With better performance in 5 of our 6 antivirus and anti-spyware test categories, Norton easily beats McAfee.
In the one category where McAfee did carry the day, Antivirus Updates, it's the least important of the six categories, and it won by just one point, a margin almost not
worth mentioning in this particular category.
Category II: Additional Security Features
Web Protection
99
90
Chat/IM Protection
79
0
Email Protection
90
0
Winner: Norton Antivirus Software 2012
While both products only offer good web protection, Norton wins this category, too, since McAfee doesn't provide email virus protection like Norton does.
Sure, we saw McAfee doing better at protecting against IM-based viruses, but that's less important for most people than having the type of email and web protection that Norton does.
Category III: Other Usability Factors
Installation
100
40
Uninstallation
75
92
Resource Usage
90
72
User Interface
65
60
Technical Support
70
71
Winner: Norton Antivirus Software 2012
While McAfee wins the least important category, uninstallation, in our comparison of McAfee vs Norton here again, it's another landslide for Norton, with it winning five of these six areas, too.
Conclusion:
vs.
When you compare Norton vs McAfee, it's a clear win for Norton in our book.
Both companies may both be heavyweights in the PC security business, but Norton impressively captures five of six of our most important antivirus tests,
and it also winsn bothour Additional Security Features and Other Usability Factors.
On top of that, it has a great installer and even offers Virus Removal Assurance for one year as a nominal $10 upgrade.
For 2012, the verdict is clear: Norton Antivirus beats McAfee.
