1. I turn Norton Hotspot Privacy "on" in "Manual" mode.
2. When the phone goes into lock ("standby") mode (whether by timing out, or by pressing the sleep/wake button on top), Norton Hotspot Privacy turns itself "off" so that when I use the phone again, I have to go into Settings and turn it "on" again every time (using the "VPN" switch).
I want to be able keep Norton Hotspot Privacy in manual mode and turn it "ON" when I want it on, and "OFF" when I want it off (when at home on my secure WIFI connection, for example). When I'm at work all day (on a non-secure WIFI connection), I shouldn't have to constantly go into Settings to turn Norton Hotspot Privacy back "on" every time I want to use my phone. It should be protecting my phone even when the phone is in "lock" mode, until I turn it off MYSELF.
I know that I could leave Norton Hotspot Privacy in "Always On" mode all the time, but when I'm home on my own secure WiFi network, Norton Hotspot Privacy makes the connection so slow that the phone is almost unusable. Simple videos on YouTube stop constantly to buffer; Websites take FOREVER to load.
It seems bizarre for Norton Hotspot Privacy to turn itself off EVERY SINGLE TIME the phone goes into lock ("standby") mode. It's driving me crazy.
Is it like this for everyone, or is it just a glitch on my phone? I have tried reinstalling/rebooting, but it still does the same thing. If Norton Hotspot Privacy behaves this way ON PURPOSE, what is the reason for it?
Unfortunately, this is a limitation of iOS. NHP should, however, automatically attempt to reconnect as long as you are using the "Always On" setting for the "Privacy Protection" feature within the Settings menu.
Thank you for your response, Jon, but you see—that's the problem...
As I stated in my original query, I know that I could leave Norton Hotspot Privacy in "Always On" mode all the time, but Norton Hotspot Privacy makes the internet connection so slow that the phone is almost unusable. Simple videos on YouTube stop constantly to buffer; Websites take FOREVER to load. I can deal with this at work or in a public setting because I know I'm being protected. But I don't need to run NHP when I'm home on my secure connection.
I'd like to be able to use the "MANUAL" mode in the way it sounds like it should work—it should stay "on" until I want to turn it off again. I should be able to do this easily using that simple VPN "on/off" switch in my phone's settings. That's what "manual" means to me. I shouldn't have to go into the NHP program itself and keep switching back and forth between Manual and "Always On" in order to achieve this. It's a hassle and it takes too much time when compared to how easy it SHOULD be.
What is the iOS limitation that makes this feature not possible?
Is there an area on this site where a user can submit suggestions/feature requests for Symantec products?
I am not able to use Hotspot Privacy so excuse my ignorance but ... can you not turn on/off the "Always On" feature as and when you wish to use the facility?
As for a place to post suggestions then the Product Suggestions forum seems to be the place you are looking for.
I can, but it's a hassle and takes many more extra steps than seems necessary (open NHP, click "settings", select "Privacy Protection", select the option, click "install profile", click "install now", enter passcode, click "done", close program). It would be easier to just be able to open the iPhone's Settings, then simply switch the "VPN" slider to "on" or "off" with NHP in "Manual" mode.
Yes, I know I sound like I'm whining about a few extra steps, but it's a matter of principle when it could (and should) be so much simpler.
One way that may accomplish what you need is by selecting the "Always On" feature from NHP and when you no longer need the VPN, simply do the following:
- Goto your device's General > VPN settings and select the "Norton Hotspot Privacy - Always On" from the Configuration list (Press the small "i" button on the right).
- Turn off the "Connect On Demand" option.
You should now be able to turn off your "VPN" feature without NHP turning it on again. If you want to have NHP turned on again, simply turn on the "Connect On Demand" option and then the "VPN" feature.
Thank you, Jon. I appreciate your help. My problem is the opposite, though. I want to keep NHP turned off all the time except when I'm in a public location. When I'm in a public location, I want to be able to flick NHP on quickly and easily—in one step—then turn it off again just as easily when I return home.
I don't want to use NHP at home (by setting it to "Always On") because its negative effect on internet speed is utterly unacceptable on my secure home WIFI (internet speed is not an issue at all when NHP is turned off).
In a public setting, I tolerate the slow-to-nonexistent internet connection and the problems NHP causes with things like Siri or Google Maps because it's an acceptable tradeoff to know that my connection is protected by Norton.
I was hopeful that your latest suggestion would work, but upon following your instructions carefully, NHP still turns off when the phone is in standby mode.
What I want is for NHP to stay ON all day when I'm away from home, without turning OFF when it goes into "standby" mode. But every time the phone is in "standby" mode, NHP turns off. I don't understand why this has to happen.
It sounds like there is no solution to this problem unless the developers can fix it in a future update. And that's dependent upon whether or not the issue really is an iOS limitation, as you stated.
I'm pretty bummed out because I'm a longtime user of Norton products. They have never given me any trouble at all until now. I would really prefer to stay with this product—I don't want to have to try to find another brand that works in a more logical manner. Plus I spent a lot of $$ for NHP. :-(
You could have NHP turned off at all times even with the "Always On" feature enabled simply by going disabling the "Connect On Demand" feature and then when you are in public places enabling the "Connect On Demand" feature and then enabling the VPN. While it is not a one step process, it is a much easier process than having through go through changing the "Always On" and "Manual" features on NHP.
From my testing, as long as the "Always On" feature is set on NHP and both the "Connect On Demand" and "VPN" features are enabled on the device's settings, it will automatically be connected. I left the phone lock itself and stay idle for about an hour or so and when I came back to it the "VPN" icon at the top notification bar showed up within a few seconds. There is somewhat of a delay in NHP reconnecting when the network is changed, for example when going from 3G to WIFI, or when coming from standby mode/lock screen but it should usually connect within 10-20 seconds as long as the network connection is good.
You know what... that works for me. I think I can train myself to use your shortened process to turn it off and on manually. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you working through this to find an workaround.
I'm going to test this method out for a few days before pressing the "Accept as Solution" button. I'm getting some weird "Cannot Get Mail" popups in the Mail app that I've never gotten before. I want to make sure that it's not somehow related. Hopefully it's not related—otherwise, that's a whole other can of worms to contend with!
