The Norton 360 VPN has to be started manually every time I start up my computer.
This is silly at best!!! Ir should load up automatically like the rest of the software.
I do not have to restart my anti virus each time my computer starts!!!
You are welcome, as always. Glad we were able to allay your fears about the Norton VPN service.
Happy 4th to you also. Being Canadian, I celebrated our July 1. Safely, of course.
Very good information, Peter. I owe you another one for showing me that my original concerns were vastly unwarranted. The way you describe it, I now understand that I have no reason for not using Norton VPN for the purpose I need it. And if I told you what is the one single reason that has led me to consider using one, you would either grin or get upset... 
It's a somewhat long story and I refrain to describe it here for now. Long and simultaneously so down-to-earth as it could possibly be... I will just hint that I may need to use the VPN's geolocation hiding functionality once or twice a year, at most, and it is for a legitimate and absolutely necessary reason, having nothing to do with the violation of any laws or regulations. And to reassure JJ_, it's no high, James Bond 007 style, secret either. So, let me leave it at that, until the occasion arises - if it ever does - that makes it appropriate for a full disclosure... 
Please accept my sincere thanks, both of you, for your time and very helpful input.
Have a great Fourth!
isn't the percentage of fraudulent activity at B2 Net Solutions a valid reason for justified concern?
If you have seen a datacentre, you will see that there are hundreds or thousands of physical servers in that centre.
Each server is individually controlled by whoever has contracted for that server. The data centre owner, eg B2 Net Solutions in this case, only supplies the power to run the servers and any physical maintenance that might be required. So who ever Norton contracts for their VPN service would contract for one, or possibly multiple servers in that data centre, and have full control over what is run on those servers.
The data centre owner does not monitor what is being done with their hardware. If someone makes a complaint about one of their contracted users, they can take action to limit or remove that user. They are not responsible themselves for any fraudulent use of their hardware, unless they are aware of this use, and continue to allow it. And any fraudulent use on one of the physical servers does not affect any of the other servers in the data centre.
Personally, I do not use the VPN very often. I have Open DNS filtering set up in my router to protect our grandchildren from portions of the internet that we do not want them to visit. If I need to access one of those protected sites, the VPN allows me to access them.
It is up to every user to assess their risk level and use the tools they feel comfortable with.
Hope we gave you some useful information.
After reading your comment I have decided not to use VPN (most of the time I forget to turn it on anyway) as I don't do banking online either so I don't really care if anyone knows what sites I have visited. I have gotten along for many years without VPN so why bother now.
Holly
Hi LinYu2,
I still remain a bit uncomfortable, and I admit that this may not look much reasonable in the eyes of those who have a much better understanding of the way a VPN functions and how they can do mischief if they choose to. I'm not at that level and this is why I am here asking for some guidance.
I think the last time I felt totally comfortable on a PC was back when MS DOS was the craze and storage was a floppy disk. These days its like driving through LA during rush hour with a blind fold on.
The purpose of the VPN is to add another layer of Protection on top by encrypting the data between your system and the VPN Server. However, VPN's aren't foolproof. Some leak data or DNS. Others keep logs of your activity which kinda negates the purpose of the VPN. And even big name company's have had their share of "oops moments".
I have no real pressing need to use a VPN and this is the reason I never subscribed to a paid VPN service.
Considering some of the downfalls of using a VPN such as slowing down your connection speeds using an always on VPN service may be overkill for some unless you happen to be James Bond 007. The way I look at it, if peeps want to know what YouTube videos I watch, more power to them. I don't do banking or anything else online. I still believe in using an old fashion Telephone or in person visit. I guess once we're forced to conduct all our business online, I'll take another look.
I initially assumed that it was operated by or under the direct control of Norton itself.
The world is too big and too much data flowing for one company to manage such a huge private network. If you ever do a trace route on some of your connections you'll find at times your data is bouncing around through many different servers along its way.
When you swim in an area infested by sharks
Unfortunately you'll find sharks throughout all oceans and some have even been known to swim up rivers. Bottom line, Norton is providing you with the tools.
JJ_ and peterweb,
My comfort level with this site has now slightly improved after reading your comments, and I thank you both for that. Instinctively, I still remain a bit uncomfortable, and I admit that this may not look much reasonable in the eyes of those who have a much better understanding of the way a VPN functions and how they can do mischief if they choose to. I'm not at that level and this is why I am here asking for some guidance.
I have no real pressing need to use a VPN and this is the reason I never subscribed to a paid VPN service. I have read some concerns about the way VPNs, in particular the "free" ones, can and frequently do engage into abusive practices. Having been provided with this free option by Norton without asking for it, I initially assumed that it was operated by or under the direct control of Norton itself. This seeming not to be the case, I still need to decide if I want to accept it or to decline it and I give weight and value your opinion to help me in deciding. Even considering what JJ_ says about scams being conducted in other environments, which is obviously true, isn't the percentage of fraudulent activity at B2 Net Solutions a valid reason for justified concern? When you swim in an area infested by sharks... 
I look forward to read your final comments on this issue before taking my decision.
Many thanks for all your help and patience.
