Issue abstract:
My Windows 11 PC has recently developed an issue where Norton 360 appears offline when NordVPN is active. I have previously had both applications running for several months with no obvious conflicts, and this problem did not exist. Only after recently performing a clean install of Norton 360 has this issue appeared.
These screenshots show my version of Norton 360 and that it is appearing offline in Live Update and Software Updater respectively.
I do NOT have NordVPN and the VPN in Norton 360 active at the same time, and have never used the Norton 360 VPN due to my preference for the properties/features of NordVPN.
Detailed description:
In no particular order I have tried the following solutions (alone and in various combinations):
1. Turning off NordVPN (This works, Norton 360 appears online, but I shouldn’t have to turn off my VPN for this to happen. Especially as both applications worked well together until the Norton 360 reinstall)
2. Resetting Norton 360 Smart Firewall (This “worked” once, but has not worked since)
3. Repairing the Norton 360 install (This “worked” once, in combination with resetting the Norton 360 Smart Firewall, but has not worked since)
4. Changing all permissions for NordVPN to “allow” in Norton 360 Smart Firewall “Program Control” (Did not work)
5. Turning on Split Tunnelling in NordVPN and disabling the VPN for every single .exe file I could find in all Norton folders on my PC (Did not work…and there were a LOT of .exe files!)
6. Turning off all Threat Protection Pro features in NordVPN, and also turning off all browser (Google Chrome) based malware/ad-blockers etc. (Did not work)
I have also:
- Double checked all Windows Updates, automatically and manually ensured all drivers including motherboard BIOS, networking card drivers etc were up to date*(I always keep my PC up to date automatically and manually, frequently create restore points etc, have online and local file backups etc. Did not work)*
- Restarted my PC/relevant processes for Norton and NordVPN products when applicable.
I have seen some comments from a couple of sources that suggest allowlisting certain DNS addresses in NordVPN/Windows networking, however as I am unsure of the safety of doing this, and the sources were pretty vague I have not attempted this.
Essentially, I am not even sure if this is a “Norton Problem” or a “NordVPN” problem, or even something else. I am also insufficiently expert to fully probe the networking issue, so if anyone has any suggestions I would be very grateful.
Thanks in advance.
Windows and NordVPN versions:
