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With so much of modern life taking place online, and increasingly monitored by powerful third parties or hackers, it’s very important to ensure that your data and activities remain private when you use public Wi-Fi.
Norton Secure VPN Privacy aims to do just that, employing bank-grade security encryption and VPN technology to keep prying eyes at bay. We explore what it does and why you should be using it on your Mac, PC, or mobile device.
What is Norton Secure VPN?
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Whenever you use public WiFi connections like those found in coffee shops, airports, or hotels you’re taking a big risk. Hackers target these particular types of networks, using techniques such as man-in-the-middle attacks that intercept information sent between your device and the server, or exploiting vulnerabilities to directly upload malware onto your system.
Norton Secure VPN Privacy helps put a stop to this by creating a Virtual Private Network or VPN. A virtual private network gives you online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network from a public Internet connection. With Norton Secure VPN, all of the most sensitive data that you send and receive from your device like passwords and credit card numbers are encrypted and converted into unreadable, untraceable data until it reaches Norton servers.
Features and ease of use
While the idea of setting up a Virtual Private Network might sound complicated, Norton Secure VPN Privacy keeps things simple.
When you launch the app, it gives you the option to turn on the VPN. Doing so automatically creates a private network using the public WiFi. You’ll see this is working when the small map showing your location changes from red with the words ‘Unsecured Connection’ underneath to green and ‘Secured Connection’.
That’s it. No fiddling with network settings or proxy servers.
Now you can search the web with your normal browser, use online banking, access and send sensitive data, all in the knowledge that you’re protected by the same encryption technologies used by the major banks. Norton Secure VPN helps keep your online identity and activity anonymous when you use the Web. Norton Secure VPN is a no-log VPN that encrypts your personal information and doesn’t track or store your online activity or location.
Along with maintaining your privacy, the app has a couple of other very useful features. The first prevents ad-trackers from using cookies to follow you around the web and continually serve annoying ads. The other is masking your IP address and location.
By using servers around the globe, the VPN allows you a personalized browsing experience. The VPN helps protect your online privacy by blocking intrusive activities like tracking or controlling your online activities or location by Internet service providers, mobile carriers, advertisers, and websites.
Setting your location is easy. Just open the app, select the Virtual Location tab, then choose the country you want. Norton Secure VPN Security will reroute your connection in seconds. When you’re finished, simply revisit the tab and select your home nation once more.
Price and availability
Norton Secure VPN may be used on one, five, or ten Windows PCs, Macs, iOS, and Android devices, with unlimited use during the subscription term.
For one device it’s $4.99 per month (plus applicable taxes) or $39.99 per year (plus applicable taxes). Terms apply. Move to five and your monthly amount goes up to $7.99 per month (plus applicable taxes), while yearly cost remains the same. This makes it a great choice if you want to protect your laptop, desktop, tablet, and smartphone. Families can opt for a ten-device tier which costs $9.99 per month (plus applicable taxes) or $59.99 per year (plus applicable taxes).
There are also bundle deals that combine Norton’s WiFi Privacy and Security software, beginning at $69.98 per year (plus applicable taxes) for one device and going up to $94.98 per year (plus applicable taxes) for ten devices.
Verdict
Protecting yourself from the increasingly sophisticated online threats around today is a regrettable necessity. Thankfully, Norton Secure VPN Privacy makes this daunting task easy due to its clean and understandable interface. With no real setup required users can quickly find themselves browsing safely and anonymously from their phone, tablet, or PC.
The ability to change server locations opens up a literal world of online content, while having ad-tracking efforts blocked at the same time is a useful side-benefit.
Norton’s wide range of subscription tiers means there are packages for everyone, from securing your phone to all your devices, and at prices that suit any pocket. We’d say it will be money well spent.
Affiliate Disclosure: We receive a commission for purchases made through the links on this page.
Security: VPNs encrypt your traffic to help protect your personal information and other data as it's in transit, or being sent from and received by your device. A VPN helps protect your personal information by stopping hackers and snoops from accessing your online communications.
