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For Windows 11 home users, both Microsoft Defender Antivirus—built into Windows Security—and Norton 360 showed strong protection in independent 2026 tests. Norton scored slightly higher in two AV-Comparatives tests, while AV-TEST found both tied on protection and usability, with Norton half a point ahead on performance. Those small differences do not establish a universal winner or guarantee that either product will stop every Trojan.
For ordinary home use, Defender is a credible built-in baseline. Norton may suit people who want its paid features or prefer another independently tested security product. The better choice depends on how threats reach your PC, which features you need, and how you weigh performance, privacy, compatibility, support, and cost.
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What the independent tests say
The closest comparison comes from tests of Windows 11 consumer products in 2026. Each result applies to the product versions and conditions tested, not automatically to older Windows versions, business configurations, or future releases.
| Test | Microsoft Defender | Norton | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| AV-TEST, August 2026 | Defender Antivirus (Consumer) 4.18: 6/6 protection, 5.5/6 performance, 6/6 usability | Norton 360 26.6/26.7: 6/6 protection, 6/6 performance, 6/6 usability | Three categories scored up to six points each. Products tied on protection and usability; Norton scored half a point higher on performance. AV-TEST Windows 11 home-user results |
| AV-Comparatives, Malware Protection Test, March 2026 | 99.93% reported protection rate | 99.97% reported protection rate | 10,000 recent malware samples on an up-to-date Windows 11 64-bit system with default settings. The test examined protection before, during, or after malicious files were executed, including offline scanning. AV-Comparatives Malware Protection Test report |
| AV-Comparatives, Real-World Protection Test, February–May 2026 | 99.0% reported protection rate | 99.3% reported protection rate | 400 cases involving web-based attack vectors; both products were in cluster 1. This is a web-threat test, not the same scenario as scanning a Trojan file already on disk. AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test report |
AV-TEST evaluated current public product versions with default settings and allowed updates and cloud queries during its July–August 2026 evaluation. Its Microsoft report specifies Windows 11 Professional, English, 64-bit, and Defender 4.18. AV-Comparatives’ malware report specifies an up-to-date Windows 11 64-bit installation, default settings, and current updates. AV-TEST’s Microsoft Defender report
#1 Best Overall
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Which test matters for a Trojan?
If the suspicious file is already on your PC
The March 2026 AV-Comparatives Malware Protection Test is especially relevant when a malicious file is on a local drive, removable USB storage, or a network share. The lab used online and offline on-access and on-demand scans, then assessed protection at different stages of execution. That makes it more directly relevant to an already-present file than a test focused on threats encountered through the web.
In that test, Norton’s reported rate was 99.97% and Microsoft’s was 99.93%. The gap is small and describes outcomes across the lab’s defined 10,000-sample set; it does not predict whether a particular Trojan will be detected on your device. AV-Comparatives notes that Norton and AVG use the Avast engine in this test, a detail worth keeping in mind when comparing products or treating the result as evidence about distinct detection technology.
Rank #2
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If the threat arrives through a website
The February–May 2026 Real-World Protection Test addresses web-based attack vectors. Norton recorded 99.3% and Microsoft 99.0% across 400 cases, with both products in cluster 1. These figures should not be combined with the malware test’s rates: the attack paths and test setups differ.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A Trojan may be delivered through a deceptive download or other online route, but a web-protection result is not a guarantee that every malicious link, attachment, or download will be blocked. Likewise, an on-disk malware result does not by itself describe protection against every web attack.
Rank #3
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- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 5 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
How to choose between Norton and Windows Security
Choose Defender as a baseline if
- You use a Windows 11 home PC for ordinary browsing, email, and downloads and do not need a particular paid security feature.
- You want the built-in Windows protection without adding another antivirus product.
- You are comfortable making the choice based on strong test results rather than assuming a paid product is necessary for Trojan protection.
Consider Norton if
- You have identified an additional feature or service in the specific Norton plan you are considering that meets a real need.
- You prefer a paid security product and want a second independently tested option.
- You have checked the plan’s current features, renewal terms, compatibility, and support arrangements before buying. Features can vary by plan, so do not assume every Norton plan includes the same extras.
Give extra weight to the threat path and your priorities
- Files on USB drives or network shares: Look closely at on-disk and offline test conditions, not only web-protection figures.
- Web exposure: Consider the separate real-world test, while remembering that its results cover a finite set of cases.
- Performance: AV-TEST’s August 2026 score was 5.5/6 for Defender and 6/6 for Norton. This is a lab score, not a promise about speed on your PC.
- Privacy, compatibility, support, and cost: Weigh these alongside protection results; a small lab-score difference alone is not enough to decide which product fits you.
What these results can—and cannot—tell you
Antivirus products receive frequent updates, and lab tests use defined samples and periods. AV-Comparatives says its malware test aims to include recent prevalent samples and uses a 10,000-sample final set for 2026. A strong result is useful comparative evidence, not proof of perfect detection across every Trojan family, configuration, or future threat.
AV-Comparatives advises against choosing based on only one test or test type; price, ease of use, compatibility, and support also matter. Its discussion of built-in Microsoft protection provides further context for interpreting Defender as a baseline rather than assuming a paid antivirus is essential for every Windows user: “Is Microsoft Defender Enough? Putting Built-In Protection into Context”, published May 26, 2026.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- UNMATCHED THREAT DETECTION: We found malware on 40 percent of devices that already had a third-party antivirus installed.
Rank #4
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
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