Hello. I'm posting to see if someone can tell me if something that recently began occurring is something to be worried over, or just unfounded paranoia on my end.
Product and OS details: Norton 360, Windows 10
Issue: Private, password-protected, frequently-used Wi-Fi recently reported as public, "suspicious" network when connecting; Norton pop-up message prompts VPN use.
Issue occurs: Whenever connecting to Wi-Fi networks.
Full description and explanation:
Over the past week, Norton has suddenly started flagging my home WiFi as a "suspicious" and public network. Additionally, every time it connects it prompts me to turn on VPN (whether at startup or disconnecting/reconnecting), which I've never used since I really don't have much use for that particular function.
On its own that wouldn't bother me, but the message (see attached image) seems grammatically incorrect ("has weak password" instead of "has a weak password") and the "suspicious network detected" history entry gives no details whatsoever beyond being high risk. Connecting to my Wi-Fi also creates a "connected to a public network entry" along with my MAC address (if memory serves). Both of these security history messages have shown up on separate, private, password-enabled Wi-Fi networks. I don't think I have ever connected the laptop in question to a truly public Wi-Fi network.
The only other thing I can remember was that on the same day it started, I had a window (non-browser) show up saying that there was some kind of connection issue with updating Norton. The message prompted me to restart my computer. I instead opened up Norton 360 proper and tried to update from there. It went through fine. After that, I think the restart-prompting window showed up one more time (I closed it) and then never again.
If this were a long-term thing I had only recently noticed, I wouldn't be concerned, but this only popped up a week ago. No entries of the same type appear in security history before March 7th of 2021. I've tried various scans, including Power Eraser, which haven't turned up any issues. But I'm paranoid enough that the security history messages and slightly weird Norton pop-up are keeping me from accessing anything potentially sensitive on this laptop.
Thanks in advance for any advice on this subject.