The web interface makes setting up a backup plan much easier. By default, contacts, financial files, music, pictures, email, internet favorites, office docs and video are all available as categories. You can also add file extensions to automatically backup. You can add more sources, and tell Norton to backup specific folders and files by path, too. You can choose to restore everything or select files. However, it told us it was backed up and indicated that we were using 1GB of our 25GB of backup space.
So, basically the tool lied to us. We did try backing up some smaller files, and had no problems with them. We decided to conduct performance testing for Norton Online Backup by backing up a 1GB compressed folder made up of various file types, which is a test we use for all online backups.
As noted above, Norton failed to upload our test file. These files, all under 25MB, took just a few seconds. Both in-transit and at-rest encryption are expected cloud security measures for an cloud service, and AES is the standard protocol used today. However, the service does not give the option of private encryption like most reputable online backups. Instead, Norton always holds onto your encryption keys. While that means the company can reset your password if you lose it, private encryption also called zero-knowledge encryption is considered safer and a feature we usually recommend.
Two-factor authentication is another missing feature. Two-factor authentication surprisingly more rare among online backups than private encryption. Personal options with both private encryption and two-factor authentication include Backblaze, Carbonite and Zoolz read our Zoolz review. In our testing of chat support, agents seemed to take quite a bit of time looking up answers, which is understandable given how many products they support.
They did, in all cases, come back with answers, however, all of which were in line with the questions asked. In addition to chat, Norton maintains a support article library for Norton Online Backup. The library is searchable but a bit sparse. The search option also returns results from the Norton forum, which while not very active, still has some useful information in it.
Norton by Symantec has provided some of the most popular antivirus and security software for over 25 years. The user experience is disjointed, there are no mobile apps and no option for private encryption. CNET editors pick the products and services we write about.
When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Setup Our setup of the final shipping version was surprisingly fast and easy. Only McAfee works on Windows through Vista. Like the other super suites, the price includes installation on up to three different PCs for example, two desktops and a laptop. We really like the Norton interface; it's unlike the interface used on the rest of the Norton product line.
The UI for Norton is clean, intuitive, and no-nonsense. A toolbar across the top allows quick access to scans, configuration for tasks, access to your Norton online account, in-program Help, and technical support. Below that, there's a line that displays any current system alerts, such as configuring your backup and recovery options. Each of these modules displays a color-coded status and a brief explanation, with an option for more details.
Within each module is a clean list of various diagnostics and tools and their status. You can't, however, tweak your firewall settings here, or exclude a second drive from your virus and spyware scan; for that you need to use the main screen's toolbar for Tasks and Settings.
It's a minor inconvenience; casual users will appreciate the clean reporting style, but advanced users for whom the product was not intended will want to tweak right away and become frustrated at the extra step. Also within each module are access to Help and technical support, along with selected extra steps that include access to glossaries and tutorials on the Symantec Web site.
Gone are the blatant links to Symantec shopping that encourage you to purchase additional products, which we've seen in the past. We also like the fact that Norton appears on the taskbar as an indiscrete icon, not the loud and flamboyant, yellow pill design used in Norton Internet Security Should you want to remove Norton , we didn't find an uninstall icon and had to use the Add or Remove Programs tool within the Windows Control Panel.
Although there is a separate listing for Symantec's LiveUpdate program, we were able to remove both programs by uninstalling Norton alone. Upon reboot we found no registry entries and no system folders for Symantec or Norton The result is a much more fluid experience.
Even Symantec LiveUpdate, which sometimes feels like a clunky add-on to the other Norton products, is better integrated within Norton Our initial update of the product was quick, with both LiveUpdate and Norton downloading and installing within seconds.
Symantec pulled only the tools deemed most beneficial to the general user from all its product lines. Norton includes antivirus, antispyware, antiphishing, antirootkit protection, a firewall, Symantec's new SONAR Symantec Online Network for Advance Response behavioral monitoring software, and a vulnerability assessment tool to see what Windows updates your computer might be missing.
An add-on pack of online tools includes Parental Control, Antispam, and other optional features such as blocking private data from leaking onto the Internet. Norton's Mac antivirus software which we've reviewed separately, although it's not sold that way supports the current and two previous versions of macOS, but the parental controls, backup software and webcam protection are only for Windows.
Android phones and tablets need version 6 or higher to run Norton Mobile Security also reviewed separately , and the somewhat toothless iPhone and iPad apps run on the current and two previous versions of iOS. There's no Norton Linux software.
Each NortonLifeLock product defends against malicious email attachments, phishing attacks and spam as well as malware. If the program's defenses can be adjusted, and Norton's Silent Mode can prevent updates, pop-ups and other interruptions during movies or games. There's a quick-scan button on the program's main screen, and full or custom scans are three clicks away. You can also scan any item by right-clicking it in Windows Explorer, but unlike many antivirus programs, Norton won't automatically scan USB drives when they're plugged into your PC.
Put the downloadable software on a DVD or flash drive, and it will reboot the computer in a secure Linux environment for comprehensive cleaning. Norton detected every instance of known "widespread" malware in every monthly evaluation conducted by German lab AV-Test from January through December Its otherwise perfect winning streak against previously unseen "zero-day" malware was marred by a single miss in April , when it got a Only Kaspersky matched those numbers and broke its winning streak in the same month , although Kaspersky's malware engine was arguably better "tuned" as it picked up only eight false-positive detections over that three-year period compared with Norton's Norton's false-positive rate has been going down.
The two brands jockeyed for the lead in evaluations run by Austrian lab AV-Comparatives in The tables were turned in the July-October tests, in which Kaspersky averaged But Norton got a total of 72 false positives over the course of , while Kaspersky had just two. The latter's malware-detection engine may be better tuned. Kaspersky and McAfee were perfect at both. Norton stumbled a bit in the labs' July-September tests, however, letting through one piece of malware to compromise the test system.
Kaspersky had a perfect score. All Norton products, starting with Norton AntiVirus Plus, include a two-way firewall, an unlimited password manager and a file-backup program. Safe Web's Isolation Mode renders the contents of known dangerous sites as read-only. If you connect to a banking site, Norton runs the browser session in a virtual machine. Unlike other antivirus companies, Norton doesn't tease you with a free limited-data offering and then make you pay for more — you get unlimited VPN data from the get-go.
You can hide your location like a digital James Bond, or just stream localized movies and sports as if you were in London or Mexico City. It took us an average of 6. You can set Norton's excellent parental controls , included with Norton Deluxe and above, to block age-inappropriate material, schedule screen time and see the locations of individual children. LifeLock identity-protection services come with Norton's top three plans, as detailed above.
LifeLock is the most comprehensive of the best identity-theft protection services , but its high prices even when bundled with Norton antivirus software may not justify the expense for many people. However, none of the Norton antivirus packages has a file shredder, a file-encryption tool, a true hardened browser or a file roll-back in case of ransomware infection. Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer all of these. Norton's malware-detection engine takes up few system resources in the background, but a lot during active scans.
You'll want to set your scans to run during off hours.
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