Norton vs. AVG Antivirus
- Locking down the computer
Before the public release of the Internet and live file downloads, computer life was simple in terms of computer viruses. Back then the primary method that viruses spread were through floppy disks. Norton was one of the first commercial antivirus programs on the market. Back in the old days, it was easy to scan the floppy disk before the software was loaded onto the computer to make sure it was clean. - How safe is your computer?
By the time the Internet became the normal communication channel for the transfer of information, hackers had already figured ways to infect computers with little notice. Then when the World Wide Web went live, it provided the fastest conduit for spreading viruses at lightning speed. Today, viruses are spread through emails, email attachments, P2P file sharing, instant messaging, images and software downloads. Today's viruses spread through multiple entry points, and spread without human intervention. - Although Norton is one of the oldest companies to provide antivirus software, it does not mean Norton is right for your individual security solution. The Norton software does provide against the basic malicious type of viruses, and uses advanced algorithms to fight against software vulnerabilities. However, because it takes up such many system resources, it is known for slowing down most systems and causing other issues. Norton's basic antivirus does come with 24/7 tech support for security issues, which is a great benefit.
- AVG has combined advanced anti-spyware with its antivirus solution, giving the average user additional security. AVG also includes an Anti-Rootkit, to protect against unseen security risks, which may have dug deep into the kernel of the operating system. The AVG antivirus solution has also received the prestigious Virus Bulletin 100% award for catching every virus sent into its scanner. AVG's real-time protection protects against viruses, which might come from email, file sharing, websites, or downloaded from outside sources.
- Since the antivirus application is just one level of your overall security solution, you need to review your personal computer and Internet activity to decide which solution is best for your needs. If your computer is used on the Internet most of the time, you play Internet-based video games, or you store highly sensitive documents on your system, then AVG may work best for you. If your entire computer time consists of a little surfing, sending email, or writing personal letters, then Norton should work just fine.
- Professional cyber-criminals look for computers protected by one security vendor. When creating your Internet and computer security solution, make sure you use two or three different protection providers. Look for the best firewall from one source. Get your antivirus and anti-spyware from another source, and if you are using Web-based file backup, then pick a third provider for that part of your security. This will keep a hacker from breaking all your security at once and give you more time to stop his penetration.
