Anti-Virus Software
| | Package 1 | Package 2 | Package 3 |
| Product Name | McAfee | avast! antivirus | Norton Anti-Virus |
| Publisher | McAfee | Microsoft | Symantec Corp. |
| Current Version Number | 8.0 | 4.6 | 11.0 |
| Update Frequency | every week | every week | every week |
| Special Features | (check body of blog) | (check body of blog) | (check body of blog) |
| Price | $49.99 | (price varies) | $39.99 |
I've had the opportunity to use both McAfee and Norton Anti-Virus throughout the years of having a computer. I didn't like McAfee too much because everytime I started my computer it had to load McAfee first and then load everything else. I know for most virus programs there are updates every week and the subscription status usually lasts a year which you can renew from the web or the actual program when your subscription expires. I haven't used avast! but I heard about it from one of my friends. The cost of their software ranges from $39.95 to the $70 range, it goes by year. $39.95 is for one year, $57.94 for two years, and $74.13 for three years. I'm pretty happy with Norton Anti-Virus, I can renew my subscriptions from the program (it has a subscription and 'renew' section) and it tells me when it automatically installs updates on my computer. It's really easy to use.
Below I have listed the benefits and features of all three products.
McAfee special features:
avast! special features:
Below I have listed the benefits and features of all three products.
McAfee special features:
- New! Automatic spyware and adware detection identifies, blocks, and removes identified potentially unwanted programs, such as spyware and adware, or other programs that jeopardize your privacy, identity or simply reduce PC performance.
- New! Automated, daily signature updates help keep your PC protected from recently discovered virus and spyware threats.
- Inline cleaning automatically cleans infections when virus, worm, Trojan, ActiveX control and Java applet threats are detected from.
- Comprehensive, fast and unobtrusive scans identify and remove viruses, Trojans, worms, unwanted programs, such as spyware and adware, dialers and other malicious virus-like applications without interrupting your work.
- WormStopper™ monitors suspicious mass-mailing behaviors and prevents the spread of viruses to friends, family, and co-workers.
- Script-Stopper™ technology prevents new, script-based threats like the "I Love You" virus.
- Virus security alerts notify users of potential threats and provides information to avoid infection.
- 24/7, worldwide virus outbreak monitoring by McAfee's Antivirus Emergency Response Team (AVERT™), who continually monitor worldwide virus activities and then provide immediate anti-virus protection and removal solutions to VirusScan users.
- Always-on protection from viruses, spyware and other Internet threats that may enter your PC via e-mail, instant message attachments, Internet downloads, and web browsing.
- Auto-updates run silently in the background, ensuring you’re always protected from evolving and emerging security threats.
- Real people. Real help. For free. Our experts are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via Internet chat. www.mcafeehelp.com
avast! special features:
- On Demand Scanner - with two user interfaces:
- Windows like or Skinnable Simple Interface - just select what do you want to scan in which way and press the Play button
- Enhanced User Interface - Outlook like UI allows user to set any feature of avast!, prepare and run tasks, store and check task's results
- On Access Scanner - resident scanning of all files being opened, read and written and behavior blocker monitoring dangerous actions of viruses or even users themself
- E-mail scanner easily integrates with most mail clients and it checks both incoming and outgoing mails, it provides heuristic analysis of mail content to protect against new Worms, it supports multiple SMTP servers
- Instant messaging protection - checks communication over MSN Messenger, ICQ, mIRC, Yahoo Messenger, AIM, Trillian etc.
- P2P protection - scans all files exchanged over Kazaa, Kazaa Lite, Direct Connect, DC++, WinMX etc.
- Network Shield - analyses all network traffic and scans it for malicious contents (Intenet Worms as Sasser, Blaster, SQL Slammer etc). It can be also taken as a lightweight firewall - or more precisely, an IDS (Intrusion Detection System) (on NT/2000/XP only)
- Script Blocker - checks all scripts running under Windows Scripting Host and Web browsers
- Boot Time Scanner - scans disks in the same way and in the same time as Windows CHKDSK does (on NT/2000/XP only)
- Explorer Scanner - right click on the object allows you to scan it
- Screen Saver scanner - integrates with your Screen Saver to scan PC during your coffee breaks
- Integrated Virus Cleaner - removes the most of the dangerous virus/worm including Sobig, Klez, Yaha etc.
- Virus Chest - safety isolated folder to store infected, suspicious and even some system files - to restore them
Norton Anti-Virus special features:
- Automatically removes viruses, Trojan horses, and worms.
- Checks incoming and outgoing email attachments for viruses.
- Automatically scans incoming instant message attachments for threats.
- Checks compressed file archives for viruses.
- Keeps dangerous Internet worms out, blocking them before they infect your system.
- Automatically downloads updates to protect against new threats.
- Automatically scans for viruses upon downloading updates.
- Uses smart technology to detect emergent worms and other new threats without waiting for updates.
- Disinfects your system prior to installation, starting you off with a clean, virus-free computer.