- Quick specs
- Price: Free to try (30-day trial); $39.99 to buy (Buy it now)
- Operating system: Windows XP/Vista/7
- Date added: September 09, 2009
- Total Downloads: 4,518,097
- Downloads last week: 45,348
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 472 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on September 16, 2009
In the 2010 version of its well-known antivirus program, Symantec continues to build on the unexpected progress it made last year. In addition to maintaining the quick load and scan times, and significantly smaller system footprint, Norton 2010 includes a behavioral detection engine based on both behavior and reputation.
Called Quorum, this new engine doesn't adversely affect Norton's performance--a major concern after years of system-crippling sluggishness. It works in concert with Norton Insight, introduced last year as a whitelist-style guard for ''trusted'' files. By examining your files and how they behave--both locally and when trying to access the Internet--and comparing them with other Norton users, Symantec claims that it offers better protection than its competitors. Like its competitors who also have behavioral detection systems, however, Norton allows you to opt out of anonymously submitting your data without sacrificing the protection that Quorum provides. Third-party detection and removal ratings are not available for this new version, but last year's results placed Norton in the upper echelon for efficacy.
Norton AntiVirus lacks the premium services offered in Norton Internet Security. These include a firewall, parental controls, Wi-Fi protection for unsecured hot spots, and identity protection including antiphishing tools and browser search result authentication for Internet Explorer and Firefox. Norton AntiVirus also offers only one license, instead of the three that come with its bigger brother. It does offer the same support network, lacking a searchable knowledge base but including e-mail, IM, phone support and the Symantec forums. The trial has been doubled from 15 days to 30. Norton's recent approach to performance and its continued efficacy make Norton AntiVirus 2010 a must-consider program for its class.
Publisher's description
From Symantec :Norton AntiVirus 2010 defends your PC against viruses, spyware, bots, worms, and more without slowing you down or getting in your way. Intelligence-driven technology identifies and targets only files at risk, for faster, less frequent scans. Vulnerability Protection prevents threats from exploiting security holes in your PC's software. Pulse Updates every 5 to 15 minutes and real-time online security checks help ensure continuous, up-to-the-minute protection against the latest threats.
Plus, unlike other antivirus solutions, Norton AntiVirus provides easy-to-understand threat explanations and information about CPU and memory resource usage to help you prevent future infections and keep your PC running fast.
CNET Editor's Note: The Download Now link will direct you to the developer's site where you'll be asked to provide your e-mail address to download a file.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 472 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 184 user reviewsSee all 184 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
118 out of 134 people found this review helpful
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2010 17.0
Pros: Nice looking interface and easy to use.
Cons: Norton came with my computer pre installed. Norton slows my computer down while in fullscan. It also slows down my boot up and boot down time and I am using 1 GB of memory. You can get better anti virus for free like Avast.
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104 out of 123 people found this review helpful
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2010 17.0
Pros: Nothing at all
Cons: takes way to many resources, and it has conflict with a lot of programs. Exept virus witch letīs them all work just fine
Summary:
Ok I'm no genius, but I never said that I was trying to run 2 antivirus programs AT THE SAME TIME, So please fredom... And I do insist that Norton is an exceeding and splendid pi... read more >>
Updated on Dec 19, 2009 -
102 out of 118 people found this review helpful
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2010 17.0
"Slow, resource intensive and doesn't work properly"
Pros: Nice GUI, broad range of features, reasonably easy to use
Cons: Ridiculously resource intensive, slowing other applications to a crawl if running a scan. Full system scans are amazingly slow - I often just gave up. Still missed malware that other antivirus/antispyware programs picked up.
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100 out of 116 people found this review helpful
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2010 17.0
"must be computer pro to deal with this"
Pros: In view of the cons have no positive opinion
Cons: Came pre-installed 30day trial, I renewed, pd $49 for 12 months, when I go to site, says my sybscriptioin has expired, and phising protetion off can't figure out how to turn on phising. Also, when chatting for help wait time long so I give up.
Summary: Customer support is non existing unless you have all day to resolve. Free protection comes with my IP, but being a dummy decided to pay for norton's pay version thinks it would be seamless--not so. The preloaded version was fine. Still will liketo ... read more >>
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72 out of 85 people found this review helpful
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2010 17.0
Pros: Slick user interface
Cons: Brought my computer to its knees making it virtually unusable
Summary: Takes forever to boot up and once up application and internet windows would lock up. Screen would turn gray, ctrl-alt delete unusable. Uninstalled 2009 and re-installed same result. I'm going back to version 2008.
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