Which Norton product is best for me? Norton 360 5.0, Norton Internet Security 2012 or Norton AntiVirus 2012?
Norton offers a wide range of security software. But which product should I pick? Every one of them serves the same purpose: protecting you from online threats and viruses, but their functions and features vary greatly and the choice between Norton 360, Norton Internet Security, and Norton AntiVirus can be confusing. In this comparison we attempt to highlight differences between the most popular Norton applications helping you make the right choice.
| Norton 360 Version 5.0 | Norton 360 Version 5.0 Premier Edition | Norton Internet Security 2012 | Norton AntiVirus 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-round online security plus backup and PC-tuneup. | I just need more backup space. | All you need to stay safe online. | Basic protection for your online needs. | |
| Ease of Use and Technical Support | ||||
| Free, 24x7 phone, email and live chat support from Norton already included in the license fee. | + | + | + | + |
| Norton Rescue tools are included in your Norton installation allowing you to fix even severely infected PCs and restore their functionality after a virus strike. | + | + | + | + |
| Online Security Features | ||||
| Stops viruses, spyware and other malicious software before they enter your computer. | + | + | + | + |
| Scans emails and instant messages for viruses, spyware, scams and dubious links. | + | + | + | + |
| Intelligent scan feature only diagnoses potentially dangerous files to shorten scan times. | + | + | + | + |
| Allows uninterrupted gaming or watching movies. Annoying popups are supressed. | + | + | + | + |
| Prevents cybercriminals from planting their crimeware on your computer. | + | + | + | + |
| Blocks and cleanses spam messages in both emails and instant messages. | + | + | + | - |
| Online Identity Theft Protection | ||||
| Identifies fake online banking sites and shops to prevent your credit card details being fraudulently used. | + | + | + | - |
| Displays a warning alongside dangerous and scam websites in search results. Before you enter a dangerous site you are warned also. | + | + | + | - |
| Identifies and blocks fake, phishing sites aimed at stealing your personal details and relying them to criminals. | + | + | + | - |
| Remembers and stores your passwords in a safe vault to prevent them being stolen or hijacked. | + | + | + | - |
| Scans your wireless network for sniffers and other devices that can collect data illegitimately. | + | + | + | - |
| Stops hacker intrusions protecting your personal information stored on your PC. | + | + | + | - |
| Parental Control Tools | ||||
| Tracks your kids' behaviour online to see whether they visit inappropriate websites and block those websites you deem inaccurate for their age. | + | + | + | - |
| Monitor your kids' social network activity. See who they chat with online and who are on their friends' list. | + | + | + | - |
| Manage access time to the computer, so that your kids don't spend too much time online. | + | + | + | - |
| Backup and Restore Features | ||||
| Select your favourite files and folders for automatic backups that are run periodically as you work. | + | + | - | - |
| Your files are automatically archived either to selected internal or external drives (DVD, memory sticks, etc.) or to a secure online storage server administered by Norton. | + | + | - | - |
| Restore damaged or deleted files in minutes by either retrieving them from your local backup device or by connecting to the Internet and downloading your archives from Norton online storage space. | + | + | - | - |
| Share your backup files stored online with friends and co-workers by sending them links. | + | + | - | - |
| Includes 2GB of online storage for your backups. | + | - | - | - |
| Includes 25GB of online storage for your backups. | - | + | - | - |
| PC Tuneup and Performance Optimisation | ||||
| Automatically recognises and fixes problems with registry and installed files that may slow you down. | + | + | - | - |
| Clean sweeps unnecessary, temporary files and Internet clutter to free up disk space and improve disk performance. | + | + | - | - |
| Removes unused files that contain personal information like Cookies that can be safely deleted. Leaving them untouched can pose a security risk to your personal data. | + | + | - | - |
| Removes stale, unused system files making Windows run smoother and faster. | + | + | - | - |
| Allows you to select which programs to start at boot time. This can considerably shorten startup times of your computer. | + | + | + | - |
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