Scamalytics see medium levels of traffic from this ISP across our global network, some of which is fraudulent. We apply a risk score of 57/100 to B2 Net Solutions Inc., meaning that of the traffic where we have visibility, 57% is suspected to be fraudulent.
I did not see any reference that the Hosting Company itself was involved with fraudulent activity. What some end users do through these hosting services is no different than the Scammers purporting to be Norton using Google-Cloud services to conduct their scams. So by the same reasoning, would Google be construed as unsafe?
https://community.norton.com/en/comment/8384991#comment-8384991
To clarify. Norton uses a VPN supplier, say company AAA. Company AAA does not actually own servers all over the world, so they contract with server farms from Companies B - Z all over the world to provide world wide coverage. What Company AAA does is rent the physical servers, just like you or I would do if we wanted to run a web site. Only in this instance, Company AAA runs their VPN server software on those servers. Company AAA maintains full control over those servers so the owners of the server farm have no access to the data going through those servers.
So in your case, the B2 Net Solutions is one of these Company B - Z that Company AAA has contracted for use of the server hardware. And the reports of fraud that you saw in your report, is probably related to some of the customers of B2 Net that may have been found to do some shady things. But what other customers do cannot touch the files and data going through the VPN server.
Are you saying that Norton is paying to a third party and is not the actual VPN supplier? If this is the case, is it safe to expect that one can be as much comfortable knowing that the VPN supplier is some unknown B2 Net Solutions (and perhaps not much trustworthy, as reported by Scananalytics) as if it was Norton proper? In other words, would you have the same trust level using the so-called Norton Secure VPN as if it were Norton the actual suplier?
I think what you are seeing here is a third party ISP that the VPN supplier being used by Norton is paying for server space to provide the virtual location. I tried connecting my VPN a couple of times today. I got different IP addresses each time, and the ISP was shown as different companies. They are not the VPN provider.
This is how I came up with the b2 net solutions. After entering my IP address into this IP location finder: https://www.iplocation.net/
I get this:
How did you come up with b2 net solutions as the provider for Norton's VPN service? How old was the information you read? A link to that information please.
Hi Peter!
Long time no chat...
Thanks for your reply. As I said, for some illiterate people on VPN matters like myself, what I read about B2 Net Solutions did not give me much reassurance:
https://scamalytics.com/ip/isp/b2-net-solutions-inc
The first thing was that I expected to see the provider to be NortonLifeLock, either directly or through some kind of sister company. I had never heard of B2 Net Solutions and did not find anything that suggested there was any connection between the two entities.
I fully admit that I may have misread (or over-read...) the information provided by Scamanalytics, and this was the reason behind my coming here looking for some clarification. Your comments will be greatly appreciated, as always.
Thanks for your interest.
I just received Norton's VPN feature yesterday with a regular update of my Norton Security.
Like Holly, I am not familiar with the way a VPN works and I am not sure if I really want to use it. One question: While doing some google research I found that Norton Secure VPN services are provided by some third party company called B2 Net Solutions Inc. and the information I could see about this company was not much reassuring, at least for someone who is not knowledgeable about the whole process.
Can someone kindly provide some more details about this issue?
Thanks.
Hi Holly,
In addition to AZSobo's comments above, a VPN adds another layer of security when connecting through a Public WIFI to help ensure your privacy. As stated, with Norton 360 VPN, YOU MUST TURN IT ON before use after a restart of your PC. According to Norton, this is by design. I'd also double check each time before you need a secure session just to make sure.
In general
Pros:
Provides a secure encrypted connection between your computer and the VPN server.
Hides your real IP address from web sites you visit.
Overall increased layer of security when needed
Cons:
Can slow down your overall internet speed.
Some web sites do not allow VPN access for various reasons.
Yes, vpn is included with your Norton 360 Deluxe. Basically a vpn hides your ip address and makes it look like you're in a different location.
I don't know how well Norton vpn stacks up against other subscription services but it's included so I use it.
One thing to note, if you are trying to visit a website and keep getting redirect errors, turn off the vpn and the page will load.
Also, once your turn your computer off, you have to restart the vpn next time you use the computer. For some reason it won't start on its own.
Thanks, All sorted
Hi, Steve.
If I accurately understand your situation, here's what I think may be happening:
If you have Norton 360 Deluxe (I have the same, downloaded from Amazon), you have a VPN available to you. If you are on "My Subscriptions" web page and looking at your "My Norton" information, this is a webpage that is showing you the Norton tools (i.e. Device Security, Darkweb Monitoring, VPN, etc.) that are available to you (and yes, "download" is available here...I did exactly what you did which is why I think this is the "fix").
In order to access and use those tools, you must open the actual application located on your computer...Norton 360 (I know...duh! lol). You'll then see, you guessed it, "My Norton"...but it'll be the application,not the web page (of course), and the following:
- Device Security
- Secure VPN
- Cloud Backup
- Password Manager
- Dark Web Monitoring
- Parental Controls
....each with a toggle and/or button to the right of them that controls on/off, or other pertinent functionality.
Hope that helps!
MarcTony
p.s. Honestly, this was a confusing installation procedure, partly because I had a previous version of Norton Security that I de-installed first. I used the same Norton account to assign the new software to. Might have been better off creating a new account(??).