Award-Winning Antivirus Software
Norton AntiVirus Plus gives you multi-layered virus and malware protection, plus 24x7Δ member support.
Norton AntiVirus Plus
Get Norton AntiVirus Plus for powerful protection against viruses, malware and other online threats.
Free Trials
Get a free trial of Norton protection for PC, Mac, Android or iOS.
Malware Protection
Norton security technology includes multiple defenses against viruses and malware. Our technology is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and we are part of one of the world’s largest civilian cyber intelligence networks. Our protection includes:
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
Analyzes information arriving from a network (like the Internet) and helps block potential online threats before they hit your computer. (PC, Mac)
AntiVirus with Advanced Machine Learning
Scans and helps remove malware files that enter a device, using emulation to test and see what files do, and machine learning. (PC, Mac, Android)
Reputation Protection (Insight)
Uses the reputation information gathered from our global network to classify software application files on their attributes. (PC)
Behavioral Protection
Uses artificial intelligence to classify applications based on behavior, and automatically helps block applications that display suspicious behavior. (PC)
Proactive Exploit Protection (PEP)
Helps protect against ‘zero-day’ attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in applications or the operating system. (PC)
Power Eraser
Helps detect and lets you remove high-risk applications and malware that may be residing on your computer. (PC)
How do you know if you have malware?
Some types of malware “announce” themselves, while others can hide on your device
Unlike the old days, when malware like viruses often announced themselves by displaying messages or by giving your computer the “blue screen of death,” many types of malware today can hide without producing any tell-tale symptoms of an infection. Just as different types of software perform different functions, so different types of malware can perform different jobs, whether they make themselves apparent or run on your device while hiding in the background.
Malware that you might not realize is on your device could be capturing data as you log into online accounts, finding valuable personal information stored on your device, or even turning on your webcam without your permission. This is why it’s so important to have antivirus software that recognizes and helps remove malicious software.
While many types of malware try to remain unseen, in addition to keeping up-to-date security software on your device, you can be on the lookout for some red flags that might indicate a malware infection:
- Your device slows down or gets glitchy
- Pop-up windows appear when you’re surfing
- Friends tell you they got a suspicious email from you that you definitely didn’t send
- Your smartphone battery drains quickly, or shows call/text messages you didn’t send
- Your data usage has spiked
How does malware put your computer at risk?
What do you do online that can expose your personal or financial information? What don’t you do online these days?
A virus doesn’t mean your computer has caught a cold. Malware can give cybercriminals
access to your personal information. These days, we do many things online. Defending against malware means defending against stolen login credentials, stolen personal information, and the risk of personal information loss due to such things.
Entering log-in credentials
Some types of malware can give cybercriminals access to your usernames and passwords for accounts like your bank, online shopping, credit card accounts or email.
Entering financial data
Some malware can enable cybercriminals to obtain your credit card numbers or payment
account information when you enter them online.
Access to email to reset passwords
If a cybercriminal can access your email account, they could then reset the accounts that you have connected to that email address.
Viruses and Malware
What does Norton antivirus and security software help protect against?
Today’s online threats go well beyond just viruses. AntiVirus and malware protection from Norton LifeLock helps defend against all kinds of online threats, such as:
Viruses
Norton protection helps block harmful software that replicates itself and spreads itself to other devices.
Worms
Norton protection helps block malware that replicates itself without using a host file (unlike viruses, who use a file).
Malware
Norton protection has defenses for various types of malicious software, including viruses, Trojans, worms, etc.
Ransomware
Norton protection helps protect against malware that encrypts a computer’s contents and then demands a ransom to restore them.
Spyware
Norton protection detects software that tracks and sends personally identifiable information or confidential information to third parties.
Adware
Norton protection helps block malware that’s designed to display unwanted advertisements.
Malvertising
Norton protection detects when malware is hidden behind online ads.
Trojan horse
Norton protection helps block Trojans that appear to be something they are not, often containing a backdoor component for future access.
Phishing◊
Norton protection has tools to detect phishing attempts, which are seemingly safe links that take users to malicious sites that gather personal data and login credentials, and can be found within websites, emails or even ads.
Pharming
Similar to phishing attacks, Norton protection detects pharming attacks that redirect users from a legitimate site to a malicious one.
Browser hijacker
Norton protection helps protect your browser against malware that changes your browser's settings, or re-directs your web traffic.
Rootkit
Norton protection helps protect against rookits that can enable an unauthorized user to gain control of a computer system without being detected.
