Most antivirus programs rely on several subsystems to detect, identify, and quarantine computer viruses and other malware. These antivirus programs work by finding viruses in download links, in e-mails, and on webpages and notifying you, the user, about them. Once an antivirus program detects harmful software, it will warn you about it and allow you to choose what to do with the file. Think of it as a wall that blocks programs that can manipulate your computer.
For the most part, common viruses and malware are programs created by people that try to enslave your computer to earn them money. Once the program is on your computer, they do this by making your computer's IP address visit certain websites, which in turn pay those people who make the programs; at no monetary cost to you. The end result is that you have viruses that slow down your computer while the guy who programmed that virus is getting paid.
Malware and viruses like this are usually picked up around certain areas of the internet or encoded in download links on unofficial sites for applications. Antivirus software is built around this concept, and acts as a detection system and barrier to these viruses.
However, antivirus is not perfect. Some malware programmers can outsmart antivirus programs by building a virus that can penetrate or even disable your antivirus's defenses to allow them to affect your computer. To combat this effort, antivirus programs have a database of malware that they keep updated constantly to help detect such programs. The result is a never-ending battle between antivirus software and viruses since new "strains" are being generated constantly, and the antivirus cannot always successfully administer a proper "vaccine".
In the case of Norton Antivirus, the databases were obsolete and not effective in finding and eliminating viruses. Thus, said viruses are able to slip through those defenses unnoticed completely. Therefore, on the surface of the program, Norton may appear normal and functional, but it is actually not updated for handling newer viruses.
This is not the only problem, however. Every different antivirus program has a different detection system. Some may be more or less effective than others. Also, there are many different kinds of viruses, so it is hard to determine if a program that you want to download is actually what you want, or is just malware in disguise. That is one major reason why user discretion is necessary on the internet. As a general rule, if you're not familiar with the website you're on, it's best not to trust any of the download links found there.
In short, Norton Antivirus may be less effective than other antivirus programs out there. All antivirus programs are attempting to keep their databases constantly updated. However, no single antivirus program is necessarily better than all of the others, because the databases and detection software are constantly changing. Usually, one of the antivirus brands comes out on top once a year, so swapping them out may be necessary. Try to find an antivirus program that is up to date and effective. I'm not saying that Norton is particularly bad, but your friends who are recommending you get rid of it may have had some bad experiences with it.
TL; DR: Antivirus is kinda tricky. Don't immediately trust your friends about Norton. Find an antivirus program that suits you the best.
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