Norton Anti-Theft cannot be uninstalled

My laptop (A Toshiba Satellite P55t-A) came with Norton Anti-Theft pre-installed, and it cannot be removed.  When I try to uninstall it using either method (from the Windows 8.1 start screen or directly through the Programs and Features control panel) it requires that I sign in first, however it will not accept my login credentials.  I have a working login to the Norton site and that is what I am trying to use with the uninstaller but the login always fails; I cannot sign and so the uninstall can only be cancelled. 

It is ridiculously difficult to remove this product that I never purchased, and do not want on my system.  I have read several forum postings here discussing this, but all of them require that you uninstall the app first, which I cannot do. 

I have not purchased, and have not activated the app, why would it require a sign in? How do I get it off my laptop?