| After a while, it really can feel like blah, blah, blah. | | | | users to find. |
| Our aim is to cut through the noise and help distill | | | | Which Has the Best Customer Support? |
| things for you so that making a decision is fast, | | | | VIPRE Norton Sunbelt (the makers of VIPRE |
| painless, and easy. | | | | antivirus) is well known for its superb customer |
| To do just that, we've begun adding a new section | | | | service. |
| to our site that contains head-to-head comparisons | | | | All of their support reps are US-based and responded |
| of the best antivirus software for 2009. | | | | quickly and professionally. |
| On these pages, you can compare the best, most | | | | All the usuals are included: FAQ pages, |
| important features of each program so you can see | | | | knowledgebase, phone and email support at no cost. |
| which is best for your needs. | | | | The phone numbers and links to support topics are all |
| On this page, you'll see us compare: | | | | easily found on their website. |
| VIPRE Antivirus + Antispware vs. Norton Antivirus | | | | Sunbelt seems eager to serve the customer with |
| Which Has the Best Real-time Protection? | | | | any service and tech support issues. Norton's |
| VIPRE Norton Automatic, real-time Active Protection | | | | customer service is the weakest feature of this |
| is enabled in VIPRE by default. | | | | antivirus. |
| This gives complete real-time PC protection for email, | | | | Their support site makes it difficult (some would |
| web activity, file usage, and more. | | | | argue impossible) to get in touch with a real human |
| Independent test results showed that VIPRE | | | | being. |
| properly eliminated 2/3 of malware and viruses. | | | | There are several "help" layers that the user must dig |
| The other 1/3 of questionable malware was | | | | through just to find an email or phone service. |
| accurately labeled for the user to eliminate or pass. | | | | Eventually, you can get to a phone number, but be |
| Real-time antivirus protection is enabled by default in | | | | prepared for some time clicking through numerous |
| Norton. | | | | pages first. |
| Independent tests put Norton only slightly behind | | | | Norton really needs to get with the program on this |
| Kaspersky, which we're fond of, when it comes to | | | | one. RESULT: Winner VIPRE. |
| active virus detection. | | | | With free, US-based phone support with a phone |
| Overall, an adequate real-time antivirus performance | | | | number that's easy to find, VIPRE is the clear choice. |
| for most people's computer security / antivirus | | | | Sure, Norton has phone support, but difficult access |
| needs. RESULT: Winner VIPRE. | | | | to it is a significant weakness. (Who wants to rifle |
| Norton's real-time protection is adequate, but it uses | | | | through a million pages on a website when you need |
| significant amounts of CPU and RAM to get the job | | | | help?) |
| done. | | | | Which is Easiest to Install? |
| Which is Most Effective Against Spyware? | | | | VIPRE Norton For the most part, VIPRE's installation |
| VIPRE Norton VIPRE integrates antispyware and | | | | process is fast and easy for anyone. |
| antivirus in one solution. | | | | There is the standard set-up wizard that walks you |
| The two malware protection suites work seamlessly | | | | through some basic steps then you're done. |
| with one another making one powerful application. | | | | There is a slight lag time after the initial install, |
| Antispyware definitions take a few minutes to | | | | however, when VIPRE needs to connect to the |
| download after install. | | | | Sunbelt database in order to update itself and |
| After the initial install, future antispyware definitions | | | | download the most current virus and spyware |
| are downloaded more quickly. | | | | definitions. |
| Testing showed that VIPRE is equally effective | | | | This is completely normal, but it can take up to 10 or |
| against spyware as it is against viruses. Independent | | | | 15 min. |
| testing showed that Norton didn't catch nearly as | | | | After this initial update, all future updates are smaller |
| many spyware traces as it should have. | | | | and snappy. Installing Norton is equally easy and now |
| We really expect more from a company like | | | | relies on Symantec's own installer instead of a |
| Symantec that has been fighting malware for as long | | | | Microsoft-based one as prior versions did. |
| as they have. | | | | We feel like this is a good things, as now Norton |
| Sometimes only harmless cookies were recognized | | | | claims to install in one minute or less; we believe that |
| while other known spyware programs were left | | | | claim may be completely valid. |
| running. | | | | Initial updates are needed and can take a few |
| Further testing showed Norton to skip over or | | | | minutes to download. This is normal. |
| misidentify potential spyware altogether. RESULT: | | | | Antivirus definitions will download faster in the future. |
