Smart Firewall keeps changing Wi-Fi network from private to public and applying restrictive settings
Detailed description: I have tried setting smart firewall to follow windows settings on network trust, but still will change it to public. My network is a mesh system and i suspect norton sees it and wants to call it a public system. How can I setup smart firewall to always leave my network to private. This is a desktop so I don’t have to worry about joining a public network. Currently I have 3 mesh devices with the main router. Also my isp router can’t handle all of my connections so I had to by an Archer AXE7800. Dynamic IP is on but I try to restrict any changes to some of my devices, they work better with static assigned IP…
Product & version number: norton 360 version 25.4.10068 (build 25.4.10068.0)
OS details: Windows 11
What is the error message you are seeing? No error messages
If you have any supporting screenshots, please add them:
@nvstg8u Hello. I have some questions about your network setup that may or may be relevant.
Are you using the Wifi within your ISP device, if it has that built in?
Are you also using Wifi on your TP-link router?
Is your TP-Link router setup in a NAT-NAT configuration or access point configuration? NAT-NAT is primarily used when your personal router manages Wifi and ethernet connections through that device.
Is the desktop in question connected to the ISP device or personal router?
Why aren’t your mesh devices setup to your personal router vice the ISP device? Are they setup as access points which will extend the network?
Wi-Fi (Radio) is off
I am only using my TP-Link router for all connections, 2.4, 5, and 6Ghz
Not sure about this NAT-NAT Config but my ISP box I am basically only using the router
And my Desktop is connected to the TP-Link
And my mesh devices, 3, are setup to TP-Link, they are all TP-Link products, and they use TP-Link’s OneMesh software
That is the same NAT-NAT setup I use with Verizon’s device and my TP-Link router and one extender. I’m on an older version of Norton pending the version 25.xx fiasco to be ironed out.
From the forums its well known that the latest releases of Norton will set your network to public on its own at each restart. Some have reported it switching between private and public randomly as I see having taken place with you. Unfortunately Norton has to work that issue from their side and release a fixed version.
So it appears I may have stumbled across the issue!!! I found a conflict in the registry!!! Between category and categorytype! Category was private but since categorytype was public, it seems it was changing it back to public. I changed both to Private and so far nomore issues!!! Registry entry is “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles” under profiles it was a bunch of numbers and letters…
But hallelujah no more problems!!!
I found the answer through Gemini for the Category, but then used common sense and looking to discover the categorytype was public. Asked Gemini about it and told me to change it to private!
I only have 1 entry there. And I should have clarified what I found is not for mesh networks or regular. It’s just a Windows setting for your “saved” networks I believe. I don’t know enough about Windows to say for sure…
@nvstg8u Please post a screenshot of what your registry changes are. My side nothing is labeled public or private in any of the registry key areas you posted. TIA.
