{"slug":"kaspersky-vs-norton","title":"Kaspersky vs Norton Antivirus 2026","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kaspersky-vs-norton","faqCount":5,"faqs":[{"question":"Can I still use Kaspersky in the United States in 2026?","answer":"No. The U.S. Department of Commerce banned Kaspersky antivirus products on June 20, 2024, citing national security concerns regarding Russian government access to user data. Existing U.S. customers were required to uninstall by September 2024. Kaspersky remains fully available and legal in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and other regions outside U.S. jurisdiction."},{"question":"Which antivirus is better for gaming—does it slow down my PC?","answer":"Norton has a smaller system footprint with 6.1% CPU usage during scans versus Kaspersky's 8.2%, making Norton slightly better for gaming performance. Norton also offers a 'Gaming Mode' that reduces background scanning. However, both modern versions use minimal resources during gameplay itself. For competitive gaming, Norton's lighter load is preferable."},{"question":"Does Norton's VPN actually work well, or should I buy a separate VPN?","answer":"Norton's included VPN (Norton Secure VPN) provides basic privacy protection with unlimited data and 100+ servers, making it suitable for casual use. However, dedicated VPN providers offer faster speeds and more advanced features. For standard browsing and streaming, Norton's VPN is adequate and convenient; for speed-critical activities (4K streaming, torrenting), a dedicated VPN like ExpressVPN is recommended."},{"question":"What's the difference between Kaspersky's 99.9% and Norton's 98.7% detection rates?","answer":"Kaspersky's higher detection rate means it catches approximately 12 additional threats per 1,000 samples that Norton misses. This 1.2% difference stems from Kaspersky's advanced behavioral analysis and machine learning. In practice, both rates exceed industry standards, and most users won't notice the difference. Kaspersky excels against zero-day exploits and sophisticated APTs, while Norton prioritizes real-world usability."},{"question":"Can I get refund if I'm not satisfied with either product?","answer":"Yes. Norton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked, and Kaspersky offers a 30-day guarantee in most regions (though 30 days in the U.S. before the ban). Norton's longer guarantee period provides lower financial risk if you're switching antivirus solutions."}],"faqPageSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kaspersky-vs-norton#faq","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kaspersky-vs-norton","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Kaspersky vs Norton Antivirus 2026 — FAQ","description":"Frequently asked questions about Kaspersky vs Norton Antivirus 2026","dateModified":"2026-06-24T08:55:09.298Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"isPartOf":{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kaspersky-vs-norton#article"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":["#faq",".faq-item"]},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I still use Kaspersky in the United States in 2026?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The U.S. Department of Commerce banned Kaspersky antivirus products on June 20, 2024, citing national security concerns regarding Russian government access to user data. Existing U.S. customers were required to uninstall by September 2024. Kaspersky remains fully available and legal in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and other regions outside U.S. jurisdiction.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kaspersky-vs-norton"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which antivirus is better for gaming—does it slow down my PC?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Norton has a smaller system footprint with 6.1% CPU usage during scans versus Kaspersky's 8.2%, making Norton slightly better for gaming performance. Norton also offers a 'Gaming Mode' that reduces background scanning. However, both modern versions use minimal resources during gameplay itself. For competitive gaming, Norton's lighter load is preferable.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kaspersky-vs-norton"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does Norton's VPN actually work well, or should I buy a separate VPN?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Norton's included VPN (Norton Secure VPN) provides basic privacy protection with unlimited data and 100+ servers, making it suitable for casual use. However, dedicated VPN providers offer faster speeds and more advanced features. For standard browsing and streaming, Norton's VPN is adequate and convenient; for speed-critical activities (4K streaming, torrenting), a dedicated VPN like ExpressVPN is recommended.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kaspersky-vs-norton"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What's the difference between Kaspersky's 99.9% and Norton's 98.7% detection rates?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Kaspersky's higher detection rate means it catches approximately 12 additional threats per 1,000 samples that Norton misses. This 1.2% difference stems from Kaspersky's advanced behavioral analysis and machine learning. In practice, both rates exceed industry standards, and most users won't notice the difference. Kaspersky excels against zero-day exploits and sophisticated APTs, while Norton prioritizes real-world usability.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kaspersky-vs-norton"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I get refund if I'm not satisfied with either product?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Norton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked, and Kaspersky offers a 30-day guarantee in most regions (though 30 days in the U.S. before the ban). Norton's longer guarantee period provides lower financial risk if you're switching antivirus solutions.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kaspersky-vs-norton"}}]}}