Do I need Norton DNS?

Hi guy's & gal's!

 

I was just wondering if anyone knows whether I need Norton DNS? I have been using it since someone posted here about it last year but I'm not entirely sure it's necessary. I already use Norton Internet Security and having just checked Norton DNS website for any possible updates I read the following which makes me wonder?

 

  • If I have Norton DNS do I need any other security solution?

    Norton DNS only provides basic security -- malware site blocking. It is not a substitute for a full, multi-layered, client-based security solution such as Norton Internet Security or Norton 360...

I already have Norton Safe Web enabled, does DNS add anything more?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Slinky DinX



Hello,

 

If you are using Norton Safe Web, then you really do not need to have Norton DNS.  Both products have a similar job and the Norton Safe Web would cover all that the Norton DNS product does.

 

I am not saying that you should stop using it.  However, you may wish to uninstall it to test how your computer works without it.  It can always be installed again with your existing products.


If this helps with your decision, please let me know.


Thank You.

Hi Slinky_Grafix,

 

Norton DNS protects your computer from malicious websites at the connection level. Norton Safe Web is only compatibile with Internet Explorter, Firefox, and Chrome (in NIS 2012). If you use Norton DNS, you have protections from ALL browsers that you would use on your computer. You could even add the DNS settings to your router and have ALL your devices protected from malicious websites, such as a smartphone or tablet. :smileyhappy:

Here is a bit info about Norton DNS:

 

http://us.norton.com/support/kb/web_view.jsp?wv_type=public_web&docurl=20100728165310EN


Tim_Lopez wrote:

Hi Slinky_Grafix,

 

Norton DNS protects your computer from malicious websites at the connection level. Norton Safe Web is only compatibile with Internet Explorter, Firefox, and Chrome (in NIS 2012). If you use Norton DNS, you have protections from ALL browsers that you would use on your computer. You could even add the DNS settings to your router and have ALL your devices protected from malicious websites, such as a smartphone or tablet. :smileyhappy:


Thanks Tim! You made that so much clearer.., sounds like it's better to keep it installed then since some of my programs can also browse web pages.

 

I guess you'll be giving Dave (symantec employeee above) a kick in the butt? :smileytongue:

 

Thanks again fella!

 

Slinky DinX


Vineeth wrote:

Here is a bit info about Norton DNS:

 

http://us.norton.com/support/kb/web_view.jsp?wv_type=public_web&docurl=20100728165310EN


Hmmm!!!!!!!!! :smileymad:

 

Thanks Vineeth for the link, seems like the scammers have cashed in on this page! Here's what Norton say;

 

Correct typos

Browse faster with common domain typo correction (i.e. amazon.cm to amazon.com). Part of the benefit of Norton DNS is that users get guidance vs. a useless error page with no information. When an address is mistyped, the Norton DNS service offer the users the right link and/or links that they are likely to be interested in.



I decided to try the Norton DNS example above, ie:miss-spelling (amazon.cm) here's what happened next!

 

Oh wow.., I've won a prize!!!

 

Some woman on the Amazon website just spoke to me over my pc speaker and told me I've won something!! Holy crap.., that makes a nice change, it must be for real it's on the Amazon website!

 

Looks like Norton DNS is a BIG piece of crap!! It didn't protect me at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :smileymad:

 

The most annoying thing is that for the first tiem ever, I've fallen for a scam! I've even parted with my address and phone number!

 

Screen shot of Amazon window and prize announcement below.

 

Amazon Scam.JPG

 

Next Window:

 

untitled.jpg

 

Next window appears after making your selection above!

 

untitled2.jpg

 

Also notice above that the Norton ID Safe bar across the top of the window looks fake and nasty and the text is rough around the edges. I didn't use ID Safe as it looked too suspicious!!

 

After this page your taken into a lengthy survey asking you to enrol in this that and the other and some questions in the small print it says they will charge you £1.50 per text message they send you and you will be billed continuously until you tell them to stop!!!!!!!

 

I haven't been able to verify this survey with Amazon as their phone lines are closed after 8pm

 

Not sure what to do or who to speak too really.

 

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

.cm is the top level domain for the country of Cameroon.  It is not a typo on the world wide web.

give a scan with hitman pro 3.5


SendOfJive wrote:

 

.cm is the top domain level for the country of Cameroon.  It is not a typo on the world wide web.


Hi ya, can you elaborate please? According to the Norton DNS wording above in 'Blue' (Amazon.cm) is a typo which is why I decided to test it out in the first place. If Norton DNS is any good it should have auto corrected it and kept me safe!

 

It Didn't!!!!!!

 

Do you know how I can make this topic more prominant so's more people can see it quickly?

 

Thanks.


Slinky_Grafix wrote:

SendOfJive wrote:

 

.cm is the top domain level for the country of Cameroon.  It is not a typo on the world wide web.


Hi ya, can you elaborate please? 


.cm is just as valid as .com.  You can register a website using this domain if you live or have a business in Cameroon.  So, the Amazon.cm reference is a bad example, because it should not be considered a typo by any DNS service - otherwise many sites registered in Cameroon would not be reachable.  You can complain about the bad example, but the DNS service itself did not do anything wrong.


SendOfJive wrote:

Slinky_Grafix wrote:

SendOfJive wrote:

 

.cm is the top domain level for the country of Cameroon.  It is not a typo on the world wide web.


