Norton 360 antivirus is a security suite from Symantec. It combines a traditional antivirus protection with features of a firewall, a backup tool and a set of utilities for cleaning up your PC from unnecessary files and applications. In this review, we will take a closer look at the latest version of Norton 360 to see how it works as an antivirus, if its firewall is reliable and whether it can be used as an alternative to paid antivirus solutions.
While there are two other Norton antivirus products for smartphones—Norton Security and Norton Mobile Security—I think Norton 360 is a much better buy. I’ll explain why in a second, but let me start by discussing the iPhone and Android apps themselves.
For iPhone and iPad security, check out the best antivirus for iPhone. Also, read how to secure your iOS device from phishing and malware threats. Also check out Best antivirus to secure your MacBook from viruses and Malware.
Norton 360 was first introduced into the market back in 2007, and has since grown to become one of the leading antivirus software products. But Norton 360 has undergone a lot of changes over the years to bring it up-to-date against current threats and innovations in technology. The review will take you through the latest version of this product, including benefits and how it could be improved.
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Simply put, Norton has been one of the most trusted names in antivirus protection for nearly two decades. Even earlier, it was a member of the Symantec family which is how it got its roots. Though Norton Anti-virus software was launched way back in 1991, many of us know Norton more as a company that was synonymous to ‘computers’ and ‘technology’.
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Over the years, Norton has been one of those brands that people have grown up with and have always had a positive experience with. But this review isn’t about those awesome old days or how awesome Norton was 10 years ago or even about how awesome Norton still is today… No, this review is about the awesome Norton’s 360 lineup
ThemaciOS verdict on Norton 360 antivirus
for iPhone, Windows, Mac and Android devices
If you’re looking for an all-in-one antivirus solution for your phone, go with Norton. It’s included in our list and also the list of the best antivirus programs by the AV Test Institute, and it got excellent scores in all four of their benchmark categories.
While its firewall doesn’t work as well as some competitors, Norton has great privacy protection and powerful anti-theft features. Overall, Norton 360 is my favorite antivirus in 2021 — it’s got a powerful anti-malware engine, a wide range of internet security tools, an intuitive online dashboard, and good customer support, all for a better price than most competitors.
It’s the perfect fit for your computer, tablet, and smartphone. The app gives you access to all the features of Norton 360 at any time or place. You can scan for viruses directly from your phone, access free parental controls if you have kids, and get peace of mind when online with Norton Safe Web. Also check the Most Unsafe – Bad – Worst apps for kids.
- Scan your computer in minutes with the latest virus definitions.
- Customize protection settings with Norton’s unique smart scans, and advanced ransomware protection.
- Get advanced threat detection from the new Norton Insight technology which uses a machine learning engine to detect zero-day threats automatically.
- Norton 360 protects you from ransomware attacks that lock your files and demand a ransom for their release with enhanced backup features that let you quickly recover encrypted files without paying a ransom.
Norton 360 lives up to its description as the world’s most comprehensive security protection for PCs, Macs and Android devices. The new-look dashboard displays a wealth of information in a clear format, making it easy to see at a glance how virus protection is faring or what vulnerabilities might exist on your system. It offers protection from all forms of online threats, while a streamlined installation process means you should be protected in minutes.
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Security features
Norton 360 is packed with security features that can help you avoid online threats. With real-time threat protection, an advanced firewall, and access to Norton’s VPN, our suite of security features keeps you safe from the latest online attacks.
Norton 360 combines powerful antivirus and firewall protection with all of the latest security technologies to help protect your PC from viruses, identity theft, online scams and much more. Being one of the most popular security suites on the market it is definitely worth a look when searching for an effective way to protect your computer from harmful threats.
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It blocks and tracks spyware and phishing sites, and has the most comprehensive set of security features we’ve seen in a single package, including antispam and parental controls. The program also does a better job than many of its competitors with malicious files and phishing sites (including ones that try to install Trojan horse programs), and it can protect multiple PCs with one subscription fee. From antivirus protection to parental controls to online backup, Norton 360 combines the very best features from several different products into one powerful suite.
