Malwarebytes vs Norton: Scam Guard or Genie?
Malwarebytes suits you better if you want to hand over a suspicious text and ask. Scam Guard answers in the app. Norton suits you better if fake video worries you. Deepfake Protection warns you while a video plays, but only for video in English.
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Malwarebytes
Stops scam sites and malware, with a free browser extension
This button can earn us a commission. You pay the same price.
Norton
Paid security suite with the Genie assistant and deepfake warnings in video
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Malwarebytes | Norton |
|---|---|---|
| AI protection | ||
| AI feature | Malwarebytes Scam Guard | Norton Genie and Deepfake Protection |
| What it checks | A text, number or screenshot that you share in the app. | A message you hand to Genie, plus video while it plays. |
| Channels | Text messages, mail, links and phone numbers. | Text messages, mail, links and video. |
| Free or from which plan | In Malwarebytes Premium Security. The brand calls it free in one place and part of Premium in another. | All paid plans. Norton has no free plan. |
| What happens to your input | Queries are stored locally for 30 days. Reported scams go into the Malwarebytes database. | Submissions stay 30 days. Text without personal details stays a year and helps improve detection. |
| Voice clone or deepfake | Malwarebytes promises nothing about deepfake video or cloned voices. | Deepfake Protection covers video in English only. Norton says nothing about cloned voices. |
| What each provider says about its own AI feature, read on September 22, 2026. | ||
| Our score | 3.9 / 5 | n/a |
| Price | From $5/mo | From $2.50/mo |
| Renews at | n/a | $124.99/yr |
| Free plan | No | |
| Best for | Blocking phishing and malware on three devices | Windows users who want a warning during video |
| Visit Malwarebytes This button can earn us a commission. You pay the same price. | Visit Norton | |
Our verdict
Pick Malwarebytes if you mostly want a second opinion. Scam Guard is a chat in the app. You share a text, a number or a screenshot and hear whether it looks like a scam. It reads nothing by itself. Pick Norton if fake video is the thing that scares you.
Norton is the one brand here that sells deepfake detection as a product. Read the limits first. It covers video in English on supported platforms and wants Windows 11 with a strong processor. Norton looks cheaper for one year only. Norton 360 Deluxe costs $49.99 for the first year against $59.99 for Malwarebytes Standard.
Norton then renews at $124.99 a year. Malwarebytes showed no introductory discount on Standard. Norton keeps more of you. It stores submissions for 30 days and text without personal details for a year. Malwarebytes says queries stay on your device for 30 days. Norton 360 Deluxe covers five devices and Malwarebytes Standard covers three.
“A sound pick for phishing and malware protection on a few devices. The free Browser Guard is a starting point that costs nothing. Standard covers the core. The higher plans add a VPN, breach alerts and identity protection. One reservation. Ultimate's half-price offer lasts one year, then the price doubles.”Editorial team, on Malwarebytes
“Norton is the one brand here that sells deepfake detection as a product. That is worth something if fake video is your worry. Read the small print first. The feature covers video in English only and wants Windows 11 with a strong processor.”Editorial team, on Norton
Frequently asked questions
Is Malwarebytes Scam Guard free?
Malwarebytes contradicts itself here. The Scam Guard page says the feature sits in Malwarebytes Premium Security. The same site files it under free scam and ad blockers elsewhere. The pricing page names no plan for it at all. Browser Guard is free for certain.
Does Norton really detect deepfakes?
Yes, and with hard limits. Norton sells Deepfake Protection as a product and it warns you while a video plays. It covers video in English on supported platforms only. Automatic detection needs Windows 11 with a six-core processor and 16 GB of RAM.
Which is cheaper, Malwarebytes or Norton?
Norton in year one and Malwarebytes after that. Norton 360 Deluxe costs $49.99 for the first year and then $124.99 a year. Malwarebytes Standard costs $59.99 a year with no introductory discount on the pricing page. Check what leaves your account before the first Norton year ends.
What happens to a screenshot I send?
Malwarebytes says queries are stored locally for 30 days. Reported scams go into its database to protect other users. Norton keeps screenshots and original submissions for 30 days. Text with personal details removed stays a year and Norton uses it to improve its detection rate.