At first glance, any comparison between PC Tools iAntiVirus and Norton Internet Security for Mac would seem to be a “David and Goliath” type of contest. Norton is one of the giants of computer security and antivirus in general, while iAntiVirus is a Mac-specific niche utility.
However, there are certainly still many Mac users who are under the impression that something like iAntiVirus is really all they need. Is this really the case, though, or are they taking a risk by passing on Norton Antivirus for Mac?
The Basics
iAntiVirus runs on Intel-based machines with Mac OS X version 10.5 or later. While it’s available for free to individual users, commercial users of iAntiVirus must purchase a license for $29.95 US per year.
Norton Internet Security runs on Intel or PowerPC-based machines with Mac OS X 10.4.11. Norton licenses are priced at $79.99 per year.
Protection
There is a huge difference between iAntiVirus and Norton with respect to the types of threats from which they work to protect your computer. iAntiVirus deals specifically with Mac-based viruses. It certainly does a good job in this singular respect, but its usefulness starts and stops there.
Norton Internet Security with Antivirus for Mac, on the other hand, is perhaps the most comprehensive of all current security software for Mac. Norton defends against viruses and all other types of malware, including spyware. It also includes a two-way firewall, and dedicated anti-phishing protection. Furthermore, unlike iAntiVirus, Norton deals with files that are harmful to Mac as well as ones that can harm Windows-based computers. This means that, with Norton, you don’t have to worry about unwittingly passing on harmful files to other platforms, which is especially important if you’re working in a mixed network situation.
Performance
iAntiVirus is surprisingly efficient and resource-friendly for a free antivirus program. That being said, it can’t really compete with Norton in this respect either. Norton’s Mac programs used to be notorious for resource hogging, but the latest edition of Norton has improved vastly in this respect; it’s now among the fastest security programs for Mac.
Ease of Use
One might think that the comprehensiveness of Norton in comparison to something like iAntiVirus means that it must also be more complex and difficult to use. This isn’t really the case, though. While it couldn’t possibly match iAntiVirus for simplicity for obvious reasons, Norton is still very easy for even inexperienced users to get a handle on. All of its functions can be automated and scheduled with ease.
Conclusion
If you’re looking specifically for a free antivirus program for Mac, iAntiVirus should suit you just fine. However, if you work with a network, or if you’re just serious about safety and security, Norton Internet Security for Mac is a much better option for the aforementioned reasons.
Related posts:
- Norton AntiVirus Mac Review: Internet Security AV Software for Macintosh
- VirusBarrier vs. iAntiVirus: Which is Better? Mac Security Comparison
- iAntiVirus vs. McAfee: Mac Security Software Comparison
- iAntiVirus Review: Free Mac Antivirus Software
- iAntiVirus vs. MacScan: Mac Security Software Comparison
