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I tested Norton Antivirus for six weeks - and its biggest strength wasn't what I expected
Norton Antivirus
pros and cons
- Excellent real-world protection
- Deep scan tools
- Quiet operation
- Key features behind paywalls
- AI assistant can be unreliable
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Continuing my journey with today's antivirus programs, I spent the last month and a half using Norton Antivirus as my primary security suite to see whether the cybersecurity veteran is still a top-tier service. The answer to that question is a mixed yes and no.
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As an antivirus tool, Norton is excellent. It ranks among the best for malware protection and houses many powerful security tools. However, the service gets bogged down by intrusive elements that hampered my overall experience. Not to the point of uninstalling the program; it is still highly capable, but it did sour me on an otherwise great antivirus solution.
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Layout
Norton Antivirus shares a similar layout to Malwarebytes, sporting a Home tab serving as a central hub that gives a quick overview of your PC's health. Additional categories are organized along the left-hand side in a clean, easy-to-navigate interface.
As you can see in the image below, Norton shows that my system contained over 166GB of junk files, slowing down 30 apps. Clicking Continue brings up a detailed explanation of the issues detected. If you click Continue again on this new page, you are redirected to a window promoting Norton Utilities Ultimate, a separate subscription that will clean up said junk. If you close that page, another pop-up appears offering a 60-day free trial.
I wasn't a fan of this up-selling. I don't appreciate having to pay for another subscription to access Norton's full service. And it's not cheap either. After the trial, you'll have to pay $45.73 to continue using Ultimate Utilities for the remainder of your first year with Norton antivirus. After that, it's $70 a year for Ultimate Utilities on top of Norton's normal cost.
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For a premium security suite, I found it disappointing that several features are locked behind paywalls. It's easily my biggest complaint with the overall Norton experience.
Scanning tools
Norton's scanning features are among its strongest areas, offering an exceptionally comprehensive toolkit. You have the standard Quick Scan and Full Scan that other services provide. But there's also Smart Scan, which checks your PC for any privacy and performance issues, plus Targeted Scan for individual files and folders.
The most interesting option is Startup Scan. This tool searches for deeply embedded malware during the Windows boot process that might otherwise evade traditional scans. I performed this scan, and after about 15 minutes, Norton uncovered a hidden Trojan I didn't know was there. Windows Defender didn't detect it, and neither did Malwarebytes when I tested it a few months ago.
Below the Scan section on the Home tab is Scam Protection, a collection of security tools that aim to protect users from online scams and phishing attacks. It performed well during testing, consistently stopping viruses dead in their tracks and alerting me when I was about to visit a potentially malicious web page.
This section also houses some of Norton's more niche features, such as Deepfake Protection, which analyzes video and audio played in an app to determine whether a sample has been altered or generated by AI.
Also: I trusted Malwarebytes to secure my PC for a month - here's how it performed
Similar to Malwarebytes, Norton Antivirus has its own AI assistant called Genie. It will answer all your burning cybersecurity questions and analyze suspicious emails, texts, and links. I found it to be quite reliable. I uploaded screenshots of multiple spam emails I received, and the assistant correctly flagged them all as scams, even providing an explanation of the scam type.
Performance
Now, how effective is Norton as an antivirus? Very effective. On multiple occasions, it stopped malicious files that slipped past my browser's defenses and even my ISP's security filters. But I don't think anecdotal evidence tells the full story. Let's take a look at data collected by MRG Effitas, an industry-leading cybersecurity organization that tests the effectiveness of antivirus programs.
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According to the organization's June 2026 Consumer Assessment report, Norton ranked among the top performers, blocking 98% of malware samples and producing no false positives. However, it's not the best. The service had a 0.33% malware miss rate, meaning a handful of threats slipped through its defenses. As a result, Norton earned a Level 2 certification from MRG Effitas. That's still a mark of excellence, although Malwarebytes edged it out by detecting every malware sample in its assessments.
Even so, this small gap, in my opinion, will be negligible for most people. Based on my hands-on testing and independent lab results, Norton stands tall as a powerful antivirus, providing excellent protection year-round.
ZDNET's buying advice
Norton Antivirus is available across multiple personal plans, with Norton 360 Deluxe offering the best overall value. It is currently on sale for $50 for the first year, then increases to $125 annually after the introductory period. The Standard plan costs $40 for the first year, then $95, while the Select Plus plan costs $100 for the first year and $190 thereafter.
I am having a hard time recommending Norton over Malwarebytes. I am not a fan of the paywalled features. The notices appear after performing a Smart Scan, and there's even a dedicated Store tab off to the side, serving as a constant reminder. Malwarebytes has its paywalls, but they don't feel as intrusive, and the features feel more supplementary than crucial.
That said, Norton has its advantages. It catches threats that other antivirus programs miss, thanks to Startup Scan. Plus, the service provides a comprehensive security suite with unique features like its very own privacy-focused browser, password manager, cloud backup, and easy-to-use startup manager, just to name a few. If you're looking for an all-in-one security package, Norton is a great choice.