Norton Antivirus 11.0 for Mac

Norton Antivirus 11.0 for Mac

Norton Antivirus 11.0 for Mac supports Mac OS X version 10.4.10 or higher. At approximately $50USD for a single user license, Norton Antivirus 11.0 for Mac is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive antivirus software for Mac users. For Mac users seeking the most complete protection against the inadvertent transmission of Windows-based malware, Norton Antivirus 11.0 for Mac is an excellent choice. But for Mac users most interested in defending against threats targeted specifically at the Mac, Intego VirusBarrier may be the best option.

Uninspired Windows Focus

Norton Antivirus 11.0 for Mac includes the basics: realtime, on-demand and email scanning. Also included is signature-based vulnerability scanning to help guard against known security exploits. OS X 10.5 users will also get the Norton Dashboard Widget, a threat level alerting widget that has little use to Mac users given that the listed threats all targeted Windows.

Norton Antivirus 11.0 for Mac seems uninspired at best. It's not that one expects antivirus protection to be sexy, but Norton Antivirus 11.0 for Mac seems to be more geared to protecting downstream users from Windows malware passing through a Mac computer, rather than protecting Mac users.

Symantec bills Norton Antivirus for Mac as "The #1 selling antivirus solution for the Mac". But as the fine print reveals, that's number one based on "NPD Group's retail Top-Selling Business Software list". Aren't 'retail' and 'business software' somewhat mutually exclusive?

Bottom line: Norton Antivirus 11.0 for Mac is an adequate solution for universities and other mixed use environments where the containment of Windows-based malware is the focus. However, those interested in protecting their Macs would do well to consider Intego VirusBarrier instead.