Norton Security Scan

Martin Brinkmann
Mar 25, 2009
Updated • May 28, 2017
Antivirus, Security, Windows software
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21

It is usually not a good idea to operate more than one security software of the same kind on a computer system.

This is especially true for antivirus software solutions but also firewalls. Users who currently use an antivirus software may nevertheless be inclined to scan their system from time to time with different scan engines to make sure that nothing slipped through the scanners of that security software.

They could use Online Virus scanning services to test their system, or rely on locally run software that does not interfere with the installed antivirus software.

Norton Security Scan

Norton Security Scan is such a software program. While it has been primarily designed to sell Norton antivirus products like Norton 360, it can be used to scan the system without interference with running antivirus solutions.

What makes it interesting is that it uses the latest virus definition files that are also used in Norton retail antivirus software products. It does however perform only a partial scan of the computer system by default but this option can be changed in the settings on the main page.

The antivirus program will check the virus definition file and initiate a download of the latest if it is outdated. The antivirus software performs a quick or full scan then of the computer system. A quick scan will only check the most common locations where viruses and other malicious programs are found usually, while the full system scan will check all files located on connected hard drives.

The interface displayed banner advertisement during the scan; Most users will probably minimize the program interface or move other applications into the foreground to prevent those distracting advertisements from appearing on the computer screen. Norton Security Scan lists all discovered threads in a table on the main page providing information about the type of threat (e.g. tracking cookie) including a description, the threat name and target name.

The antivirus program is only a scanner which means it is not possible to clean the files directly. Possibilities include research on the Internet to find a free antivirus software that can clean it or to contact the developer of the installed antivirus solution about the problem. It should be obvious by now that the program is great for users who want to perform additional security scans of their computer system but not for those who are looking for a complete security solution.

Verdict

Norton Security Scan is a second opinion antivirus scanner for Windows that scans Windows devices with Symantec's latest virus definitions. The downside to this is that the program cannot be used to remove threats found during the scan.

Summary
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Author Rating
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1 based on 1 votes
Software Name
Norton Security Scan
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
Security
Landing Page
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Comments

  1. Yiddish said on January 25, 2012 at 1:34 pm
    Reply

    We can’t judge which is the best anti-virus without our personal experience i personally don’t have any idea about Norton rather i have in comodo it has free anti-virus for mac.

  2. tekguy said on November 15, 2011 at 11:15 pm
    Reply
  3. Zrcalo said on December 3, 2009 at 8:14 am
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    when my mom’s computer got the most malicious virus called “smitfraud” norton neither protected nor got rid of this very common virus.

    when I recieved my new laptop it had a “trial” version of norton already installed. it would hog all my resources, constantly rape my bandwidth using it’s “updates” and it’s scanner you COULD NOT click out of. not to mention, it bogged my computer down and hijacked it’s ram. when it crashed, my computer crashed.

    funny thing, smitfraud did the same thing.
    except smitfraud didnt send my information to the CIA or ask for my billing information.

    NORTON ANTIVIRUS IS IN ITSELF A VIRUS. REMOVE THIS PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY FROM YOUR COMPUTER.

  4. Kyle said on April 11, 2009 at 9:19 pm
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    Have you read the current reviews of Antivirus Software lately? Norton Antivirus 2009 is the lightest Antivirus in the market. Low disk usage and fast scanning. I also have read reviews from av-comparative.org that Norton has 98.7 total detection rate. fewer false positives and frequently checks for updates. pirated copies are easily caught.

    But if you are looking for a FREE antivirus, i would recommend AVIRA Antivir from germany. its free with low memory footprint. Fast scans and has a 99.7 total detection rate. many false positives, but ei its free…

  5. Will said on April 4, 2009 at 9:37 pm
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    Norton is a virus in itself, plain and simple. I installed a video codec on my computer and somehow the Norton install file was wrapped around the codec’s install file. Norton Security Scan installed itself on my computer without my knowledge and now I have to download and run their special removal tool to get rid of it. Norton is a SCAM.

    Currently I use McAfee, the full package, because my internet provider offered the package for free. Normally I just use AVG, much better antivirus/antispyware.

  6. apollo911 said on March 27, 2009 at 8:00 pm
    Reply

    I agree with Rarst – all these so-called tests are completely artificial – and I can find you one to support virtually any argument.

    The Anti-Virus market is worth millions and the truth is that the vast majority of people have no problems at all – virtually all the computers I see infected have peer-to-peer software like the dreaded Limewire which is like taking intravenous drugs in a brothel.

    My rant against Norton (and Macafee)is based on day-to-day experience where I find it causing as many problems as it prevents or solves, and the fact that it comes pre-installed on so many computers and most people just stick with it (and pay) because they aren’t aware of their options.

    I have no vested interest, it’s just my experience.

  7. Rarst said on March 27, 2009 at 7:15 pm
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    Then why is it that Norton consistently rates among the best in the AV-comparatives test

    Because there is no clear way how to test AV solution. Actually there is no way to directly compare and test most types of software.

    You may throw set of few thousands viruses at AV and it will be perfect but user may encounter none of those but something completely different… and undetected.

    So is it good antivirus for doing admirably in the test or bad antivirus because of letting real computer get infected?

