Norton Vs. McAfee
Computer owners must protect their machines from malicious software like viruses, worms and Trojan horses. Norton and McAfee are two of the most popular manufacturers of software that protect your computer from malicious threats. You definitely want the best anti-virus program for your money, so it is important to understand just what type of protection both Norton and McAfee offer you.
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Identification
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As of 2010, both Norton AntiVirus 2010 and McAfee VirusScan Plus 2010 have a retail price of $39.99. Both programs offer protection from a variety of malicious programs and allow you to do up to the minute virus definition updates. McAfee works on Windows 7, XP, Vista and 2000, while Norton is compatible with Windows 7 and XP. Both programs require 256 MB of RAM. McAfee needs 150 MB of free hard drive space, while Norton needs 200 MB free.
Installing
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Both programs are quite easy and quick to install, according to PCAntiVirusReviews.com. Both come with an install wizard that guides you through the process. Norton does not require a CD drive. You just instantly download the software. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes and you are ready to go with the most up-to-date virus definitions. McAfee takes longer to download and install, according to PCAntiVirusReviews.com. The entire process takes about 20 minutes partly because you have to download a program to collects all the downloadable content first. Like Norton, you will start off with the most up to date virus protection.
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Interface
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Ease of use when using the software's interface is an important aspect of any decision. PCAntiVirusReviews.com reports McAfee's interface is very easy to use with a minimal learning curve. You can switch between basic and advanced views depending on how in-depth you want to customize your software. While Norton's interface also offers basic and advanced modes, it can be complicated to navigate. Norton users may find themselves confused as software navigation is not centralized and difficult to figure out.
Function
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According to PCAntiVirusReviews.com, Norton caught about 85 percent of the viruses on test machines in both real-time protection and manual scanning. McAfee performed well on real-time scanning, and picked up 75 percent of the viruses on the test machines during manual scanning. When scanning for Spyware, Norton picked up 60 percent of spyware on the test machine, while McAfee found 75 percent. As far as email protection, Norton scans both incoming and outgoing mail and is compatible with Outlook, Express, as well as POP and SMTP clients. McAfee scans all email types, including web-based email. Both programs also offer protection for those who use IM software. McAfee's program also comes with a firewall and anti-phishing protection.
Customer Service and Updates
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Customer service is not great for either product, according to PCAntiVirusReviews.com. McAfee does offer free service on email and chat, but it will cost you between $10 and $60 for help over the phone. However, Norton has phone only support and it is not free either.
Norton offers what it calls "pulse updates." This means virus definitions are updated every three to 15 minutes to keep abreast of the latest threats. However, these definitions are not fully tested. Norton offers larger, more complete updates several times per day. McAfee does not offer daily update definitions, but you can set the program to automatically update your software whenever new definitions come in.
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References
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