Norton 360 expensive? What else to consider?

[Steve Campbell]

I have used Norton 360 for years, on auto renewal and haven't really looked for better alternatives or had any issues. I am almost certainly not using all the features I'm paying for....eg I can cover 10 devices but only covering 3 now !

Auto renewal for Norton 360 Premium (which is what I have now) just came up for £99.99 which seems expensive. I checked their web page and the newest version of Norton 360 Deluxe has an auto renew price of £10 cheaper.

I've cancelled the auto renew and looking for advice on what to do. Needs to cover a home desktop, a laptop and another desktop (ie 3 separate machines).

It should be simple to use for someone with basic computing skills, good value for money and unobtrusive in it's use (Norton can get a bit annoying on that front !) and obviously do what it says on the tin ie protect me and my computer from all the bad things :-)

What should I consider ?

It's a Windows based desktop (Mesh) new this year and will almost certainly be Windows based laptop if I decide to get a 2nd machine + my sons custom built desktop (Windows). Used for all things "home" related & son at Uni using it for UNI work, gaming and custom design work.

Edited by Steve Campbell on Wednesday 20th September 18:26

[Sheets Tabuer]

Windows defender, it's free.

[Steve Campbell]

If Windows Defender is free, what’s the value add of paid for software like Norton ?

[Ham_and_Jam]

Steve Campbell said:

If Windows Defender is free, what’s the value add of paid for software like Norton ?

Not a lot, that’s why you should use the free Windows in built Defender.

[Brainpox]

Steve Campbell said:

If Windows Defender is free, what’s the value add of paid for software like Norton ?

There isn’t. There was an argument for Norton 20 years ago. There are plenty of better cheaper alternatives and have been for years. Norton survives on its name and coming preinstalled on OEM PCs. Defender is good enough now and no need for anything else.

[Douglas Quaid]

Yes you don’t need to pay for that. Just use windows defender. It works perfectly well. As a bonus you’ll find your computer runs faster once you get rid of Norton.

[Vasco]

I used to have Norton about 20 years ago. It became totally unnecessary some years ago.

[wong]

Another vote for Defender (just keep it updated).

[Jamescrs]

A other vote for Defender. Just keep it updated.

[Scarletpimpofnel]

Same. I used Norton since the 90s and was dubious when people on here told me to ditch it and just use Windows Defender (with everything enabled). I haven't looked back, far less intrusive than Norton and just does what it needs to in the background. It can auto update or update when you do Windows Update.

I use Windows OS, MS Edge and MS Defender and all seem to work in harmony unlike when I mixed Norton and Google Chrom einto the mix.

[Timothy Bucktu]

The 90's called and want their bloatware back

[xeny]

Steve Campbell said:

If Windows Defender is free, what’s the value add of paid for software like Norton ?

It spends a lot of time scaring you into thinking it is worth paying for?

[Griffith4ever]

xeny said:

It spends a lot of time scaring you into thinking it is worth paying for?

Exactly that.

I run Bitdefender free along side Win Defender as an experiment and all it really does is warn you when you open dodgy web pages, which I already know are dodgy - I.e. when you click a magnet link 9/10 times a second page full of scams will open but I'm well aware of that. So perhaps some of the features are good for those that are incapable of not clicking everything they see?

[wyson]

I always got a cheapy renewal code on ebay. The auto renew was usually the most expensive option.

Quite a few 1 year offers hovering around £10. Just make sure you can use your existing credentials.

I would just keep what you have. Why faff for the sake of a tenner?

[BlueJazz]

I use Norton across all my PC's and phones / tablets. If you leave it long enough, they'll email you with an 'amazing' offer to retain your custom. Just a case of holding your nerve or going for windows defender if you prefer.

[Griffith4ever]

wyson said:

I always got a cheapy renewal code on ebay. The auto renew was usually the most expensive option.

Quite a few 1 year offers hovering around £10. Just make sure you can use your existing credentials.

I would just keep what you have. Why faff for the sake of a tenner?

What "faff"? If you don't renew you end up with Win Defender which is already installed and will take over the second you remove Norton.

[Steve Campbell]

I think my next question may have been answered above....is there anything I need to do other than uninstall Norton on the last day ? Anything I need to check to ensure Windows Defender is up and running and doing it's thing ?

[Pitre]

In my experience Norton is one of the most invasive and difficult to remove pieces of software I've ever used.

I now use Advanced System Care Pro from iobit to manage my pc and it's worked very well for years now - very good for completely uninstalling stubborn software like Norton! For antivirus I use free AVG but I believe Avast is equally well thought of, but I'm sure previous posters are correct in saying that Windows Defender is fine on its own.

Good luck getting Norton out of your system, it's a bit like getting birdst out of long hair

[captain_cynic]

Jamescrs said:

A other vote for Defender. Just keep it updated.

If you want something more than Defender, Immunet is free (and doesn't nag you)

But as many others have said, defender is fine (also nag free)

[wyson]

Griffith4ever said:

What "faff"? If you don't renew you end up with Win Defender which is already installed and will take over the second you remove Norton.

I always found there was an adjustment with new antivirus software, setting the scan schedules, looking through the interface and features, deciding on what alerts to keep, thinking about its weak points, plusses and minuses, reading a few reviews etc.