Norton vs McAfee: Which Internet Security Program is Better?

Written by: Tolga BALCI • Edited by: Bill Bunter
Updated Feb 28, 2010 • Related Guides: Symantec

Can't decide between McAfee Internet Security 2009 and McAfee Internet Security 2009? Read this article to find out which product will provide you with the most bang for your buck.

Introduction

Both Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2009 and McAfee Internet Security 2009 are the top products that are aiming to be the best overall protection software for the computers. Both have pros and cons and we have gathered them in one place for the Bright Hub readers.

If you want to have in-depth analysis of the products, here are the reviews: Norton Internet Security 2009 and McAfee Internet Security 2009.

Comparison

In terms of on-demand malware scanning and the features offered, both products do very well. It is also nice to see that the prices are more or less the same. The following table compares both products in detail:

click to enlarge

As you have noticed, Norton Internet Security 2009 is two steps ahead with the Botnet and rootkit protection features. Plus, Symantec's Norton has a built-in feature that reduces the time with your scans, in which it checks the important system files at first and marks them as trusted. Norton then scans for the files that it considers to be risky. Considering that the on-demand virus scanning takes a lot of time and resources, Norton Internet Security had a really nice thought here. McAfee falls short of the on-demand scan times and it is not easy to say that the times are short.

In terms of updates and protection against zero-day attacks, Norton has its own PULSE technology, which sends updates to your computer between 5 to 15 minutes of interval. McAfee has implemented the feature as real-time and it does not wait for a specified time to send the updates; it delivers them as they are known. Internet Security 2009 is the first product that McAfee has this instantaneous update feature.

Both of the programs offer in-depth configuration features for both newcomers to intermediate users. The headlines can be turned on or off but if the user wants to go for a detailed configuration, he can do that within the menus. For example, you can turn your firewall on but allow some ports to be open for your specific programs.

Conclusion

Looking at both products objectively, Norton Internet Security 2009 is a clear winner both in terms of features offered and in terms of their implementation. Plus, with its huger user base, it is easier to find support without contacting Symantec - through web forums, for example. Furthermore, you have the option to connect to a Symantec's representative for chat or call 1 (877) 788-4877 to get paid support. The bottom line is, Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2009 is the clear winner.

susi Mar 27, 2011 11:09 AM

Weak

a guy working for microsoft shouldnt make a reverence about its own products..good spelling or not --> you can allways BING ur spelling by the way :)

jacob Jun 25, 2010 10:10 PM

norton rocks

Thank you for your "retarted" input Charles. I would definitely take input from someone who can't spell. Apparently no one has tried the new Norton software and until you do, don't speak about it. I'm fixing a computer right now running McAfee 2010 and it runs like crap, just like all the others that run it.

Charles Jun 5, 2010 12:39 PM

McAfee is the best

i think McAfee is alot better than the retarted norton program i have it and it dosen't slow down my computer it makes it faster than norton ever will.

brad May 5, 2010 9:17 AM

norton

norton is better but it updates are very large

Zahid Apr 9, 2010 11:04 AM

Norton is better :)

Norton > McAfee

NIS 2010 is amazing. Doesn't slow your computer down at all, but McAfee still does :P

:) Mar 30, 2010 10:42 PM

NORTON!

i have mcafee and it always says i have viruses
i hate it and it slows my computer down!!
i hate it

Kini Nishiwa Mar 13, 2010 8:51 PM

Norton is better than McAfee

Yesterday I download McAfee 2010 but there is one problem.... IT BLOCK THE INTERNET & SLOW COMPUTER DOWN!

I download Norton 2010 and it didn't block internet and slow computer down.

Norton 5 star
McAfee 1/2 star

DC Mar 2, 2010 11:14 PM

McAfee is Better

MCAFEE IS BETTER BELIEVE ME!!!

Morkintash Feb 20, 2010 3:32 PM

I once had Mcaffe but when there was a computer error or corrupted file it would give info on it but coudln't ever seem to fix a thing. later i got Norton which fixed the corrupted driver and found a few Trojans i didn't know about. McAfee would usuly slow down my computer during a scan as Norton doesn't. Thank you Norton!

Minoo kos Jan 30, 2010 9:17 AM

nice Norton

i work with both norton & mcfee antivirus. norton is very power,secure and it's desing is user frindly.

naeem Dec 30, 2009 2:26 AM

mcafee is nice and secure

norton is a secure one but it's slowing down the System.So i changed in to mcafee it's secure and protects the system from alltypes of malwares,spywares,and more type of viruses.
I Like mcafee more than norton,if anybody use the mcafee i'm sure they also insist everyone as me.

gk Dec 8, 2009 12:52 PM

Neither

AVG free works great, doesn't slow your computer down and provides LinkScanner technology that the others don't. - Plus need I remind you that it is free.
http://download.cnet.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html

DNTK Nov 22, 2009 3:41 PM

Keep or not

Should I take off macafee when I uplod Norton

D2D_DarkStar Nov 2, 2009 10:36 PM

DOA years ago.