Unwanted browser extensions
Norton Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) helps block malicious traffic caused by browser extensions.
Banking Trojans
Norton protection helps block and remove trojans that are known to target banking sessions.
Coin-miner
Norton protection helps block malware that uses someone else’s computing resources to run a coin mining script without the user’s consent (e.g. cryptojacking).
Downloader
Norton protection helps block online threats that call their C&C (command and control center) in order to download additional malicious payloads.
Exploits
Norton protection helps block specific techniques that are abused by malware to exploit a security vulnerability.
Fileless threats
Modern online threats leave no traces in file system by leveraging scripts and in-memory execution. Norton protection detects and helps remove them.
Formjacking attack
Norton protection helps block attempts to steal credit cards at online checkout.
Keyloggers
Norton protection helps stop online threats that attempt to steal keystrokes that you type, like when you enter your username and password for online accounts.
Man-in-the-middle browser attacks
Norton protection detects malware that hijacks a web session.
PUAs
(Potentially Unwanted Applications): Norton protection detects browser extensions or apps that are known to cause issues and uninstalls them.
Script-based attacks
(JavaScript, VBA, VBS, Powershell): Modern online threats use scripting languages instead of using files that are executables. Norton protection detects and helps block such attacks.
Social Networking Scam◊
Norton protection helps block like-jacking on Facebook, a type of clickjacking where your like actually clicks on something malicious hidden in the background, which could then be promoted to your friends.
Tech Support Scam◊
Norton protection helps block websites that mimic official support of organizations.
Virus Removal
Think you have a virus? Try these tools:
Clean
Use our free virus removal tool, Norton Power Eraser, to help remove malware on your PC.
Protect
Install up-to-date security software on all your devices to help prevent future malware infections.
Need help? Member Services and Support can assist.
Free Antivirus
How do free antivirus programs compare? Is free antivirus safe?
It’s often said, “you get what you pay for.” The best value in antivirus software is a solution from a trusted provider that offers robust, effective virus and malware protection technology backed by readily available support experts who can help you when you need it.
Support
With a Norton subscription, support is included, so you get cutting edge antivirus and security technology, plus support when you need it. You might say that with a Norton subscription, you get what you pay for, and a whole lot more.
60-Day Money Back Guarantee
Norton AntiVirus Plus and Norton 360 plans come with a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee* for annual subscriptions.
*Terms apply. For cancellation, return and refund information, please visit the Return Policy.
Which antivirus software is right for you?
Antivirus, malware protection, and more features to help protect your device
Norton AntiVirus Plus and Norton 360 plans include antivirus and malware protection, plus an array of additional features to help protect your PCs, Mac, Android and iOS devices, including:
Secure VPN
Important if you use public Wi-Fi (included in Norton 360 plans only)
Password Manager
Enables you to use strong passwords without having to remember them all
PC Cloud Backup‡‡
Stores copies of your most important files, just in case
Smart Firewall for PC
Helps block unauthorized traffic accessing your computer
Find the right solution for your needs
We provide 60 Day Money Back Guarantee* with annual subscriptions.
What role does antivirus software play in helping protect your devices?
Originally, antivirus scanned computer files and looked for patterns known to match computer viruses. Today, the best antivirus engines use multiple methods for identifying known and unknown online threats, and antivirus is still a foundational component of security software.
Antivirus is file-based protection, and after a virus attack, having virus-infected files on a target computer or mobile device is one of the main ways online threats remain on that device after the initial attack. Because of this, file-based protection will always be instrumental in helping detect, neutralize and remove viruses.
Antivirus is an important part of what you might call internet security, security software or device security. A security solution includes antivirus as one of the foundations of how it helps defend against malware, but “internet security” typically refers to a software suite that has additional types of technology in addition to antivirus.
A computer, tablet or smartphone that connects to the Internet has the potential to encounter viruses and malware. While you may be careful what you do online, you could still visit a website that has been compromised with malware (without even knowing it) or download malware from a message from a trusted friend whose account was hacked. Someone else who uses your device might not be as careful as you. Having antivirus and security software for your computer or mobile device gives you protection against many types of malware that might not be easy to spot.
Antivirus and security software will include a scanning function to check for viruses and malware.
Antivirus and security software will include tools for virus and malware removal. Norton LifeLock also offers a free tool for PCs called Norton Power Eraser for do-it-yourself virus removal. Norton subscribers can also contact Member Services & Support if you think you have a virus or malware.
