2012 Antivirus Software Ratings

Compare 2012's best antivirus software.
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VIPRE
Review
BitDefender
Review
Kaspersky
Review
AVG
Review
avast
Review
Norton
Review
Trend Micro
Review
ESET
Review
$39.95
$39.95
$59.95
$39.99
$39.99
$39.99
$39.95
$39.99
$29.95$35.95$49.95$31.99$34.99 $23.95 
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Compare Antivirus SoftwareCompare Internet Security
Choose any two antivirus programs to compare them.

vs.


VS.

Note: Boxes with this color show the winner in each test.
Where do you need
antivirus software?
How many PCs
need antivirus software?
Remove viruses: 10
Prevent hackers: 10
Prevent spyware: 10
Prevent viruses: 10
Antivirus update controls: 10
Email scanning: 10
Easy-to-install: 10
Scanning speed: 10
Runs efficiently:
(Doesn't slow down PC.)
10
Phone-based tech support: 10
Would you prefer
antivirus software with
a built-in firewall?
Which do you
need to protect?
Do you need to manage the antivirus software for your office from one PC or should each PC be managed individually?

Norton vs McAfee

Comparison Winner:
$39.99
Norton Antivirus Software 2012 Review
$49.99
McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2012 Review
Category I: Virus & Spyware Protection
Real-time Virus Protection 99 90
Manual Virus Scanning 96 68
Virus Removal 95 68
USB Virus Scanning 70 69
Spyware Detection 84 76
Antivirus Updates 84 76
Winner: Norton Antivirus Software 2012
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.

39.99
Comparison Winner: Norton Antivirus Software 2012
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