Norton Antivirus 26.9.11171 for Windows

Norton Antivirus 26.9.11171 is commercial antivirus and computer security software for Windows. It protects a PC against viruses and other malware, and you can download Norton Antivirus as a trial from the official website norton.com before deciding whether to buy a subscription.

Specifications

What Norton offers

Norton is a well-known consumer security brand. The antivirus scans files and programs for malware, watches for suspicious behaviour in the background and blocks threats before they can do damage. It is designed for home users who want protection that works without constant attention: after installation it updates itself and runs scans on a schedule. The same account can protect other devices, since Norton has apps for macOS, Android and iOS. Windows already includes Microsoft Defender, so the question is not whether you need protection at all, but whether you want a paid product with its own tools, support and interface. People who manage the computers of relatives, small offices and users who want one subscription for several devices are the typical buyers.

System requirements

• Windows 11 and 10 (all versions except S mode), including Windows 11 on ARM, except mixed reality and IoT editions.
• Windows 8 and 8.1; Windows 7 SP1 or later with SHA2 support.
• Devices with x86/x64 and Snapdragon X (Plus and Elite) chips.
• Processor: 1 GHz.
• RAM for Windows 11/10: 2 GB.
• Some features, such as Norton Family Parental Controls and Game Optimizer, are not supported on Windows 11 ARM devices.

Details: Norton system requirements.

Installation

1. Open norton.com and choose the trial or a plan.
2. Uninstall any other antivirus first: two real-time scanners on one PC cause conflicts.
3. Run the installer, sign in to your Norton account and let it finish.
4. Run a full scan and check that updates are working.

Price and safety

Norton is paid software with a trial period. Buy it only on norton.com or from trusted retailers; fake antivirus offers and cracked versions are themselves a common way to infect computers. Watch for automatic renewal of the subscription and turn it off if you do not want it.

After installation

Check that real-time protection is on, schedule scans for a time when the PC is usually running and review which notifications you want to see. If the computer slows down during scans, change their schedule rather than turning protection off.

Pros and cons

• Pro: established brand with apps for several platforms.
• Pro: automatic updates and scheduled scans.
• Pro: support from the vendor.
• Con: paid subscription after the trial.
• Con: some features unavailable on ARM devices.

Alternatives

Free and paid options in our listings include Avast Antivirus, AVG Antivirus, Avira Free Security, Bitdefender Antivirus and Malwarebytes.