At a Look

Professional’s Score

Professionals

• Sturdy antivirus safety
• Extensive safety in opposition to main on-line threats
• Easy, easy options

Cons

• Efficiency impression on some PCs
• Person interface would profit from consolidation
• Upselling of further companies

Our Verdict

Its interface is a bit unruly, however general Norton 360 Deluxe presents sturdy antivirus safety and a very good unfold of protecting options that embody a password supervisor, VPN entry, automated cloud backups, and Darkish Internet Monitoring. PCs with modest {hardware} can expertise a efficiency hit throughout scans, nevertheless—one thing to think about when you usually work closely with new or altered information.

Of Norton’s choices, the Norton 360 Deluxe plan hits a perfect candy spot of huge safety and inexpensive pricing. It’s a superb all-in-one answer for individuals who would in any other case be extra lax about safety in the event that they needed to preserve each bit individually. For instance, when you’re extra doubtless to make use of a password supervisor if it’s a part of identical consumer interface as your antivirus, then all the higher.

Not a lot is outwardly totally different nonetheless since we final reviewed Norton 360 Deluxe, although the corporate continues to work on and evolve its again finish. Arguably, that’s the extra essential focus, particularly as AI permits unhealthy actors to be extra refined with malicious conduct.

What has modified is different rival antivirus corporations joined with Norton underneath a single proprietor. Father or mother firm Gen Digital now owns Avast, AVG, and Avira along with Norton, and through a press briefing, Gen shared plans to energy all its antivirus software program with a single engine and focus extra on the options supplied by every of its manufacturers.

That’s welcome information, as a result of Norton 360 Deluxe’s primary Achilles heel isn’t its efficiency, however somewhat, the way it presents its options to customers. And that’s a drag on an in any other case wonderful product.

Additional studying: See our roundup of the very best antivirus software program for Home windows PCs to study competing merchandise.

What does Norton 360 Deluxe embody?

Norton teams its many plans underneath two primary umbrellas: Antivirus and All-in-One, with notable overlap in options. Although entry to extra on-line protections is at all times good, preserving the choices straight can get a little bit overwhelming. 

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PCWorld

Norton 360 Deluxe stands out among the many bunch as an all-in-one plan that protects in opposition to main on-line threats, with out extras it’s possible you’ll not want, like id theft help. Protections in opposition to on-line threats contains antivirus, malware, and ransomware detection, a built-in firewall, malicious hyperlink and attachment screening, darkish internet and privateness monitoring, and webcam safeguards. You additionally get 50GB of storage for cloud backups, entry to Norton’s password supervisor and VPN, parental controls, and PC utilities that embody the power to observe for outdated software program.

Some options, just like the privateness monitoring, could be upgraded to incorporate assist with scrubbing you from knowledge dealer websites. And Norton lets you realize it, too. Regardless of already having paid for a plan, you gained’t be immune from upsells of further subscription companies.

How a lot does Norton 360 Deluxe value?

When bought by way of Norton instantly, the Norton 360 Deluxe plan prices $50 for the primary 12 months, after which reverts to a better full value of $120 afterward. Plans include a 60-day money-back assure. Remember that Norton mechanically enrolls you into auto-renewal at sign-up.

Norton 360 Deluxe (5-devices)

• $50 for the primary 12 months
• $120 per 12 months thereafter

You should utilize Norton 360 Deluxe as a person or household plan—Norton solely limits use by variety of units, which you’ll be able to unfold throughout Home windows, macOS, Android, and iOS as you select.

In comparison with rivals, Norton doesn’t favor variety of units over options (or visa versa). As an alternative, you get a superb stability between the 2 on this mid-tier all-in-one plan. If you really want extra units, you may improve to Norton 360 Premium, which isn’t extensively marketed on the web site. Costing solely a little bit bit extra ($55 for the primary 12 months and $140 for yearly thereafter), it doubles the variety of protected units to 10 and cloud storage to 100GB.

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PCWorld

PCWorld

As with different antivirus suites, it can save you additional on Norton 360 Deluxe (and Premium) by way of third-party retailers, together with PCWorld’s personal digital retailer, Amazon, and Newegg. These plans fluctuate extra in variety of units and size of subscription, which may also help you get a greater deal in your state of affairs. That’s particularly so throughout main deal intervals like Black Friday—simply this previous 12 months, we noticed a one-year subscription drop to simply $20 for Deluxe, and $25 for Premium.

