Norton 360 resets every day automatic my program control setting. Going crazy

[Andre_Korb]

Note: Please do not post Personally Identifiable Information like email address, personal phone number, physical home address, product key etc.

Issue abstract: Norton 360 resets every day automatic my program control setting

Detailed description:

German: Sehr geehrtes Team. Ich nutze jetzt Norton Internet Security seit knapp 15 Jahren und das aus gutem Grunde. Ihre aktuelle Version allerdings bringt mich bald dazu den Anbieter zu wechseln. Ihre Programmsteuerung der Firewall funktioniert seit ca. 4 Wochen nicht mehr und ist meiner Meinung nach komplett verbugged. Seit 15 Jahren stelle ich die Programmsteuerung auf MANUELL um festzulegen, welche Programme grundsätzlich ins Internet dürfen und welche nicht. Man stellt dieses einmal für Programm XY ein und sagt Ja oder Nein und dann Einmalig oder für Immer. Hat 15 Jahre geklappt. JEDES MAL. Habe ich ein Programm blockiert bliebt es blockiert. Ihre aktuelle Version von Norton 360 allerdings fragt nach JEDEM NEUSTART des PC wieder ALLE Programm via Popup ab, als hätte Norton alle Einstellungen vergessen und das NERVT. Es vergisst alle eingestellten Programme und setzt alle zurück auf Null. Sorry. Bitte ändern Sie das schnellstens. Auch ein Clean Install von Norton 360 brachte keine Besserung.

MfG

André Korb

English: Dear Team, I have been using Norton Internet Security for nearly 15 years now—and for good reason. However, your current version is fast driving me to switch providers. Your firewall’s program control feature has stopped working properly over the last four weeks or so, and in my opinion, it is completely buggy. For 15 years, I have set the program control to MANUAL (“Ask”) in order to specify which programs are generally allowed to access the Internet and which are not. You configure this once for a specific program—saying “Yes” or “No,” and then selecting “Once” or “Always”—and for 15 years, it worked. EVERY SINGLE TIME. If I blocked a program, it stayed blocked. Your current version of Norton 360, however, prompts me via pop-up to re-authorize every single program after every single PC restart—as if Norton had completely forgotten all my settings. It forgets all the programs I’ve configured and resets everything to default. It is incredibly ANNOYING. I’m sorry, but please fix this as soon as possible. Even performing a clean install of Norton 360 brought no improvement.

I am using Norton 360 Premium.

Sincerely,

André Korb

Product & version number: latest via onlineupdate

OS details: 25H2 Windows 11 Pro 6200.8457

What is the error message you are seeing? noting

[bjm]

@Andre_Korb

English: Dear Team, I have been using Norton Internet Security for nearly 15 years now—and for good reason. However, your current version is fast driving me to switch providers. Your firewall’s program control feature has stopped working properly over the last four weeks or so, and in my opinion, it is completely buggy. For 15 years, I have set the program control to MANUAL (“Ask”) in order to specify which programs are generally allowed to access the Internet and which are not. You configure this once for a specific program—saying “Yes” or “No,” and then selecting “Once” or “Always”—and for 15 years, it worked. EVERY SINGLE TIME. If I blocked a program, it stayed blocked. Your current version of Norton 360, however, prompts me via pop-up to re-authorize every single program after every single PC restart—as if Norton had completely forgotten all my settings. It forgets all the programs I’ve configured and resets everything to default. It is incredibly ANNOYING. I’m sorry, but please fix this as soon as possible. Even performing a clean install of Norton 360 brought no improvement.

Hello @Andre_Korb

To confirm: Norton Security 26.4.10932
You’re reporting Ask

• Forever - Block does not generate Custom (Block | Ask)

================

• Forever - Allow does not generate Custom (Allow | Ask)
  
  

[Andre_Korb]

The main problem is no longer the “Ask” prompt. I found out when i simply go into the Smart Firewall settings menu after every popup and re-confirm “Allow” or “Block” there seem top be silence. The MAIN PROBLEM now is the buggy menu/program and the automatic resetting of all firewall program settings. The screenshot is an example from just now. Let’s see what happens tomorrow…

[SoulAsylum]

Check your Norton history for entries that correlate with these. Norton won’t reset its firewall on its own, that requires user intervention to accomplish. IF, you are connecting to a different network on a rotation Norton MAY be using the new detected network and setting permissions for that as it should. Again this information will be in your Norton history for reviewing.

