Norton Enhanced Safe Search was updated a couple of days ago.
It’s still working but not to the same degree of efficiency as it was before. Search results are minimal and not entirely accurate in some cases whereas before it could match even mistypes and show even web pages that only had the search word embedded in it.
Basically, my complaint is that it is a backward step to what it used to be. I’ve only ever used Norton Safe Search for years not as it was just as good, if not better, than Google.
Please Norton developers - if it isn’t broken then don’t fix it.
fwiw ~ as per AI Norton Safe Search (Standard)
This is the actively maintained version recommended for most Chrome users. It uses Norton Safe Web technology to display safety icons (green for safe, red for malicious) directly on your search results.
User Control: High. You can manually adjust its “Site Access” permissions in Chrome’s extension settings.
Norton Safe Search Plus
This version is primarily designed for tight integration with Norton’s ecosystem, often appearing as part of the Norton Private Browser suite.
Locked Permissions: Unlike the standard version, you cannot change its site access settings because they are “baked in”.
Restrictive: It is often set so that it cannot be fully removed, only disabled.
Update Status: It received a refresh on March 31, 2026, keeping it current alongside the standard version.
Norton Safe Search Enhanced
This extension was designed for users who wanted a total browser “reset” to a secure environment, but it is now largely deprecated.
Function: It forcibly changes three settings at once: your default search provider, your homepage, and your new tab page.
Current Status: Since it hasn’t been updated since 2023, it may lack the latest threat detection signatures found in the April 2026 standard update.
Note: For the most reliable protection on a standard Chrome browser, you should use the Standard Norton Safe Search alongside the Norton Safe Web extension.
Apologies - it was normal Safe Search that was updated on the 25th April, 2026 according to my Firefox addons.
I was so busy trying to figure out what on earth happened to Norton Safe Search that I cross referenced Normal with Enhanced. Definitely Standard ‘Norton Safe Search’
I was going to try that but Firefox didn’t have Safe Search on it’s list. All a bit strange therefore I’ll just accept it so long as Safe Search keeps me ‘safe’ - it has in the past and prevented me from going to dangerous sites.
I’m still using Windows 7 SP1 and Firefox ESR for that so perhaps that might have something to do with it ?
It all looks great and operates fine but lacks the versatility of my pre-updated version.
fwiw ~ as per AI
Norton Safe Search extension version 3.25.0.5 supports Windows 7 SP1
Mozilla has moved Windows 7 users to Firefox ESR 115, which was the final version to support that OS. If you are on Firefox ESR 115, the Norton extension should remain functional as long as the version of the extension itself remains compatible with that browser branch.
There are no official reports of Norton Safe Search extension 3.25.0.5 containing changes that may degrade its performance on Windows 7 SP1 or Firefox ESR. However, as of April 2026, several technical factors related to these aging platforms may lead to a degraded experience or partial loss of functionality.
Key Factors Impacting Functionality
While the extension version remains theoretically compatible, you may notice degradation due to the following:
Mozilla Root Certificate Expiration: A critical certificate used by Mozilla to verify add-ons expired in March 2025. If you are on an unpatched version of Firefox ESR 115, the extension may fail to load or show as “unverified”. Updating to the latest available ESR 115 patch is required to resolve this.
Site Rating Restrictions: Norton has transitioned its site safety ratings (green/red icons) to be primarily viewable only when using the Norton Safe Search engine directly. These ratings no longer appear next to results on third-party search engines like Google or Bing.
Maintenance Mode Limitations: Norton products on Windows 7 are in maintenance mode, meaning they receive critical security definitions but no new feature enhancements. This can result in a static user interface or missing “modern” features found in versions for Windows 10/11.
Performance “Slow Down” Alerts: Some users have reported scripts within the Norton extension causing Firefox to trigger performance warnings. While usually resolved by browser updates, users on the final ESR version for Windows 7 may have limited options if a fix requires a newer browser engine.
Interesting outcome: Safe Search is back to operation exactly as it has been doing before the changed search results that prompted my complaint (read ‘winge’).