Key options of Norton 360 Deluxe

Set up and consumer interface

To get Norton 360 Deluxe in your PC, first buy a subscription after which obtain the set up file.

When that’s full, you’ll first see the My Norton interface—which is barely one of many two you’ll work together with. It has a contemporary, streamlined look, and Norton 360 Deluxe’s main options could be accessed by way of it—scans, updates for this system, the VPN, the password supervisor, darkish internet and privateness monitoring stories, cloud backup, and parental controls. It’s also possible to bounce straight to the safe browser and software program updater, in addition to settings, notifications, and assist information. In a pleasant contact, your subscription standing (that’s, days remaining) is listed within the upper-left nook.

For essentially the most half, this view is straightforward and clear, nevertheless it does have some quirks. One is the dearth of a again button whereas navigating by way of submenus (like in settings). One other is the restricted settings.

To entry deeper settings, you’ll want to change to the Basic view. It helps you to customise the conduct of antivirus scans, the firewall, backups, and protections for electronic mail, apps, and your webcam. It’s also possible to tweak administrative settings for the Norton app, like if distant administration or silent mode is enabled. 

You may jump over to Basic view by selecting Gadget Safety > Open within the My Norton view. This interface has a extra dated vibe, with 4 tiles that allow you to entry options (Safety, Web Safety, Backup, and Efficiency). Faucet on any of them, and the total choices reveal themselves in the midst of the display screen. A fifth tile is devoted to switching again to the My Norton view.

A number of options can solely be accessed by way of the Basic view, like webcam safety settings and the password generator.

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PCWorld

PCWorld

With this twin interface setup, your greatest wager to not get too misplaced is to click on round and get aware of every structure. One tip for knowledge nerds: You may have a look at stories about your utilization and scan outcomes over time.

As for notifications—Norton does err on the aspect of extra pop-up notifications about standing adjustments and exercise, however you may flip them off fairly simply. That’s sadly not the case for the app’s promotion of further paid companies.

Virus, malware, and risk safety

Actual-time safety

Norton 360 Deluxe protects your PC from real-time threats in a number of other ways. It scans new or altered information that you simply’ve added, opened, or downloaded; controls entry to information and folders that could possibly be focused by ransomware; and screens apps for uncommon exercise. USB drives are additionally scanned by default as effectively, as are community drives and scripts in Microsoft and Adobe paperwork. Norton 360 Deluxe additionally strips away scripts when downloading paperwork. And electronic mail in your PC is checked for sketchy hyperlinks and malicious attachments, each incoming and outgoing.

While you’re on the net, 360 Deluxe will test web sites to see in the event that they’re safe and in the event that they’ve been compromised—however solely when you’ve got the Norton Secure Internet extension put in. Norton 360 Deluxe additionally limits entry to your webcam (“SafeCam”).

Scheduled and guide scans

Norton 360 Deluxe’s default schedule is a month-to-month full scan—however you may change its frequency with stunning precision. (Wish to run it each 15 hours? Not an issue.) It’s also possible to set a schedule for the opposite default scan varieties: Fast Scan, Drive Scan, Folder Scan, and File Scan, or create your personal customized scan so as to add to the record.

Superior customers could discover the settings for every scan restricted. The total scan, for instance, solely helps you to select to scan inside compressed information, take away contaminated folders mechanically, scan community drives, and delete low threat and monitoring cookie information. The opposite default scans have even fewer settings, and there’s no choice to run a whole, exhaustive deep scan. It saves on system assets—and gained’t hit your PC as laborious, when you don’t change your file assortment a lot after the software program does an preliminary go of all of your information—however when you prefer to manually run thorough scans, you’ll be upset.

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Further options

Browser extensions

For complete safety, Norton gives a number of browser extensions to enhance on-line security. Those associated to internet security are Norton Dwelling Web page (which adjustments your default to Norton’s rendition of a begin web page), Norton Secure Search (which adjustments your default to Norton’s search engine), and Norton Secure Internet (which scans hyperlinks and provides a inexperienced or pink badge to let you realize in the event that they’re protected or to not go to).