SA

[peterweb]

I’m using 360 version 26.4.10932 (build 26.4.10932.983) and I still have an “ask” option in 360 Settings > General tab > Smart Firewall. Note that this feature only asks for new apps, not all connections.

t Firewall

[Andre_Korb]

I am using a stationary network cable connected to a network outlet in my house sind 2012. No WLAN.

[Andre_Korb]

Norton History = Security history?

What should i look for? In the screenshot you see the hours (13 hrs yesterday (all was good) and today with the empty program list shown above.

[Andre_Korb]

Update after turning on the pc today… all reset (before it was 50 or so):

it hate this

[bjm]

@Andre_Korb

Update after turning on the pc today… all reset (before it was 50 or so):
it hate this

Does Program Control works as normal with Automatic Program Control → Smart Mode ?

[SoulAsylum]

Ok so here is what I am getting my side with the Norton 360 VPN and surfing. These are the entries since I enabled my VPN. Each time I open a new tab for a website Norton records that as a “fresh” connection. I’m only presenting a few entries as the history is filling up like mad while browsing so I do partially see something amiss with the VPN itself. Surfing new pages shouldn’t be logging as a fresh or new connection. That is nonsense. I also have my program control set to “ASK” vice automatic for dexterity. I might add there is no numbering scheme present.

SA

[Andre_Korb]

i changed the mod just now. And i will try.

[Andre_Korb]

Yesterday i changed to smart mode. Is i booted for 15 minutes ago ALL program control settings were resettet. I saw this because i manualy blocked 1 program. Today, as i wrote, all settings reset. Smart control choose for me and this was ok.. BUT NOT the solution. I have no popups anymore now but the target is (as always since i use Norton) i will do it by myself.

[Andre_Korb]

Update. Since the switch to Smart only one day all were reset. Since 3 days the Program control not reset automatic.

Crazy. Its not the solution but better than nothing.

[bjm]

May be best – for you – to document/report this issue directly via Norton support.
Norton support will likely request remote session – to see – as you see.

Note: for an official Norton support response – open a support case:
Norton Support Help Center → Contact us (bottom of page)
Contact Norton Support → Let’s get started.

[SuperDaniel_274_de]

I have a similar problem, if my pc crashed the firewall lose the settings.

Yesterday I have two power outages, but for my surprise is looks like the firewall worked normal, but today the firewall losing the setting again with out a crash, internet doesn’t worked suddenly and first I thought vpn/provider was the problem but Mobile and Tablet working, so I open Norton and the firewall program control was empty again.

I use the firewall in prompt mode.

I think the problem has something to do with the customation, only allow or block seems to work

I use often the hibernate mode from my pc, possible that after a normal restart the firewall would aks again, don’t know this

[bjm]

@SuperDaniel_274_de

I have a similar problem, if my pc crashed the firewall lose the settings.

Yesterday I have two power outages, but for my surprise is looks like the firewall worked normal, but today the firewall losing the setting again with out a crash, internet doesn’t worked suddenly and first I thought vpn/provider was the problem but Mobile and Tablet working, so I open Norton and the firewall program control was empty again.

I use the firewall in prompt mode.

I think the problem has something to do with the customation, only allow or block seems to work

Hello @SuperDaniel_274_de
Does Norton Smart Firewall → Automatic Program Control → Smart Mode work okay?

I imagine you’ve tried Norton DIY Troubleshooting → Repair Norton | Reset to Default | clean Norton 360 install?
Note: Reset to Default resets Cloud Backup.

I imagine you’ve documented issue via official Norton support.

================================

Norton Smart Firewall → Ask mode is not heavily used by most consumers anymore. It tends to expose edge-case bugs because modern Norton development is much more centered around automatic trust/reputation workflows than dense manual firewall management.
Norton Smart Firewall → Ask mode is somewhat of a legacy/advanced-use feature inside a product increasingly optimized for automatic decisions.

• Windows Defender Firewall Control by Malwarebytes
• Windows Defender Firewall

may behave more predictably for advanced rule management than modern consumer-suite firewalls.

[SuperDaniel_274_de]

No, I haven’t talk to the support yet, first I want see if someone else have a similar problem.