Hi ya, can you elaborate please? 


.cm is just as valid as .com.  You can register a website using this domain if you live or have a business in Cameroon.  So, the Amazon.cm reference is a bad example, because it should not be considered a typo by any DNS service - otherwise many sites registered in Cameroon would not be reachable.  You can complain about the bad example, but the DNS service itself did not do anything wrong.


Thanks chap! It's clearer to me now. Yes it would seem Norton have made a really BAD example in this document. Trouble is.., I'm the one who's identity has been compromised.

 

It's such a worry!! I did quit the survey at around 90% but I guess it's too late now as I gave my personal details at the start.

 

Thanks anyway.

Hello Slinky_Grafix,

 

I'm looking for someone from the Norton DNS team to respond. It's possible that when this KB Document was last updated that this functioned that way, but that something has changed since. 

SendOfJive wrote:


.cm is just as valid as .com.  You can register a website using this domain if you live or have a business in Cameroon.  So, the Amazon.cm reference is a bad example, because it should not be considered a typo by any DNS service - otherwise many sites registered in Cameroon would not be reachable.  You can complain about the bad example, but the DNS service itself did not do anything wrong.

Hi ya Tim, it's just a quick update! As SendOfJive quoted above; Amazon.cm is a really bad example as 'cm' is the country code for Cameroon. Therefore Norton DNS would never correct this extension as it cannot be considered a typo!

 

Norton have clearly got this wrong in their KB article!

 

My only mistake is believing the DNS article and assuming I was safe to test their theory!

 

I have just turned on my mobile as it was this number I submitted during the survey and I have been snowballed with text messages about some lottery!!

 

Off to have my dinner so catch you later.


Tim_Lopez wrote:

I'm looking for someone from the Norton DNS team to respond. It's possible that when this KB Document was last updated that this functioned that way, but that something has changed since. 



Hi Tim,

 

You would sort of expect maybe a popup asking the user if they really intended to type .cm.  I can't imagine how many typosquatters must be lurking at that particular domain.

Hi SendOfJive,

 

Unfortunately, Norton DNS can't create popups by design, and it would warn for EVERY .cn if that was the case, since there aren't any configurations available for it. 

So my next question is.., how do Norton propose to put things right again for me?

 

After all said and done.., my personal details have been compromised as a direct result of putting my trust in a Norton Product!

 

It doesn't make for a very good advertisement does it?

 

I guess only time will tell how much damage has really been done, I only hope it's not too much. As I mentioned in my reply to Tim last night, I have already had a string of spam text messages on my mobile and all as a result of this scam survey!

 

I look forward to Norton's official response in due course.

 

Slinky

 

Late Update: 03.27 hrs

 

Here's Norton Safe Web's Official verdict of Amazon.cm ! THIS SITE IS TOTALLY SAFE!! But I know different

 

safeweb01.JPG

 

 

 

Safeweb02.JPG

 

 

 

I took this screenshot a few minutes after the first.., notice how the screen capture that Norton Safe Web made of the Amazon.cm homepage depicts the same scam I got caught by! LOL.., wonder if Norton will choose the same prize as me?

 

As you can also see, Norton Safe Web does not detect any problems with this site!

 

How can anyone put their trust in security software if it doesn't work?

 

The moral of this story is: Norton Safe Web is NOT SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Slinky

 

 

To all,

 

For your information, I tested Norton DNS a few months ago, but I decided to uninstall it and go with a different free DNS service.

 

At the time, I was looking for an alternative DNS, since the default name servers provided by my local ISP were notoriously unreliable.  So after I installed and uninstalled Norton DNS, I had to change the IP addresses of my primary and secondary name servers to the IP addresses of the new provider that I had chosen.  I have not had any DNS problems since I changed to this new provider.

 

RichD

Hello Slinky_Grafix,

 

I think there might be some confusion as to what Norton DNS will protect you from. Norton DNS will utilize our SafeWeb database of websites to block you from accessing websites that are known to host malicious content. The website that you visited does not fall under this category. Those sites are mostly spam websites or promotional websites. Those websites listed in their Terms of Service how they will use your information, so they are up front with it. Those types of websites, while annoying, are not blocked by Norton products.

 

I would contact your phone company and let them know that you had inadvertantly signed up for a service that charges your mobile number on a website and they should be able to remove the charges for them. With these types of giveaways you see online, its very important that you read the fine print.


Tim_Lopez wrote:

Hello Slinky_Grafix,

 

I think there might be some confusion as to what Norton DNS will protect you from. Norton DNS will utilize our SafeWeb database of websites to block you from accessing websites that are known to host malicious content. The website that you visited does not fall under this category...


Hi Tim, I'm afraid I must disagree with your comment above, Amazon.cm does clearly host malicious content and the Norton Safe Web screenshot above proves this without any shadow of a doubt! Look closely at the little thumbnail of Amazon.cm's website.., it shows the exact same scam pop-up I got caught out by. Clearly Safe Web is not as safe as one would hope!
If you want a closer look at the above pop-up, refer back to my original post about this scam.
Cheers.

Hi Slinky_Grafix,

By definition, that website isn’t a malware site. Unwanted surveys / promotion websites do not fall in to this category. Sites that host files that are known malware/viruses or phishing websites are examples of malware sites.