Norton 360 antivirus review: Solid protection, but with some struggles

Norton Hero Source: Windows Central

I spent a few months thoroughly testing Norton 360. While the overall feel and function of this antivirus software hasn't changed likewise much from past versions, some new features are included and some options that haven't been bachelor before. Hither is the rundown of what I learned while testing this antivirus program

Secure and protect

Norton 360 Lifelock Boxshot

Norton AntiVirus Plus

$lx

Bottom line: Norton created some significant slowdown on my test computers, and it became increasingly frustrating to wait for them to buffer, connect and load webpages when I hadn't experienced that much of a lag before installing Norton 360. I am impressed that this basic antivirus program includes a firewall, password managing director, and online backup storage when other programs are barer. And Norton continues to practise a adept job blocking malware.

Pros

Good protection
Extra security tools
Local and cloud options

Cons

Creates noticeable lag

What's impressive about Norton 360

Norton has always impressed with how well it recognizes and stops all types of malware, including viruses, spyware, keyloggers, Trojans, rootkits, and ransomware. In both my past and near recent tests of Norton's antivirus software, it has earned perfect or near-perfect scores each time. Most internet threats were stopped earlier they could download to my computers, and phishing schemes were marked with warning letters. I could see the details of each tagged threat stopped by Norton when I clicked the Details link in the browser message. Norton 360 software has earned perfect scores from other third-party testing facilities.

All Norton 360 programs include an impressive amount of extra security tools. These include a password manager, a personal firewall, webcam monitoring, and online backup storage. Storage starts with 10GB of space with Norton 360 Standard and going up to 100GB with Norton 360 Select. And you lot now have the selection to include an account with LifeLock that will monitor your identity and notify you if it is stolen or used in any way.

The firewall monitors your network and everything communicating with your computer through your cyberspace connection. Normally, your dwelling house service is pretty secure, just having a firewall on when connected to a public hotspot is essential since this is where a lot of dangerous advice tends to happen. Merely it's helpful to monitor your personal connection, too, since no one security measure or program is infallible.

The password manager holds all your complicated passwords used to log into online accounts in i secure folder. This manager both secures passwords from being swiped and makes them easily attainable past you when you need to remember a password or two. The extra protections around the password director make it difficult for keyloggers and other prying eyes to snatch login credentials, steal your identity or swipe bank, credit card, and other account data.

For Norton Deluxe and Select users, you have admission to impressive parental controls. These work on both computers and jail cell phones, and let y'all block specific apps, websites, or content from being viewed by your children. You can also set time controls, and I similar the detailed reports of exactly what my children are typing into search bars and text fields, including IM programs.

Something new that is available with Norton 360 is the option to house the programme locally on your desktop or in the deject. Both requite you first-class protection, though not installing it on your calculator does gratuitous upwardly resources and doesn't create as much drag as when Norton is deployed from online. However, when using the web version, yous do need to be continued to the internet for near features, protections, and detections to piece of work correctly.

What irks me about Norton 360

Norton Antivirus Source: Nicole Johnston/ Windows Central

Many users have given feedback that Norton 360 uses less resource and therefore is lighter on their systems and doesn't create a much drag. I just did not see this. After installing Norton on my exam computers and on a couple of mobile devices, each one began experiencing noticeable lag. It took a long time for systems to kick up, for programs to launch and to navigate from ane website to another. Plus, having the Norton Security browser extension added to both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox caused a lot of browser crashes. Several legitimate websites were blocked past the browser, even popular spider web pages similar Google, CNN, Yahoo, Amazon, and eBay. I finally was able to scan the web without a headache later on both disabling the browser extensions and, ultimately, uninstalling Norton altogether.

I didn't experience as much computer drag when allowing Norton 360 to be hosted in the deject rather than locally on my device. In that location are still some components that need to exist installed on your computer, just having well-nigh of it cloud-based does free up a lot more than resources and allow your organization to run faster. Even so, in both cases, I all the same had several issues when using browser extensions.

You lot may not like the cost tag of this program. Norton 360 starts at $80 per twelvemonth for its Standard program and goes upward to $150 for its Select program that includes a LifeLock business relationship. This is substantially college than other antivirus software programs that you tin go for nether $threescore. Norton does, oft, offer an introductory toll for offset-time users, which does help, but just be prepared to pay the total amount in a year when your subscription comes due.

Norton 360 with or without LifeLock?

Norton now owns LifeLock and offers an identity theft monitoring accounts with some of its Norton 360 programs, or you can buy information technology separately if yous cull an antivirus program that doesn't offer it as part of its packet. While this is an additional cost, I highly recommend it as an extra layer of protection. Having personally used LifeLock to monitor my identity, I enjoy the peace of listen that comes with having a professional looking out for my personal information.

Take reward of the LifeLock identity theft protection included with Norton 360 programs.

LifeLife is very thorough as information technology keeps tabs on your identity. It looks for the obvious - thieves using your data to take out loans, open credit cards or banking accounts, and selling your information on the black market. But LifeLife also looks for the unusual similar wellness insurance numbers being used to receive medical treatments, or a criminal using your proper name as an alias. LifeLock also searches the dark web where your identity may be used to clone social media accounts and hack email accounts. Other things LifeLock monitors include your email addresses, driver'southward license numbers, and telephone numbers. It volition send requests on your behalf to companies to end sending junk mail and remove your name from contact lists. For an extra fee, LifeLock volition monitor your children's identities, too, so when it'due south fourth dimension to head out on their own, they don't have to bargain with the hassle of reclaiming their identity to get a student loan, buy their first auto, or rent an flat.

Every bit a customer of LifeLife, if your identity is ever stolen, or if you lot lose your wallet, LifeLock will help you cancel credit cards and identify holds on your credit reports. It volition likewise walk you through the steps you lot need to notify creditors or the IRS. And if your stolen identity is always used while LifeLock is monitoring your business relationship, you are covered by its $one meg guarantee. LifeLock will help you recover your identity and pay whatever fee associated with the recovery of upwardly to $1 one thousand thousand.

Norton 360 antivirus programme caused a noticeable amount of lag while testing, just it still does an excellent job stopping internet threats. It as well comes with an impressive amount of actress security tools, like a password manager and firewall, plus a couple of gigs for online backup storage. This program is pretty pricey, though, unless you're a new user to have advantage of the offered discount. The price is worth it if you go with Norton Select with a LifeLock account.

Secure and protect

Norton 360 Lifelock Boxshot

Norton 360

Secures against malware threats

Norton 360 protects from online threats and secures sensitive files from ransomware. LifeLock identity monitoring is bachelor.

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