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Head-to-Head Antivirus Software Comparison


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    Which programs would you like to compare?

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    Note: Boxes with this color show the winner in each test.

    McAfee vs Norton
    Comparison Winner:
    $49.99
    McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2012 Review
    $39.99
    Norton Antivirus Software 2012 Review
    Category I: Virus & Spyware Protection
    Real-time Virus Protection 90 99
    Manual Virus Scanning 68 96
    Virus Removal 68 95
    USB Virus Scanning 69 70
    Spyware Detection 76 84
    Antivirus Updates 76 84
    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 90 99
    Chat/IM Protection 0 79
    Email Protection 0 90
    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 40 100
    Uninstallation 92 75
    Resource Usage 72 90
    User Interface 60 86
    Technical Support 71 70
    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