Not all of those are universally useful, although—most individuals who have already got a most popular house web page and search engine will solely discover worth in Norton Secure Internet. And weirdly, putting in solely Norton Secure Internet is circuitous on Chrome. I might solely get it onto my check PC by going by way of the Norton 360 Deluxe app, which forces you to first set up Norton Dwelling Web page and Norton Secure Search.

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PCWorld

Luckily, since I went by way of all that, you should use this direct hyperlink for Norton Secure Internet to the Chrome Internet Retailer. Why the extension doesn’t flip up when operating a seek for it isn’t clear.

Individually, you may set up Norton Password Supervisor, in addition to Norton Household (which screens internet shopping habits). The password supervisor is essentially the most polished (and for my part, helpful) of all out there extensions. At most, you’ll actually solely wish to use Norton Password Supervisor, Norton Secure Internet, and presumably Norton Household.

Cloud backup

To have Norton again up your most essential information, you’ll have to first arrange this function inside the app. For those who settle for the default settings, cloud backups will add every part besides video and electronic mail information in your Home windows doc folders (i.e., Footage, Paperwork, Music, and many others). You may change the file varieties, in addition to add or exclude information and folders. You may create totally different backup guidelines (known as a “Backup Set”), however can solely save to at least one location per backup set.

Talking of save location—this function actually solely appears to be for cloud backups. For those who select a neighborhood location, Norton 360 Deluxe doesn’t appear to work correctly. On multiple PC, I couldn’t get Norton to avoid wasting the information to an exterior drive, despite the fact that the affirmation dialog stated it had.

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PCWorld

PCWorld

So if Norton’s cloud backups will probably be your first backup system, you sadly gained’t have the ability to use it to correctly cowl your butt. It’s undoubtedly higher than nothing and a superb begin, although. And if you have already got a superb backup protocol in place, establishing these cloud backups least additional ensures that ransomware can’t lock you out of your most essential information.

Password supervisor

Norton’s password supervisor is straightforward however good—a refreshing change from companies that really feel stripped to the bone. Setup is straightforward, too. Norton asks you to create a separate vault password, then prompts you to obtain a restoration key. (You may’t get better your account in any other case when you neglect your vault password.)

Afterward, you should use the Norton Password Supervisor cell app to allow passwordless authentication for logging into your vault. It vastly simplifies an in any other case cumbersome system the place two passwords are required to entry your vault (as soon as to get into your Norton account, then to unlock the vault), and it’s seamless, although the authentication approval is a little bit sluggish to register. You may entry your vault by way of the web site, a browser extension, or the cell app.

One odd quirk I encountered throughout my evaluate interval: You solely see totally different font colours for numbers, symbols, and letters when producing a password, however not afterward. You can also’t set the clipboard to mechanically clear after a sure time when you copy a password.

VPN

The interface for Norton’s VPN is clear and straightforward to grasp, however virtually too simplified. For starters, you may solely select your location by nation and never a particular metropolis. Additionally, your settings are restricted to toggle switches for turning on auto join, auto VPN (VPN prompts on unsecured Wi-Fi networks), the kill swap (blocks web entry if the VPN abruptly disconnects), and advert tracker blocking. It’s also possible to add apps to the cut up tunnel function, which retains the VPN from routing their site visitors.

Speeds whereas utilizing the VPN have been inconsistent throughout my mild testing—for instance, whereas related to the U.S. server, I acquired anyplace from about 88 % of my regular obtain pace to as little as 29 %. For those who’re caught on a slower connection, that would harm quite a bit.

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PCWorld

PCWorld

Nations supported are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Eire, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and america.

You may solely entry the VPN by way of the My Norton interface.

Parental controls

You may arrange Norton 360 Deluxe’s parental controls rapidly. Simply set up the Norton Household app, in addition to the Norton Household browser extension, in your child’s PC. Then arrange a toddler profile for them. 

As soon as in place, you may observe internet, search, video, and app exercise, in addition to prohibit entry primarily based on time of day. On iOS and Android, it’s also possible to prohibit entry primarily based on app (Android) and get alerts if the machine leaves a particular location.