I think I need a custom firewall, I don’t want that the VNC is available over internet and only usable in my home network

[bjm]

@SuperDaniel_274_de

I think I need a custom firewall, I don’t want that the VNC is available over internet and only usable in my home network

• Allow VNC on the local/home LAN
• Block VNC exposure to the public internet

Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security is usually better suited for that kind of precise network scoping than modern consumer-suite firewalls.

• Let Norton 360 handle antivirus/web protection
• Use Windows Firewall for detailed inbound network rules

For VNC specifically, the clean approach is:

• Allow inbound VNC only from:
  • Local subnet/private IP ranges
  • Trusted LAN profile
• Block public/WAN access

Typical safe private ranges include:

• 192.168.x.x
• 10.x.x.x
• 172.16.x.x – 172.31.x.x

In Windows Firewall this is straightforward because rules can be limited by:

• remote IP address,
• network profile,
• protocol,
• and interface type.

That is generally more reliable than Norton Smart Firewall – Automatic Program Control – Ask mode customizations.

Also important:
Even if the firewall is configured correctly, VNC should ideally:

• not be port-forwarded from the router,
• use strong authentication,
• and preferably run behind a VPN instead of direct internet exposure.

Direct internet-facing VNC is commonly targeted by scanners and brute-force attempts.

A practical recommendation for that user would be:

• Disable Norton firewall customizations or keep them simple
• Create the advanced VNC restriction rule in Windows Firewall instead
• Leave the router with no VNC port forwarding enabled

That usually gives:

• better persistence,
• more transparent rule management,
• and fewer surprises after Norton updates/crashes.

Norton 360:

• Automatic Program Control
  controls how Norton handles application rules
  (whether Norton auto-allows/trusts apps vs prompting/manual decisions)
• Automatic Network Control → Windows Settings Mode
  controls how Norton handles network trust/profile classification
  (Private/Public style behavior)

So with:

• Automatic Program Control = Smart/Automatic
  AND
• Automatic Network Control = Windows Settings Mode

…the behavior is more like:

Function	Primarily handled by
App trust decisions	Norton
Auto firewall rules for programs	Norton
Network profile classification	Windows
Private/Public network behavior	Mostly Windows logic
Low-level packet filtering	Both via WFP

So Norton still maintains Smart Firewall and Program Control.

What shifts toward Windows is mainly:

• whether a network is treated as Private/Public,
• and profile-based behavior tied to that classification.

That’s why a VNC setup can work well:

• Windows says home LAN = Private
• Windows Firewall rule allows VNC only on Private
• Norton is less likely to second-guess the network classification

But Norton still:

• exists in the filtering stack,
• may auto-create app permissions,
• and can still override/block traffic in some situations.

Windows becomes authoritative for network profile classification, while Norton still manages application trust and participates in filtering.

• Norton Automatic Network Control → Windows Settings Mode
  Norton is more likely to respect Windows’ own network profile classification (Private vs Public).

That allows the user to configure VNC access using Windows Firewall logic like:

• Allow VNC on Private networks
• Block VNC on Public networks

So the practical setup becomes:

1. Home network in Windows = Private
2. VNC inbound rule = allowed only on Private profile
3. Public profile = blocked
4. No router port forwarding for VNC

In that arrangement:

• VNC works inside the home LAN
• VNC is not exposed when on public/untrusted networks
• Norton is less likely to interfere with profile classification

That is actually a fairly standard and sensible configuration.

The key caveat is:
the home network must remain correctly identified as Private in Windows. If Windows or Norton flips it to Public unexpectedly, VNC may stop working until corrected.

Windows Settings Mode is probably the closest thing to:

Let Windows handle trusted-vs-public network behavior for my VNC setup.

AI sourced content may make mistakes

Caveat: I’m not familiar with Virtual Network Computing ~ my Norton 360 Smart Firewall (default settings) – Automatic Program Control = Smart Mode | Automatic Network Control = Smart Mode with Notifications – Learn more about Smart Firewall

[Andre_Korb]

Update: After i start my PC and opend my Norton… all reset to non (of cause smart control is on so in the screenshot Norton filled out some programs new again).

[globus5000]

jeg har sendt fejlen direkte til norton så bare rolig de har den allerede nu og hvis det er en rigtig fejl er den på som hotfix