norton 360 is compatible with both MacOS and Windows, and it also has mobile apps for Android and iOS.
Norton 360 vs. McAfee: Which is better?
Norton 360 generally uses fewer resources than McAfee, making it a preferable choice for most users. However, McAfee offers unlimited device protection on many plans.
Is Norton 360 better than Windows Defender?
Yes, Norton 360 surpasses Microsoft Defender in flexibility, performance optimization tools, and overall detection rates.