Real-time threat protection
Formulating a security response to each new type of attack, Norton 360 uses ‘real-time protection’ technology to lock down your device as soon as it detects a threat. Regular re-evaluation of the software ensures that it’s always evolving with the most current technology against better-than-ever potential web criminals.
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It scans your computer for viruses, malware, spyware and other cyber threats so you don’t have to. And if your computer does get infected, it provides extra layers of protection to help stop the spread of infection to other devices in your home.
The Norton toolbar with Norton Safe Web features a simple interface that provides you with an easy-to-understand breakdown of each site’s risk level. With Norton Safe Web, you can rest assured that you’re only visiting sites that pose no threat to your personal information and web surfing habits. After all, we’re all busy people and we don’t have time to waste on unreliable websites.
Norton Isolation Mode
From banking and shopping to social networking, we do a lot on the web. Our Norton antivirus security prevents threats from getting access to your private data and your computer system. It protects you against viruses, identity theft, and other online threats.
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Since you can never be too safe, norton have added several layers of protection like Identity Safe, Isolated Browsing Security and Protection against malware embedded in social media sites to give you extra layers of protection under one roof.
I tested the Norton Isolation Mode in action and I am really pleased with the results! Not only did it remove all of the dangerous content from our test site, it also blocked me from downloading anything and prevented us from sharing any personal information. This certainly impressed me and I felt safe browsing the rest of the site without worrying about exposing our computers to any viruses or malware. Norton AntiVirus security software does what it promises to do!
If you want to bank online, shop online, or simply log onto your social media accounts, Norton 360 makes it safer than ever. Not only is it an all-in-one product that scans for viruses, removes them, and protects your identity, firewall, and backup files (the last one is our favorite), but if you bank online it prevents your identity from being stolen. To do this, it opens the sites in Isolation Mode so if something is trying to install itself on your bank’s site, or another site you’re accessing, it won’t be able to do this.
Norton Secure VPN
If you’ve ever Googled while connected to the Internet via a public WiFi network, you know how vulnerable you can be while using Open or unsecured wireless networks. You’re far from anonymous if someone is snooping on the same network… and at risk for unwanted calls and spam to your mobile device.
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Norton Secure VPN builds a virtual private network (VPN) that creates an encrypted connection between your device and Norton. The benefits of switching to a VPN include surfing the internet anonymously, securing your data when you’re out and about, and protecting yourself when using public WiFi. It can also bypass content filters at work or school, enabling access to blocked sites like Facebook or YouTube.
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The program comes with a default server setting that automatically determines the fastest server in your region. This means that when you switch on your VPN, the program connects to the fastest server outside your country.
If you are fine with this option you can just click Accept & Install, if not, find the drop-down box at the top of the window and use it to manually select a location. The VPN has a very simple user interface. All server locations are easy to find, and you can add any location to your favorites. With the Norton product installed, you have access to Netflix from anywhere in the world so long as certain titles are available in that region.
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This is a great tool to add some extra protection to your computer. I have been using it for a few weeks now and the only thing I don’t like about it is how it occasionally auto-connects to my home network. This means that I have had a few instances where I have accidentally had two VPN connections going at the same time, which was a little confusing.
Norton 360 antivirus Smart Firewall
Norton 360 Smart Firewall blocks hackers and offers intrusion protection. This gives you better security when you’re online. It protects against potential intrusion attacks and can help stop viruses before they take hold of your computer. The Smart Firewall monitors the network traffic that’s sent and received on your PC when you’re online and then uses that data to protect against unwanted communication.
Smart Firewall shows you a display of your computer’s connection activity, outlining which applications—including browsers, Instant Messengers, and P2P software—are communicating with one another or other computers online and which servers and IP addresses they’re talking to.
Norton Smart Firewall works to find and quarantine any viruses already on your computer and will automatically download any updates for you. It alerts you if software is trying to connect to the internet without your knowledge and has a vulnerability assessment feature that shows how vulnerable your computer would be to attack from hackers, such as Trojans.
