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Do you happen to know how the Kaspersky Antivirus Programme compares with Norton? I have been told that Norton slows down computers.

Kaspersky Antivirus versus Norton Antivirus

Both Kaspersky and Norton/Symantec are also highly respected developers with excellent products. In order to adequately compare the two programs, it really depends on which editions of Kaspersky and Norton are being compared. Both Kaspersky and Norton offer full product lineups - and new versions are released regularly. Within each company’s product lineup are programs that offer varying levels of protection and different features. With that in mind, let’s make sure that we’re comparing apples to apples.

For example, are you looking at the antivirus-only products or combination products such as Norton Internet Security 2010 which offers protection against viruses, spyware, spam, phishing attempts, and hackers? Or are you looking at Norton 360 which adds online backups to the equation?

Once we know which version of Norton you are dealing with, then we can look at Kaspersky’s product lineup and find a comparable product.

System Requirements

Don’t forget to double-check Kaspersky and Norton’s system requirements. If your computer barely meets the system requirements, slowdowns could be one of many adverse results, so pay attention.

Performance Comparisons

While older editions of antivirus products from a number of companies have a reputation for causing computer slowdowns, the newer editions have largely overcome these resource sapping issues. I can personally vouch for Norton Internet Security 2010’s performance. A trial version of this product came pre-installed on my new Windows Vista 64-bit laptop and it was fast! What’s neat is that in its interface was a performance indicator that showed how many resources the operating system was using as well as how many resources Norton was using at any given time. So far, Norton has not adversely affected my computer’s performance. Of course, this new computer is loaded with RAM and a powerful processor which is why I am going to recommend that you download the free trial version of each product and find out how well the products perform on your system.

Free Trial Versions for Kaspersky

Free Trial Versions for Norton

Each trial version is good for 30 days which is more than enough time to see how each one compares. Since most antivirus programs require the removal of other antivirus programs, you may need to run the trial versions one after the other rather than side-by-side. Keep a notebook by your computer and take notes, jotting down what you like and dislike about each product. At the end of your test, review your notes and buy the program that did the best based on your criteria.

A Look at Norton Antivirus

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Overview

Like many of the latest antivirus products on the market, Symantec’s Norton products are now protecting against computer viruses as well as other malicious threats such as spyware. Norton Antivirus 2009 offers comprehensive protections at a competitive rate.

Features

Norton Antivirus 2009 is Symantec’s entry level antivirus application. It protects against computer viruses, spyware, Internet worms, bots, rootkits, and other intruders. It also blocks browser exploitations and detects intrusion attempts.

In addition to protecting against threats, Norton has emphasized speed enhancements with this edition. It is much faster and uses fewer resources than previous editions. Continuous protection and automatic updates ensure that your computer is always protected. In fact, “rapid pulse” updates take place every five to fifteen minutes. When a new threat is discovered and a definition released, you can be sure that your computer will have the latest definitions to combat the new threats within minutes of Norton releasing them.

Even when threats are not yet defined, SONAR technology is used to recognize and block suspicious applications that are likely spyware or viruses.

Another neat feature is the ability to create a recovery tool for use should your computer ever become badly infected. This tool boots up your computer and makes repairs after a nasty virus infection.

Benefits

Because Norton Antivirus has been reengineered for speed and performance, computers protected with this product will use fewer resources combating viruses and malware. This becomes particularly important as this product is always on, always protecting, and frequently communicating back and forth with Norton for the latest updates. Norton Antivirus automatically detects when the PC is idle and takes advantage of these idle times to scan and update the computer.

The Internet is a fast-paced environment loaded with malicious Web sites, computer viruses, and malware. Computer users who have Norton Antivirus installed on their PCs can surf the Internet with confidence that these unwanted programs are blocked from causing harm. With active protection and nearly-instant updates, the window of opportunity that new threats have is closed. However, should an infection manage to get past Norton’s defenses, the Norton Recovery tool provides an easy means of repairing the damage.

How it works

Like most antivirus applications, Norton installs on your computer and sets itself to launch with each start up. This is critical as an antivirus application cannot actively protect your computer if it is not running. Once installed and set up, Norton automatically updates itself (every five to fifteen minutes) and actively protects your computer. All of this work takes place seamlessly while you work with much of the heavier tasks taking place when the computer is idle.

Recommendations

Norton Antivirus has been improved dramatically with new features and speed enhancements. As Symantec’s entry level application, it provides comprehensive protections that are perfect for a single computer.

Buy now - 39.99 - Winning protection against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software!

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