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PCWorld

Like the remainder of the Norton web site interface, statistics and settings are streamlined and straightforward to navigate, although there are some limitations. For instance, you may solely monitor YouTube and Hulu web site utilization on cell in Norton’s cell browser and never inside apps or web site embeds.

PC utilities

Included with Norton are a number of PC instruments—although most are duplicates of current Home windows options. 

Optimize Disk is Norton’s model of Home windows Disk Defragmenter—and actually, not mandatory. Based on Norton, it solely focuses on defragging of laborious disk drives. You’re higher off utilizing Home windows for disk optimization, which already treats laborious drives and SSDs with the suitable protocols.

File Cleanup eliminates momentary information held by Home windows and any lingering Web Explorer information. (Yep, Web Explorer—presumably, Norton’s serving individuals clinging to lifeless variations of Home windows; Edge is just not but supported.) Once more, you should use Home windows’ personal instrument for this.

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Startup Supervisor helps you to view and handle which apps mechanically launch with Home windows startup. You may simply use Home windows’ personal administration setting for this by typing startup apps in Home windows search.

Whereas there’s nothing mistaken per se with utilizing these utilities—Norton’s try and centralize them isn’t a nasty impulse—introducing a third-party into the combination is extraneous. The one actual fascinating instrument is Graphs, which exhibits you a historical past of system use (installations, downloads, optimization, virus detections, fast scans, and alerts).

Darkish internet monitor

You can provide Norton info like your electronic mail addresses (as much as 5), bodily addresses, telephone numbers (as much as 5), mom’s maiden identify, driver’s license quantity, insurance coverage data (as much as 5), bank card numbers (as much as 10), checking account (as much as 10), and gamertags (as much as 10).

For those who’re like most individuals, you’ll get an prompt hit in your electronic mail deal with(es) when you use them usually, however the record isn’t practically as complete as utilizing HaveIBeenPwned.com’s lookup instrument. I think about this as an additional technique for getting an alert, however not one thing to depend on for full protection.

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PCWorld

PCWorld

Privateness monitor

Knowledge dealer web sites scoop up details about you from public information and different databases that purchase knowledge. (The latter is why privateness insurance policies are so essential—corporations that you simply work together with can and do promote your info.) Relying on what they discover, these web sites can put your identify, birthdate, present and previous addresses, telephone numbers, and kinfolk into nearly anybody’s arms, and eradicating your self from these websites could be like enjoying Whack-A-Mole. 

Norton asks for a surprisingly minimal quantity of knowledge to run a seek for you on a lot of these websites—however the outcomes aren’t as complete as another companies. You’ll additionally need to pay for an improve to Privateness Monitor Assistant to have them deal with the leg work of eradicating your data.

Safe browser

For individuals who don’t wish to take care of preserving Chrome safe, Norton 360 Deluxe presents an alternate—Norton Safe Browser. It’s primarily based off the identical Chromium code as Google’s browser, however the expertise is extra locked down. 

Out of the gate, Norton Safe Browser comes with the Norton Password Supervisor, Norton Privateness Guard (which blocks trackers and a few adverts), and Norton Secure Search Plus (which verifies hyperlinks) extensions put in, and it solely helps a restricted variety of elective browser extensions. (You may nonetheless set up extensions for large rival password managers resembling Bitwarden, Dashlane, and 1Password, so that you’re not utterly locked into Norton’s ecosystem.)

General, it’s a Chrome-lite expertise, which has the upside of narrowing how a lot hassle you will get your self into. On the flip aspect, it’s not fool-proof. You may’t set up a separate ad-blocker, like uBlock Origin, that blocks sponsored hyperlinks. The truth is, the Secure Search Plus extension will put a inexperienced checkmark on some sponsored hyperlinks for downloads which are not the official, major web site—which in my guide opens up customers to potential threat.

Buyer help

You may get assist instantly inside the app, each from the My Norton and Basic views. Norton additionally presents help pages and group boards on its web site, in addition to technical help by way of social media, chat, and telephone help. For easier questions, the in-app assist and help pages are a superb place to start out, whereas the boards and firm help are higher for troubleshooting.

By the way, when you’re searching for the model data in your Norton app set up, you may entry it by way of Assist > About.

Updates and upkeep 

Virus and app updates run mechanically by default, however you may run the LiveUpdate function manually if you wish to test for pending updates. It checks for any adjustments to the antivirus safety, course of safety, and Norton app.