Both original authors actually understood the OS and how to scan it. Neither has been associated w/ the respective products for many years (in name only).

Bought out, outsourced, poorly coded and shipped overseas. Reasonably configured systems -- through router firewalls, solid backups/restore capability -- have made these overly hyped "subscriptions" completely unnecessary and a waste of resources.

Neither is capable of detecting more than the already logged more simplistic of known threats, they usually create more problems than solutions.

The content of other reviews reflects some IT pros, from security to senior IT management, listen to them.

avuser Nov 2, 2009 8:58 AM

mcafee has anti rootkit

If custom scan is chosen in mcafee, there is an option to scan "hidden malware". So a full scan takes care of rootkits and also in recent malware removal test in av-comparatives mcafee is able to remove rustock which is a rootkit. Programs tend to launch a little faster in mcafee than with norton but full scan takes longer than norton

Chris Abraham Oct 28, 2009 2:36 PM

Norton internet security 2009

I used both of them in the past.

Norton - Easy to use, fast, loads up quick, understandable features, firewall, one software only where as mcafee has two - security and security management.

Mcafee - It's complicated to use, to hard to use.
sometimes dosn't load up.

rather get the easy one.

name withheld Oct 19, 2009 3:17 PM

unneccessary

take the plunge to linux and never worry about viruses again!

Yeti Oct 3, 2009 6:12 PM

mcfee

mcfee has done ok for me for the last 3 years but to be honest theyve both missed things in the past, you should top up with other software. Ive experimented with lots and now I use Mcaffee (paid subscription) and also Spybot search and destroy (free).
I have Iobit 360 which is also free and used as a back up scan once per week, it seems to catch malware which avoids mcaffee, i also have Advanced System Care (free) as a back up scan which also has other utilities. between those I never seem to get anything serious (oh and use Firefox not Explorer, that just acts as a magnet for security risks!)
if I ever get anything its fairly easy to clean up with Sysclean by Trend Micro (free)

Dipankar Sep 11, 2009 2:43 AM

Norton Ins 2009

Norton was doing well in the past and is also doing well now. One issue was that of taking huge PC resources. Yes this issue has been resolved, and believe me i was using other products like Kaspersky, that really sucked and accepted Trojan entry as if it is a friend. Quick heal is an Indian product that even could catch a trojan which kaspersky could not. Upon installing norton Ins 2009, everything changed. It caught 19 viruses that were hiding in my PC, playing hide and seek with Kaspersky, Quick Heal. Mcaffe is really cool as it takes less resource, but i get bit confused if i want to download the updates offline from a cyber cafe. Norton allows this and serves as a real protector. More is that Norton Ins 2009 send updates in PULSE and every 1 to 2 minutes the updates arrive. So you remain protected always. NIS 2009 is also not taking up resource, as it was doing in previous versions. So best is NIS 2009, next best is Mcaffee 2009. Its a brand that you like most and love most, decides which you like most. My brand is NIS 2009.

Laura Sep 8, 2009 10:40 AM

Norton was just slowing me down

I removed norton and installed McAfee...wow what a difference.
Norton allowed a virus in and charged me $99 to remove it!
There was something called lucallback.exe that was REALLY slowing me down with Norton...even my MS Word would do a (very long) virus scan on documents that I created...
McAfee is working fine on my computer and things are working so much more quickly!

Tom Sep 4, 2009 7:58 PM

Macafee

Bigger choice of selective scanning and faster scanning MacAfee is the way to choose

steve Jul 30, 2009 9:13 PM

norton is best

norton before 2009 was bigger yes but was better protected because you add all the antivirus on the system only people with slow pc where complaining. Mcafee as to many bug and compatibility issue. norton now win all over and if you go in benchmark norton is no 1 and mcafee no.8.

It don't matter Jun 20, 2009 2:46 PM

They both use 2 suck

Both of these choices use 2 suck i have tryed both of them over the years. norton use to take so many resources that it would lag your computer so much that you couldn't use it. but norton was loseing so many customers that the new norton internet security 2009 was the first norton that did not slow your computer. they took so long to acomplish this and made me so mad over the years for haveing such bloated software that i refuse to ever use norton again it shouldn't have took them a decade to address this issuse i would use mcafee before norton just because it takes them a decade to even consider listining to customers and if you ever call norton support you get a guy from india that you can't understand. Do you really want to support a company that outsources all your jobs instead of useing american workers?????????????????

erbs Jun 8, 2009 4:40 PM

mcafee is the choice

try both on your computer and you will find who is the best!

Norton vs McAfee: Which Internet Security Program is Better?

Introduction

Comparison

Conclusion

Comments