Norton Secure VPN is a security app that helps keep you safe while you surf the web. It prevents your online activity from being tracked by 3rd party trackers, including ISPs, or the websites that you visit, giving you private internet access.
A VPN, which stands for virtual private network, protects its users by encrypting their data and masking their IP addresses. This hides their browsing activity, identity, and location, allowing for greater privacy and autonomy. Anyone seeking a safer, freer, and more secure online experience could benefit from a VPN.
Yes, you need a VPN to protect your online activity, hide your IP addresses, and keep your data safe. A VPN should be the cornerstone of your online privacy and security at home, work, or public places.
What is the difference between the Norton Secure VPN and the Norton 360? The difference between the Norton Secure VPN and the Norton 360 is that the Norton Secure VPN is a VPN only, whereas the Norton 360 is an all-in-one solution.
Do you need an antivirus if you have a VPN? Yes, you need antivirus software if you have a VPN and a VPN if you have an antivirus. Each of them is a tool for a different task.
For some time now, we've recommended a VPN when using public Wi-Fi in airports, libraries, hotels, and coffee shops. Given that these are public networks, a determined hacker can snoop on the other devices transmitting data on them. With a VPN, any connection becomes a secure connection, which includes public Wi-Fi.
Without the protection of a VPN, you are far more likely to receive targeted ads, phishing attacks, or become a victim of data breaches. Premium VPN services like Surfshark have additional tools to ensure a safe and smooth online experience.
It's important to remember that VPNs do not work in the same way as comprehensive anti-virus software. While they will protect your IP and encrypt your internet history, but that is as much as they can do. They won't keep you safe, for instance, if you visit phishing websites or download compromised files.
A VPN will slow down your internet connection. With a premium VPN (Virtual Private Network), that slowdown should be unnoticeable. But no matter whether it is paid or free, a VPN will slow down your connection because it needs some of that bandwidth for encryption purposes. And without encryption, a VPN is just a VN.
A VPN protects its users by encrypting their data and masking their IP address, leaving their browsing history and location untraceable. This greater anonymity allows for greater privacy, as well as greater freedom for those who wish to access blocked or region-bound content.
It's a common question, especially if you're unfamiliar with the benefits of using a VPN. Getting a VPN is valuable, especially if you prioritize online privacy and want all your internet activity, including communication between devices and servers, encrypted.
Yes, you should leave your VPN on all the time. VPNs offer the best online security, so keeping it on will protect you against data leaks and cyberattacks, especially while you're using public Wi-Fi. It can also safeguard against intrusive snoopers such as ISPs or advertisers. Always use a VPN when you go online.
Is Norton VPN good and worth it? Norton VPN is a decent VPN that offers basic yet essential security features, including a kill switch and split tunneling. It also adds Wi-Fi Security and the Ad Tracker Blocking feature to mobile devices.
Norton Secure VPN encrypts your Internet connection on public hotspots to protect private data like your passwords when using your PC, Mac, or mobile device.
You only visit sites, download files, stream videos, and access your online bank accounts or credit card portals after connecting through your VPN. This creates a sort of tunnel that hides both your IP address and the data you've sent and received while online.
It's up to you. You should turn your VPN on whenever you connect to public Wi-Fi. Beyond that, it's your decision if you want to leave your VPN on all the time for continuous online security coverage.
From the home screen, launch the Norton 360 app. Tap VPN. In the Privacy screen, you can configure the following settings: Enable or disable VPN - Depending on the on-screen recommendation for your wireless network, you can slide the VPN switch to on or off.
When your device goes to sleep and your network is not in use, it automatically disables your VPN, only to re-enable it once your network is reactivated and data is transmitted. Your connection will not be re-established until network activity is detected.
Yes, Norton 360 can help remove malware from your device, including Trojans and other viruses. Norton 360 products can also help you avoid viruses and other malware, such as spyware, ransomware, and adware.
Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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