Efficiency

In exams carried out by main safety analysis institutes, Norton usually performs effectively—at the very least in the case of on-line safety. In AV-Check’s zero-day assault and malware exams for March and April 2024 (essentially the most present outcomes launched), Norton detected one hundred pc of the threats. It caught all 19,228 samples for not too long ago widespread and prevalent malware, and 316 samples of zero-day assaults (together with threats unfold by way of the online and electronic mail).

Equally, in AV-Comparatives’ real-world safety check for February by way of Could 2024, Norton blocked 99.7 % of the 489 check circumstances, with 10 false positives. (For comparability, ESET posted zero false positives, whereas AVG and Avast had 5.5.) These samples are a mixture of malicious internet addresses, exploits (like drive-by downloads), and URLs that hyperlink on to malware. In sensible phrases, Norton will successfully maintain shady web sites at bay, however its increased filtering sensitivity might trigger undesirable trouble or stress when attempting to entry a reliable web site or begin a obtain.

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PCWorld

PCWorld

In the meantime, when tasked with the ten,053 samples in AV-Comparatives’ March 2024 malware safety check, Norton 360 scored a 81.8 % offline detection price, 98.9 % on-line detection price, and a 99.97 % on-line safety price, with 26 false positives. In the end, the web safety rating issues essentially the most, because it tells the story of how effectively an antivirus suite halts threats that discover their means onto your PC and try mischief—and Norton’s efficiency tops the charts.

Nonetheless, Norton’s offline detection rating highlights how reliant its antivirus engine is on an lively web connection for full safety. With out entry to the corporate’s servers, Norton misses the presence of malware extra usually than the competitors, trailing virtually 15 % behind its greatest rivals. That makes for extra uneven efficiency, the place you’ll have to attend for malware to rear its head earlier than it will get proven the door. In distinction, rival Bitdefender achieves a 96.1 % offline detection price, whereas nonetheless additionally providing a 96.1 % on-line detection price, 99.92 % on-line safety price, and fewer false alarms (8).

Norton didn’t take part in AV-Comparatives’ November 2023 Superior Menace Safety Check, which evaluates a safety suite’s resistance to extra refined, focused assault strategies like malicious scripts and fileless assaults.

AV-Comparatives / PCWorld

AV-Comparatives / PCWorld

AV-Comparatives / PCWorld

For PC efficiency, Norton 360 Deluxe can have a notable impact on widespread duties. You’ll see it much less in on a regular basis actions, as evidenced by PCMark 10, a benchmark that simulates internet shopping, video chatting, gaming, and file modifying in open-souce packages like GIMP and LibreOffice for photos and paperwork. When idle within the background, waiting for real-time threats, Norton 360 Deluxe had nearly no impression on PCMark 10’s check scores. But when a full scan ran constantly throughout the benchmark, the outcomes dropped by about 6 %.

When utilizing Microsoft Workplace apps (as simulated by UL Procyon), the efficiency drop will get greater—an virtually 10 % dip throughout a full scan, and roughly 6 % at idle. That distinction grew greatest when operating our Handbrake encoding check, with a 22 % lower throughout a full scan and 11 % on idle.

One factor these numbers don’t present, nevertheless, is how Norton usually handles full scans. After an preliminary full scan, subsequent ones search for modified or new information—which accelerates the scan time and the drag on system assets. And full scans are scheduled by default for off-hours.

Nonetheless, when you deal with information usually—particularly when you’re on a mid-range or funds PC—Norton’s have an effect on in your PC efficiency is one thing to think about.

Must you purchase Norton 360 Deluxe?

Norton presents quite a bit—however its power is its Achilles heel, too. You get broad, pretty complete safety, however there are extras that don’t actually serve a lot use, too. This safety suite would profit from a unified interface and a lighter impression on system efficiency. However when you’re looking for an all-in-one answer, this one nonetheless ticks the appropriate bins.

Editor’s be aware: As a result of on-line companies are sometimes iterative, gaining new options and efficiency enhancements over time, this evaluate is topic to vary to be able to precisely mirror the present state of the service. Any adjustments to textual content or our remaining evaluate verdict will probably be famous on the prime of this text.