Essentially, it's the firewall that doesn't get in the way. You don't have to do anything to set up Norton 360 with Smart Firewall. Its Vulnerability Assessment feature takes care of this for you. It scans your computer, identifies potential problems, and offers solutions for them before they can create trouble.
How Norton 360 works on iPhone and Android
Norton’s 360 mobile antivirus can easily be purchased from the app store, so downloading it is a breeze. After the installation, I had to set up a Norton account and take a brief survey before officially logging in. If you don’t have a Norton account yet, you will need to create one before proceeding. This is an extra step that was frustrating at first, but it’s actually a good idea because it allows Norton 360 to store all your device information in one place, as well as upgrade your software for free if necessary.
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Norton Internet Security is ideal for both novice and experienced users. With a Norton account, you’ll receive access to downloadable protection updates, product tutorials and customer support through either community forums or actual phone help. Beyond that, Norton’s firewall protects your computer against unauthorized access by other users over the internet, while its firewall analyzes traffic in real time to keep out intruders.
Trial and Pricing
The software offers a wide range of features including virus protection, identity theft protection, anti-spam, online backup, parental controls and more. It comes with a 14-day free trial that lets you try the software before you buy it through a purchase link on Norton’s site. I downloaded and installed the software on my Galaxy Note 11 and iPhone 11 to test it out.
Norton 360 is not to be confused with the Norton Security that you get with your subscription when you purchase a copy of Windows. Here, we are talking about the antivirus software program by the well-known company, Symantec. Again, there are three levels of Norton 360 available. And, if you decide to sign up for their year subscription plan, it’s very easy to upgrade after 90 days. The first package comes in at $29.99 for one year. The second package is $39.99. And finally, you have the top level package at $95.
The Norton 360 plan offers several excellent security features. Included are virus protection, firewall, antispyware, phishing protection, online backup for password management, email spam filtering, parental controls, PC tune-up utility and identity theft protection. The price ranges from $29.99 to $95.99 and goes up depending on the plan you choose and whether you need it for a PC or multiple devices.
For $29.99 you get Symantec antivirus for on-demand scanning, spyware protection, firewall features, PC Cloud Backup (10GB), Firewall, Password Manager, Secure VPN, SafeCam for PC and PC tune-up capabilities.
For $39.99 you get everything in the first plan plus on-access scanning, email protection, identity theft features, online backup services, Mac Antivirus software, PC Cloud Backup (50GB), coverage for up to five devices, Parental Control and more.
The third plan costs $95.99 per year and adds mobile security to the mix with Android AntiVirus protection, mobile backup services, mobile device finder services with remote wipe capabilities for smartphones, GPS location services and other services like Privacy Monitor, LifeLock Identity Alert System, Stolen Wallet Protection etc.
Conclusion
Norton mobile security is the most flexible mobile antivirus suite I’ve ever used. It offers top-notch malware protection, an automatic application manager, and anti-theft features for your online security.
Whenever I recommend Norton to a friend, they often ask me how the Android version of Norton compares to the PC antivirus. Unfortunately, I didn’t use Norton for my Windows device until recently, so I don’t have much experience testing its performance on that platform. This review will be addressing that gap by taking a comprehensive look at the technological aspects of Norton 360 for Android devices and later for Windows devices.
I am a big fan of Norton products so I ordered the Norton Mobile Security App. I tried it out on the iPhone version, used it for 2 weeks, and then proceeded to try it on Android. The app promised me that it would find both malware and phishing sites with just one scan. It did.
If you’re seeking a security solution for your phone and/or tablet, you’re going to want protection that will keep you and your family safe and sound with an extremely comprehensive set of tools. What’s more, you’ll want it to be easy to install and use so that you don’t need lots of time to get up to speed. Norton Security Deluxe delivers on all counts.
When it comes to picking antivirus software, I recommend Norton 360 Antivirus. It’s part of the Norton family, which has been in business for decades. In fact, Norton is one of the most trusted antivirus software companies in the world. If you have a computer running Windows or Mac OS X or an iOS device, I highly suggest you choose Norton 360 at your local retailer or online.