Norton AntiVirus facts for kids
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Gen Digital |
|---|---|
| Initial release | December 1990 |
| Stable release | Windows: 22.21.10.40 (November 1, 2021) |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows (Windows 95 and later), macOS, Linux |
| Platform | x86, x64 |
| Type | Antivirus |
| License | Commercial proprietary software |
Norton AntiVirus is a special computer program that helps protect your computer from harmful software. This harmful software is often called malware or viruses. Think of it like a guard dog for your computer!
It was created by Peter Norton and has been developed by a company called Symantec (now Gen Digital) since 1990. Norton AntiVirus is part of a bigger family of computer security tools. It finds viruses by looking for their "signatures" (like fingerprints) and by watching for suspicious actions. It also helps block unwanted e-mail spam and protects you from phishing scams, which try to trick you into giving away your personal information.
You can get Norton AntiVirus in different ways: by downloading it, buying it in a box, or sometimes it comes pre-installed on new computers. It works on many different computer systems, including Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS. For many years, Norton AntiVirus has been one of the most popular security programs, competing with others like McAfee and Kaspersky Lab.
Contents
How Norton AntiVirus Started
The story of Norton AntiVirus began in May 1989. Symantec first launched an antivirus program for Macintosh computers called SAM. A year later, in March 1990, SAM 2.0 came out. This new version was special because it could easily update itself to find and remove new viruses, even ones that hadn't been created yet!
In August 1990, Symantec bought Peter Norton's company. Peter Norton was famous for his useful computer tools called Norton Utilities. These tools didn't have antivirus features, but Symantec decided to use the "Norton" name for their security products. For a long time, Peter Norton's famous crossed-arm pose was even on the product boxes!
Later, in 1998, SAM for Macintosh was renamed to Norton AntiVirus (NAV) for Macintosh, matching the name used for Windows computers.
Norton AntiVirus for Windows
By the early 1990s, computer viruses were becoming a big problem, especially for businesses. So, in 1991, Symantec launched Norton AntiVirus 1.0 (NAV) for PC computers. It cost about $129.
The very first version had a small problem: it didn't always fix infected files perfectly. This was quickly fixed with version 1.5, released in June 1991. This update also added a feature called Norton AntiVirus Intercept, which later became "Auto-Protect."
Early Versions and Key Features
- Norton AntiVirus 2.0 (December 1991): This version introduced a helpful feature: creating a "rescue disk." This disk could save important computer information. If a virus messed up your computer's startup, this disk could help you get it working again.
- Norton AntiVirus 3.0 (September 1993): This version added a very important safety feature. Unlike other antivirus programs, if Norton AntiVirus found a virus hiding in your computer's memory, it would completely stop the computer. This made sure you could turn it off safely and restart it with a clean disk, preventing the virus from causing more harm. This was also the first version for Windows 3.1.
Modern Features and Updates
Starting with Norton AntiVirus 2004, a feature called Product activation was added. This helped stop fake copies of the software from being used. You could activate your product a few times with the same special code.
In the 2005 version, Norton AntiVirus started to detect and remove spyware and adware. These are programs that can spy on your computer or show you unwanted ads.
If you had an older version from 2006 to 2009, you could often upgrade to the newest version without buying a new subscription. This was a nice way to keep your protection up to date.
Version 2006 (13.0)
This version had a new, easier-to-use main screen. It also introduced "Bloodhound," a tool that helped find new, unknown malware by looking at how programs were built. It also protected your internet browser from being changed by bad websites. However, some people noticed that this version made their computers run a bit slower.
It worked on Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 or Windows XP.
Version 2007 (14.0)
Released in September 2006, this version aimed to use less of your computer's power. It also became compatible with Windows Vista. Even though much of the program was rewritten, some tests showed mixed results in how well it performed.
This version no longer supported Windows 2000.
Version 2008 (15.0)
Released in August 2007, this version focused on preventing malware. It added a feature called SONAR, which watched for suspicious actions by programs. It also added protection against "exploits," which are ways attackers can use weaknesses in software to harm your computer.
Version 2009 (16.0)
Released in September 2008, this version made over 300 changes to improve speed and performance. It was designed to have almost no impact on your computer's speed. Tests showed it installed quickly, scanned fast, and used very little memory.
The main screen showed your security status and settings clearly. A new feature called Norton Insight helped speed up scans by knowing which files were safe. To fight new malware quickly, updates were sent out every 5 to 15 minutes.
Version 2010 (17.0)
Released in September 2009, this version improved SONAR (now called SONAR 2). It used more information to decide if a program was truly harmful. Norton Insight also gave users more details about where applications came from and how they performed. A new feature called Autospy helped users understand what Norton did when it found malware. This version also added support for Windows 7 and a feature called Norton Download Insight to prevent harmful downloads.
Version 2011 (18.0)
This version continued to improve on the features of previous releases, focusing on better protection and performance.
Version 2016 (22.0)
After a brief break in 2015, Norton AntiVirus returned with version 2016. This version brought a new look to the main screen and continued to offer strong protection against online threats.
Norton AntiVirus for Mac
Norton AntiVirus 11 for Mac was designed to work with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard. It could find both Mac and Windows malware. It also had a tool to scan for weaknesses in your software that attackers might try to use. This version could even scan files inside compressed archives.
How Norton Compares to Others
From 2009 to 2012, Symantec made big changes to make their Norton products faster and lighter on your computer. Norton programs now use very little computer memory. When a virus is found, Norton quickly gets information about it to help remove it.
Tests have shown that Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security are among the fastest and most effective security programs available. Many computer magazines and testing labs have praised Norton for its strong protection and good performance.
Norton AntiVirus and Government Security
In 2013, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, used Norton AntiVirus as an example to explain a new law about government security. He said that the government's actions were similar to how Norton AntiVirus protects a computer. He meant that just as antivirus software protects your computer from threats, the government's security agency works to protect the country from dangers.
See also
- Internet security
- Comparison of antivirus software
- Comparison of firewalls
In Spanish: Norton AntiVirus para niños
