Norton 360 Deluxe is a top-tier antivirus solution for Windows, but does its Mac counterpart hold up to the same standard? With Apple’s unique macOS architecture and rising Mac malware threats, it’s crucial to evaluate Norton’s performance specifically on Mac computers. This review delves into Norton’s effectiveness, ease of use, and value on a MacBook, considering factors like malware protection, VPN functionality, and additional features.
Plans and Pricing
While Norton offers a free malware removal tool for Windows (Norton Power Eraser), it isn’t available for Mac. This necessitates a subscription for comprehensive virus checking. Thankfully, a seven-day free trial is available for several Norton plans.
The entry-level Antivirus Plus plan costs $30 for the first year, covering one device (Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, or Android). It includes a password manager, ransomware protection, and 2GB of cloud storage. The renewal price doubles to $60. Retailers often offer discounts, making Norton a frequent contender on best antivirus deals lists.
For enhanced protection, Norton 360 Standard ($40/$95 renewal) covers three devices and adds a VPN and dark web monitoring. Norton 360 Deluxe ($50/$120 renewal) supports five devices and includes 50GB of cloud storage, privacy monitoring, and parental controls.
Norton’s 360 plans with LifeLock offer identity theft insurance, credit monitoring, and increased cloud storage. The Select plan ($100/$180 renewal) and Advantage plan ($192/$250 renewal) offer 250GB of cloud storage, while the Ultimate Plus plan ($300/$350 renewal) provides 500GB.
User Interface and Design
The Norton 360 Deluxe app installed quickly and easily on the MacBook. The Norton Safe Web Plus extension for Safari integrates both website security and password management, streamlining setup and usage.
While the Norton Password Manager is comprehensive, it lacks the advanced sharing and organizational capabilities of dedicated password management solutions.
Within the Norton app, the Performance tab provides access to File Cleanup and Startup Manager utilities. The Privacy tab manages the VPN, enabling users to mask their online activity. The Settings tab allows customization of various antivirus features, including privacy settings and participation in Norton Community Watch, which crowdsources threat intelligence.
Performance and Features
Norton boasts a consistent track record of high scores in independent antivirus tests. AV-Test results demonstrate near-perfect malware detection rates for Norton 360 on macOS, maintaining a consistent six out of six rating with only a minor dip in June 2023.
Real-world testing with simulated malware from Wicar.org confirmed Norton’s effectiveness. The Safe Web extension successfully blocked the download of a potentially harmful file, providing timely alerts.
VPN performance was evaluated by connecting to a Brazilian server. While logged into a Google account, location services identified the actual location. However, in private browsing mode, search results accurately reflected the selected VPN location (Sao Paulo).
Customer Support
Accessing customer support requires navigating to the Troubleshooting section within the Settings tab. The support center offers 24/7 live chat. After answering a few qualifying questions, connection to a support agent was prompt and efficient. Inquiries regarding firewall activity received clear and helpful responses.
Privacy and Security Considerations
Norton’s privacy statement details data collection practices, including account, payment, and network traffic information for security purposes. Data sharing with third-party advertisers for marketing initiatives is a concern, though users can opt out via the Global Privacy Control website.
A 2022 data breach impacting a small percentage of Norton’s user base highlights the ongoing challenges of cybersecurity, even for established providers. This incident involved unauthorized access to customer accounts using valid credentials.
Is Norton Antivirus Suitable for Your Mac?
Despite macOS’s inherent security features, the increasing prevalence of Mac malware makes antivirus software a necessary precaution. Norton offers a compelling solution for Mac users, with multi-device plans covering iPhones and iPads. While Norton faces strong competition from Bitdefender and Malwarebytes, its attractive pricing and comprehensive feature set make it a worthy contender. However, potential users should weigh the data-sharing policy and past security incidents against the benefits of its robust protection.
