Norton AntiVirus 2012 for Mac User Reviews
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"Never lets me down. Good software and dependable."
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 11.0
Pros
Been around a long time-first to catch threats
Cons
Was $89.99 -price now lower
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"poor marketing policy"
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 10.1.2
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I've always read the bad reviews of this product on this site but I've felt I'd rather be safe than sorry.
At the beginning of this month I got annoying reminders that my subscription would expire on December 8th. I finally responded and downloaded the latest version (11). I am now told that I will have to re-subscribe on Nov 29th instead of Dec 8th. By doing what their program asked me to do I have lost 10 days on my new subscription.
If you re-subscribe don do it until the expiration date. -
"Recommended, with some caution about AutoProtect."
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 10.1.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Change the default AutoProtect settings to scan only downloads folders, such as for mail and perhaps another one you create as default downloads folder for everything else. Also, make sure compressed archives are not scanned in both NAV main app and in AutoProtect preferences. Scanning archives when downloaded is unnecessary, when you download an archive to a downloads folder scanned by Autoprotect I believe the file will be scanned by AutoProtect after it's uncompressed (as long as the folder is a SafeZone). Scanning compressed archives if you manually scan the whole drive is also unnecessary, simply use the NAV contextual menu to scan the files after they are uncompressed. Scanning compressed archives has always been problematic with NAV, from the classic OS to the present.
It seems that you can avoid most of the issues with NAV that pop up regularly by changing AutoProtect default settings. NAV 10 default is too make the whole hard drive a SafeZone, & I have always thought that was overkill and would probably lead to some issues. So, if you use NAV, then fine tune its settings to truly limit what AutoProtect covers and run a manual scan of the whole drive now and then.
With a few recent virus stories related to Mac OS X, it seems the need for antivirus is becoming more of a concern. Any of the major av programs are ok, whether NAV, Intego VirusBarrier, or the free ClamXav.
I actually like VirusBarrier the most except for two big issues, it is always on, you can not disable its background scan. (NAV's best feature is that its AutoProtect feature is easily disabled). The other VirusBarrier issue is its crazy annual virus definition fee, which I believe is up to $30.
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"IMO, NAV itself is a malware..."
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 10.0.2
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I have been using NAV on my Windows machine for a couple of years now, and have been very happy with it. When my Mac started acting funny I decided to install NAV 10 on it to see if my disk was infested with viruses/malware.
Installation was very easy. Right after the installation, however, you are prompted to log out and log in back into your system. Upon re-login the program started scanning all the external HDs I had attached to my system, and did this without running any updates. Usually I wouldn't care too much, but these scans went on for (drumroll....) 10 hours or so! (on a half full 80GB drive).
OK... So the scans take eons... I just wanted to pass my disks once through the process anyway, so that's not too big of a deal. However, the NAV program tries to protect you from all possible evils! Each time you add a drive to your computer, it tries to scan it through... 10 hours here, 10 hours there. Of course it gets annoying, and you learn to kill these scans swiftly. You would think that there would be options, preferences or something, right? Well... no. At least the GUI does not give you many options to tinker with. They know how to protect you! You don't! So shut up and sit down!
The evil-buster runs as a process in the background. For those of you with recent machines, this may not be a problem, but in my 3.5 yo PowerBook, this means 30% CPU usage continuously. Not good... but you do keep your hands warm on your keyboard this way (fan noise gets annoying, though).
Another problem with this background process is that you cannot really turn it on or off at your discression. If you kill the NAV process (you need root access), it comes back. This is a good thing I guess, considering the function of this program, but because of this, I used the method of trashing the program folder (didn't see an uninstaller, or uninstall info in the readme files). This doesn't kill the processes currently running, but I am hoping that once I restart my machine, they will not start up. So cross your fingers...
Therefore, IMO, this program itself is a malware. It is a nuisance, an annoyance you'd rather not have. Regardless of how much I like the Windows version, I will never install this thing again on my Mac... -
"norton antivirus"
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 10.1.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
super -
"Completely Useless"
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 10.0.2
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Hmmmmm, let's think about this for a minute - there are no viruses for OS X. ClamXav is FREE and is an App - you drop the App into Applications and that's it. NAV crop sprays files all over your system, so if you want to uninstall you need to run a 'Wizard' to do that for you. NAV is also responsible for slowing down your system with 101 background processes taking up to 70% of your CPU.
Even if a virus was released today for OS X, NAV (as well as every other av product) would be completely useless until a cure was found, posted online and then downloaded, installed and run on your Mac.
Anti-virus makers need to rethink the way their software works, at the moment it only patches things it knows about, not pre-emptive at all. Saying that, you only need anti-virus if you use an OS with a terrible security model (XP, XP ME, 98, 95, Vista, XP SBE etc.) -
"Useless"
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 10.0.2
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
1-After 5 years of existence, there has NEVER been a SINGLE virus on Mac OS X. ZERO.
2-If One day, someone finds a way to really create one, this anti-virus will be useless as it doesn't know the virus. You would have to update it, THEN try to clean your files etc.
So OS X is MUCH more vulnerable than we think, hun? Cool, I'll make a deal with you, Norton: As soon as OS X viruses start appearing, I'll buy your product and create a clean boot disk to clean my ingected Mac.
Since OS X is so vulnerable, it shouldn't be long until you see a lot of cash flowing in... -
"No Problems"
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 10.0.0.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Never had a serious issue with v. 10 or 9. I recommend rebooting after virus updates. Also, I do not use universal Safe Zone, I select download folders and Mail folders to make them Safe Zones. I scan Home folder manually maybe once a week.
Antivirus may not be essential yet for Mac, but I use Virtual PC and also prefer not to accidentally forward PC viruses to windows users. -
"Only way to go if your Symantac AV fan for Tiger."
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 10.0.0.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
If on Tiger and if you like Symantec Anti-Virus fan then this verion 10.* is only way to go. If you have Symantec Anti-Virus 9.* won't scan new mounted files because of the library change so I won't load correctly. I have both Clamav and Symantec AV and each has advantages so you need to pick which on is the best for you. -
"Better than NAV9"
Version: Norton AntiVirus 2012 10.0.0.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
10.0.1 seems to be faster (maybe it's my imagination). NAV 10 is definitley an improvement on 9.This week it has turned up 6 'infections' that NAV for windows on our server has missed completely even though its defenitions are bang up to date.
As pejroberts points out it is a lot less 'in your face' than previous versions and have just taken a look at keweenawkid's suggestion of ClamXav and it looks very good, so I'm going to try it and I guess I'll finally ditch Virex (not that I ever use it any more).
I really wish that we didn't need software like this (I know, I know! â?? we don't 'there are no Mac viruses'- pity it's not that easy), what a waste of time and money because some puerile selfish people think â?? well actually... I don't know what they think!
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