Norton Security Review

How Norton Security meets the 5 criteria?

1. Threat Protection

Boot Time Protection
Boot Time Protection increases security when starting your computer. A boot-time scan is a virus scan that runs before the operating system fully loads. This allows Norton to scan files before they are used by another program or the operating system.

Real-Time Protection
Real-Time Protection is the name for a bundle of options that control the scanning and monitoring of your computer. You can use these options to determine what is being scanned and the purpose of a specific scan. You can also choose what will be the course of action when you encounter a security risk or risk-like activity.

Real-Time Protection provides ongoing protection for your computer by checking for viruses and other security risks.

SONAR Protection
Symantec Online Network for Advanced Response (SONAR) is Norton Security’s most unique feature, providing real-time protection against threats and proactively detecting unknown security risks on your computer by monitoring the behavior of applications and identifying emerging threats. SONAR Advanced Mode settings assist with the removal of a potential threat.

Spyware Protection
Spyware finds its way onto your computer without your permission. It runs in the background, collecting information or monitoring your activities. It usually also affects the performance of your computer, so good reason to make sure your computer is free from spyware. Norton Security includes the tools to detect, block and/or remove spyware.

Phishing Websites Protection
Norton Security is an all-in-one security solution that protects you against all kinds of threats, including phishing attacks that try to persuade you to share personal info, passwords, bank info, et cetera. Norton Security protects you from this type of attack by blocking phishing content, both emails and websites.

Adware Protection
Adware’s goal is to display advertising content on your computer, usually in the form of pop-up windows with flash ads offering links to other sites. Although commonly regarded as relatively harmless, Norton Security constantly scans your system to keep it adware free.

Network Drive Protection (NDP)
The Network Drive Protection feature scans all the network drives connected to your computer. The scan is automatically scheduled as part of a Full System Scan and/or a Custom Scan. The Network Drive Protection is active by default; turning it off means the network drives will not be scanned.

Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection (Windows 8 or higher only)
The Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection feature provides an enhanced security level during the boot time, directly after starting your computer, offering better protection by running all the necessary Norton Security components required to block any malware from functioning during boot time.

Auto-Protect
The Auto-Protect option is working in the background all the time, constantly scanning for viruses and other threats.

2. Resource Consumption

Norton Security comes with a feature to make sure your computer keeps running smoothly without any performance issues. The so-called Background Task feature postpones certain tasks and only performs them when you are not using your computer or when the computer is running on external power. This extends the battery life and improves the performance of your computer. The Power Saving Mode is on by default and makes sure no background tasks are performed while the computer runs on battery power. As soon as the computer runs on external power again, the suspended background processes will resume.

Norton Security also checks the system resource usage of other programs and notifies you when a program uses more than the configured profile threshold.
Norton Security offers several tools to improve your computer’s performance: a Disk Optimizer, a File Cleanup tool, and a Startup Manager. Not what you would call groundbreaking, but definitely comfortable to have at hand and easy to use.

In general, Norton doesn’t use a lot of the available CPU power.

3. 24/7 Real-time Scanning

Norton Security’s Auto-Protect feature is constantly scanning your computer, working in the background. It is complemented by the SONAR Protection feature that provides real-time protection against threats and proactively detects unknown security risks, and the Download Intelligence feature that protects you from unsafe files that you download from your browser. Turning off Auto-Protect automatically turns off the other two options as well, which is not a good idea if you value real-time scanning (which you really should).

4. Extra Protection Features

Removable Media Scan
Removable Media Scan checks for viruses upon insertion of any type of removable media. This scan only takes a few seconds to complete.

Smart Firewall
Smart Firewall monitors network activities between other computers and yours and blocks unauthorized traffic.

Intrusion Prevention
Certain viruses and malware are designed to look for vulnerabilities in the operating system or in programs you installed. The Intrusion Prevention functionality scans network traffic to detect and neutralize this kind of attacks.

Email Protection
Threats sent to you in the shape of an email attachment will be blocked by the Email Protection feature. Norton Security automatically configures your email so it is protected against viruses and other security threats

Browser Protection
Malware attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in your web browser is blocked by the Browser Protection feature. This option also safeguards your personal info and prevents anyone from accessing your system.

Download Intelligence
This feature protects you from downloading harmful files. It tells you if it is safe to open/ install a file.

Norton Product Tamper Protection
This feature enables you to password-protect your Norton Security product settings so that it is safe from an attack or unauthorized access. It does mean you can only view or change the settings by entering the password.

Norton Power Eraser
Not actually part of the Norton Security pack, but available as a separate download, the Power Eraser is a free virus removal tool that can be downloaded and run to remove malware and threats from your computer. It actually works as a stand-alone tool – you can use it even if you don’t use Norton Security.

Norton Identity Safe
You want your sensitive information (address, login information, passwords, and credit card details) to be safe at all times. Norton Identity Safe offers multi-layered protection for your personal data by encrypting and storing it a cloud-based vault. To access Norton Identity Safe, you must first use your Norton account credential that is associated with your Norton Internet Security.

Norton WiFi/VPN
Connecting to a public WiFi connection involves a risk. Norton WiFi Privacy encrypts the data you send and receive when using public WiFi. You can mask your online activities and location with Norton’s no-log VPN that encrypts your personal information and doesn’t track or store your online activities or location. With Norton WiFi Privacy you can pay bills, check your mail and interact on social media channels wherever you are, without having to wonder if your WiFi connection is safe or not.

Norton Family
Norton Family is Norton’s answer to the much-debated issue of how to make sure children can safely enjoy the internet. It monitors and manages the online activities of children up to the age of 16.

Norton 100% guarantee
All Norton Security packages come with Norton 100% guarantee – Norton’s quality assurance stamp. If you run into any problems during your subscription, Norton experts will work with you to diagnose and remove viruses. It could even result in a refund, in case Symantec is unable to remove a virus from your device.

5. Platforms/Devices Accessibility

Norton Security is a so-called multi-device cross-platform solution: it secures any device, regardless of the platform or operating system. Depending on the package you purchase, Norton Security offers the option to protect from one (Standard package) up to ten devices (Premium package). The Premium option, to give you an example, is good for protecting a family of five: everyone’s smartphone, the Android tablet, the iPad, the desktop computer, the laptop and the MacBook Pro.

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