| Winner VIPRE. | | | | The overall install only requires a few basic steps and |
| VIPRE's integrated antispyware and antivirus easily | | | | that's it. Winner: Norton |
| out-performed Norton in independent tests. | | | | Both VIPRE and Norton are equally easy to install, but |
| Which Has the Lowest Resource Usage? | | | | Norton's new installer's speed is as impressive as |
| VIPRE Norton VIPRE antivirus is practically | | | | VIPRE's overall speed. |
| synonymous with low resource use. | | | | Which Has the Best Email Virus Protection? |
| Manual scanning tests showed that VIPRE used only | | | | VIPRE Norton VIPRE provides good email protection |
| one third the memory of Norton. | | | | from viruses and other malware. |
| On top of that, CPU was about 25% less than | | | | VIPRE works well with all the major email clients like |
| Norton. | | | | Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Windows Mail, |
| During real-time antivirus protection, VIPRE was well | | | | and any other software that supports POP3 and |
| below 1% of total memory used. | | | | SMTP (such as the popular Eudora and IncrediMail.) |
| VIPRE easily consumes the fewest system resources | | | | As far as antivirus software goes, VIPRE does a solid |
| of any AV software reviewed. Independent testing | | | | job with email scanning. Norton does an adequate job |
| showed that Norton antivirus used-up almost two | | | | when it comes to email virus scanning. |
| thirds more memory than VIPRE during a manual | | | | POP3 and SMTP email clients are supported along |
| scan. | | | | with Outlook and Outlook Express. |
| CPU used during a scan was one fourth more than | | | | Incoming and outgoing mail are adequately scanned |
| VIPRE. | | | | and identified. RESULT: Tie. |
| During real-time antivirus protection, Norton used well | | | | VIPRE and Norton both do a good job with email |
| over 4% of memory to run. | | | | virus protection. |
| On average, Norton is a middle-of-the-pack | | | | What's the Best Antivirus Software? |
| performer that's on par with most other Windows | | | | VIPRE Norton When adding up all of the major |
| antivirus applications, but it falls far short of VIPRE. | | | | comparison points, it becomes clear that VIPRE is the |
| RESULT: Winner VIPRE. | | | | best 2009 antivirus software. |
| No other name-brand antivirus application even comes | | | | VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware is a powerful |
| close to VIPRE when it comes to light resource | | | | application that runs light in the background (one of |
| usage. | | | | the lightest in the industry). |
| Which Has the Best User Interface? | | | | The user interface is pleasant and intitive. |
| VIPRE Norton The UI (user interface) of VIPRE | | | | The install is fast and easy. |
| antivirus is intuitive and very easy to use. | | | | VIPRE's terrific customer support is US-based and |
| The main screen shows all the essential information | | | | person-to-person. |
| you need like: | | | | Above all, VIPRE is a superb antivirus and |
| - last scan time | | | | antispyware software. |
| - feature options | | | | Independent testing showed that VIPRE accurately |
| - current risk level | | | | identified, stopped, and destroyed all forms of |
| - previous updates The scan results page is easy to | | | | malware including spyware, viruses, trogans, and |
| understand and is clearly labeled with what you need | | | | more. Norton does a decent job in most areas, but |
| to do next. | | | | the lack of good customer support, and heavy |
| Overall, VIPRE's UI is pleasing and easy to navigate. | | | | resource usage puts Norton far behind VIPRE. |
| Norton's UI has evolved considerably over the years | | | | While Norton has a good reputation, they've let the |
| and has been greatly improved over some of their | | | | ball drop in a few areas letting better products like |
| releases from just a couple of years ago. | | | | VIPRE antivirus emerge. |
| While frequently used screens are easy to figure out, | | | | Norton's interface can be daunting for the basic user. |
| some of the less-frequently used ones required too | | | | While the install if fast and easy, the virus scanning is |
| much digging to get to. | | | | too labor intensive and can slow down your PC. |
| This means some of the seemingly advanced options | | | | RESULT: Winner VIPRE. |
| were buried behind several clicks. | | | | With great antivirus protection, great customer |
| Some of these advanced settings are likely to be | | | | service, and light resource usage, VIPRE is the easy |
| needed more than their designers may've realized, so | | | | pick this year for best antivirus software. |
| some of these tools need better organization to be | | | | Norton AntiVirus tends to be too resource-heavy and |
| useful for all users. RESULT: Winner VIPRE. | | | | lacks the world-class support its key competitors |
| Both products show tremendous polish; Norton's | | | | now have. |
| advanced settings might be too buried for some | | | | |