System Information
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Norton product name and version: Norton LifeLock. Version number not readily available. Updater says it is current.
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Operating system: Windows 10 Pro, Chrome current version, updated.
- Norton error message / error code / screen shot: Pop-up messages of various forms, all warning of a threat and asking me to enable my browser security. .
- Steps to reproduce issue: Just sit and wait for it. Sometimes, within minutes or hours of denying the update and asking never to be reminded a notice will pop up again. Sometimes clicking a link will bring up a Norton Web page advising of the "problem".
Problem
Norton has been an excellent product and a trusted friend for many years. It is low maintenance, low overhead, and it works. Updates also go smoothly. Many years ago that was not the case but the product is excellent in its present form. I have deployed it many places and I use it myself.
Norton has one major problem. It repeatedly pops up notices warning of the dire consequences of not installing their browser extensions. The reply to never notify me again is never honored and sometimes within a few minutes or hours it will be back. What part of, "Never remind me until hell freezes over" do you not understand? Sometimes, when I click a link, a Norton Web page opens with dire warnings about not installing those extensions.
These extensions are not necessary. The techniques to coerce users into installing them are nothing but fear tactics. A red icon and wording that full protection is not working instills fear. Pop-up notices and Web pages with dire warnings instill fear. For Norton to use fear to comply with their wishes is unconscionable. The irony is that I am paying Norton to keep my computer safe while having to defend my computer from Norton.
Help Requested
Has anyone found a way to eliminate the pop-up notices and Web page linking?
Tech Support is about useless. They act as if they have never heard of this and they request screen shots. Whatever you tell them or furnish them, the recommended fix is to install the extensions and then to disable them and that is unacceptable.
Now, that runs contrary to common sense. Once the software is install, even if it is supposedly dormant it can still do things in the background. If it is malicious it can continue to compromise security. What competent security provider would tell a user to violate security norms to prevent security problems?
If someone has a solution then I am all ears. This is a constant source of complaint within my user community. Several users did install the extensions because they felt they had to since Norton had recommended doing so.
Post Log
Norton will likely derive some benefit if I were to install the extensions. This seems like a small short-term gain that risks the long term alienation of thousands of faithful clients, many of whom help others make decisions about their Internet security protection.
The amount of time and aggravation related to this Norton "feature" is more than I care to count. I want Norton to be a trusted friend, not a constant source of irritation.
My confidence in Norton, and with Symantec in general, is about zero. As much as I do not wish to do so I will continue investigating new solutions that do not involve browser extensions. Deploying a new security suite is not something I care to do but at this point Norton no longer seems to have my best interests at heart.