    On information on sites – it’s heavily PR. Meaning companies lie to make their product look good. I hadn’t caught Norton on that (it’s uncommon around here and I rarely check their site) but I had that from Kaspersky (big time).

    Lately I strongle suspect viruses are being geo-targeted. NOD32 was one of the best solution two years ago (we use it at work so I have medium-scale impression) but it slowly got worse to the point of being near-useless. Plenty of new viruses slip past it easily.

    – there is no way to test AV reliably;
    – single breach can have major consequences;
    – concept is inherently flawed (there is always time frame between virus release and database update);
    – companies lie to look good and resort to bundling and other annoying ways to get their share of pie;

    Frankly it is no wonder AV software gets flamed all the time. :)

  8. Dave said on March 27, 2009 at 6:41 pm
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    Then why is it that Norton consistently rates among the best in the AV-comparatives test,

    http://www.av-comparatives.org/comparativesreviews/main-tests

    and Symantec is the first site to check when trying to rid a computer of a virus or trojan manually. What other site has such detailed information about what files are loaded and what registry strings are affected.

    Note that AV-Comparatives gives the highest rating, advanced+, to Symantec and McAfee, two vendors that most of us consider to be almost a form of spyware or at least nagware because of the numerous dll files they load all over the system (not to mention startup items. (NOD32 also gets an advanced+ rating in the Feb. 2009 report).

    I’m not a fan of Norton for the reasons stated previously, and prefer Avira’s Antivir, but try to find detailed information about all viruses on the Avira site.

    Wouldn’t a good uninstaller that monitors the installation – like Zsoft’s Uninstaller or Total Uninstall aid in completely uinstalling all the tracks that Norton has left behind?
    Why not just use Autoruns (Sysinternal’s excellent utility) and disable any dll associated with Symantec or Norton?

    Has anyone used this Norton scanner yet?

  9. Jonny said on March 26, 2009 at 2:12 pm
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    I have to agree with Rarst and apollo911 – Cureit for me or avira boot disc. I have removed too much malware from Norton “protected” computers recentley to think about scanning with Norton.
    I might not say its as bad as CANCER but I always take NOrton from peoples computers too.

  10. Rarst said on March 26, 2009 at 8:18 am
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    They don’t update it with last virus bases, but I saw instructions on how to push updates to the ISO on some forum.

    That sounds so convenient. :) DrWeb LiveCD suffers from same updates issue, it can update by network at least.

    I have yet to check LiveCD from Kaspersky.

    Norton leaves much to much hooks in your system and is very hard to remove

    Native removal tool (SymNRT) does pretty good job cleaning up.

  11. apollo911 said on March 26, 2009 at 4:58 am
    Reply

    As someone who cleans infected PCs for a living,
    the first thing I always do is remove any Norton products.

    They are like a cancer spreading throughout the system and cause as many problems as they solve, in my exerience.

    The ONLY reason they are so ‘popular’ is bcause of the trial bloatware that is installed on so many new computers.

  12. Paul(us). said on March 26, 2009 at 1:25 am
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    Norton leaves much to much hooks in your system and is very hard to remove (next to that i read (allmost only) very (very)much bad press about Norton). The Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool 7.0.0.290 is much more sensitive.

  13. Roman ShaRP said on March 26, 2009 at 1:14 am
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    Except that their scanner requires installation which makes it useless in most situations and probably impossible to run from LiveCD.

    http://ftp.kaspersky.com/devbuilds/RescueDisk/

    They don’t update it with last virus bases, but I saw instructions on how to push updates to the ISO on some forum.

  14. Rarst said on March 25, 2009 at 10:16 pm
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    Dr. Web Cureit sucks! it’s detection rate is soooo low that it’s useless.

    And this is based on what? As for me it detection rate is perfectly fine.

    Kaspersky is better

    Except that their scanner requires installation which makes it useless in most situations and probably impossible to run from LiveCD.

  15. Rarst said on March 25, 2009 at 9:37 pm
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    I second CureIt, it is best free scanner I know. Praising it at my blog all the time. :)

  16. frodo said on March 25, 2009 at 8:47 pm
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    Dr. Web Cureit sucks! it’s detection rate is soooo low that it’s useless.

    Kaspersky is better.

    If you know something about viruses you have to look at how McAfee is performing lately.

    Norton is now one of the lightest on resources antivirus nowadays but it’s detection rate is not that good.

  17. Roman ShaRP said on March 25, 2009 at 8:29 pm
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    Well it’s more of a download, install, run, uninstall tool than anything else and quite uncomplicated to use.

    Dr.Web CureIt, Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool and Clamwin are too. :) And Clamwin works well with any other AV because it doesn’t inject it’s modules into system.

    And CureIt even doesn’t require installation.

  18. Dante said on March 25, 2009 at 7:19 pm
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    I personally do not trust Norton products. Too many backdoor issues.

    I’ve found McAfee and Avira works well together on the same PC (XP Pro and Vista).

  19. Roman ShaRP said on March 25, 2009 at 7:17 pm
    Reply

    Hmmm… Norton? Tell me why?
    You can use more useful free tools, like Dr.Web CureIt or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool {and many other free antiviruses}.

    1. Martin said on March 25, 2009 at 7:34 pm
      Reply

      Well it’s more of a download, install, run, uninstall tool than anything else and quite uncomplicated to use. Not that I’m very fond of Norton products either.

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