Norton Issue in Internet Explorer 11

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm hoping that someone can help me, or possibly provide an explanation to the following.

 

A few days ago I updated to Windows 8.1 and i assumed everything was fine. However the scanner is no longer finding tracking cookies for sites where I have been previously and know tracking cookies are active.

 

When I visit these same sites using Firefox however, and then do a scan, the scanner finds the Tracking Cookies. So basically it's saying there are tracking cookies when on Firefox, but not when on Internet Explorer.

 

I have the latest version of Norton on subscription, and the support run tells me that the installation is fine. I can no find no differences to before in my online settings etc, so I'm at a loss as to what to think about this.

 

My major concern is that Norton isn't protecting me when i use IE11. Which obviously is not what I want at all!

 

 

Thanks in advance if anyone can help,

 

 

Richie.

 

2

Is it possible that IE 11 is blocking tracking cookies and that is why Norton does not find any? There is a setting in IE11 but whether it has settings specific to tracking I don't know and I'm not in WIndows 8 at the moment.

3

I did consider that, but i couldn't find anything to confirm it was the case. Unless anyone knows any different and can confirm.

 

I am aware that 11 has "increased security" too, but i don't know to what degree. I'm certainly not an expert on IE sadly, and wouldn't know where to begin dissecting it.

4

Hi Richie, it IS possible that IE 11 is blocking tracking cookies. I have Firefox set to accept cookies in sites, but to block 3rd party cookies. Set in that way, I haven't had Norton flag tracking cookies, in ages. I also use CCleaner after each browsing session and also use MawareBytes Anti Malware and SuperantiSpyware, both used as free passive scanners only. Neither have picked up tracking cookies, either.

 

I also use Adblock Plus, and Do Not Track Me addons, in Firefox.

5

And Google Search has a setting for Turn off features that send information. But that may only apply to Google?

6

Thanks for all your replies guys.

 

I'm guessing it is possible that IE11 is blocking tracking cookies, but then i am as equally concerned that Windows 8.1 and IE11 are not as secure as they should be. And perhaps they are interfering with Norton in some way.

 

I must be honest, i didn't have a single problem with Windows 8 and IE10, but 8.1 and IE11 are not to my liking thus far. I wish i hadn't updated so soon. There are clearly bugs in 8.1 that need ironing out.

 

 

7

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I am aware that 11 has "increased security"

 

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Hi,

 

Wait until the next 0-day vulnerability will be discovered and you will see how much "increased security" IE 11 has....

 

Regards,

 

 

8

After another week or so of investigating, i believe that the problem lies with Norton.

 

I am now experiencing the same with Firefox. I just ran a full scan and Norton picked absolutely nothing up. But I know this cannot and should not be the case.

 

Tracking cookies are not so much of a concern, but what I am really concerned about now is that Norton is not scanning as effectively as it was. Meaning that it could be missing other things.

 

I am only very new to Norton, so can any recommend the best way of asking Norton to investigate this? I believe the compatability with Windows 8.1 is the problem.

9

Richie, tracking cookies are not that great a problem. You can install an addon called Do Not Track Me, and you can also install CCleaner, which does a great job of clearing your system.

10

Some versions of Internet Explorer have Do no track me built in I understand -- certainly IE10 has and IE 11 has improved it so it's not exactly an Add-on in the sense of having to install something that shows up under Manage Add-ons.

 

Here's an article about it in IE 10 -- http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-sticking-with-default-do-not-track-setting-for-ie10 

 

And on IE 11 http://www.neowin.net/news/ie11-preview-has-improvements-to-do-not-track-features 

 

<< In addition, IE11 offers users more ways to change their personal Do Not Track settings via the Privacy panel in the Settings menu or from the Safety menu on the desktop.  >>

 

Microsoft even has a Do Not Track Test Page .....

11

huwyngr is right. IE DOES have built in tracking protection and you can select the same list as the addon, such as Abine's list which is a good general blocking list. Thanks for the reminder, h ! :smileyhappy:

12

BioRAM still works from time to time ....

13

Just to throw someting in the game. I am running NIS 20.4.0.40 with Windows 8.1 Pro and use IE11 with Tracking Protection on.  When I do a quick scan after a surfing sesson NIS does find a few Tracking Cookies. I booted up Windows 8.1 in a VM that is running NIS 21.1.0.18. I turned Tracking Protection OFF in IE11 and went to ESPN and Newegg. I then ran a quick scan and had 14 tracking cookies. To test your NIS , try that senerio and it shoud fine some tracking cookies. Then turn Tracking Protection ON and see if IE is blocking the cookies.

 

Jim

14

I tried IE 11 with tracking protection turned OFF, and for the first time in ages Norton picked up two tracking cookies, so yes it would appear when enabled, that IE's tracking protection is effective....

15

Thanks for all the replies guys, it was a lot to take in!

 

I have just checked all my settings and everything was basically set to my computer allowing me to be tracked. Except for one thing on the Metro IE Privacy settings -

 

"Send Do Not Track Requests to Sites I Visit in IE"

 

This was on, so i turned it off.

 

After a quick browse, i did a scan and NIS found 2 tracking cookies. I guess this is progress, lol.

 

Does the Metro IE app settings also apply to the desktop IE? As i usually surf via the desktop IE, not the Metro app.

16

Note also that if you use Google Search -- which I like -- there's a setting within its Tools / Options not to send location information ....

17

Cheers, I will make a note of that. 

 

I changed the firefox settings to "tell sites I do want to be tracked", then went and purposely visited sites that I know use cookies. Yet still Norton failed to find any tracking cookies. So whatever settings I use in Firefox, Norton no longer finds any cookies from it.

 

I think I will try the reinstall tool for Norton later, and see if there's any difference. The only other thing I can see to do is to refresh my laptop to Windows 8, but is this too excessive? 

 

Otherwise, in all your opinions despite the tracking cookie issue, do you still believe Norton is working correctly? Should I be concerned?

 

 

18

Frankly ......

 

<< do you still believe Norton is working correctly? >>

 

Who ever knows.....

 

<< Should I be concerned?  >>

 

About tracking cookies, NO!

19
Richie wrote:

Thanks for all the replies guys, it was a lot to take in!

 

I have just checked all my settings and everything was basically set to my computer allowing me to be tracked. Except for one thing on the Metro IE Privacy settings -

 

"Send Do Not Track Requests to Sites I Visit in IE"

 

This was on, so i turned it off.

 

After a quick browse, i did a scan and NIS found 2 tracking cookies. I guess this is progress, lol.

 

Does the Metro IE app settings also apply to the desktop IE? As i usually surf via the desktop IE, not the Metro app.

 

Hi, Richie.  The item you mentioned above is a "global toggle".  You set it there, you set it inside of IE, it works the same way.  Windows has lots of different ways to skin the same cat...

 

 

The fact that NIS detects cookies if you disable the noted feature in IE 11 - indicates that NIS is properly scanning for the presence of cookies when you do a manual QuickScan or FullScan.  This is normal and correct behaviour.

 

 

Both IE10 and IE11 have the ability to use tracking-protection-lists to enhance their ability to reject tracking cookies.  In my case, when using IE10 or later, these are usually the first addons I install - regardless of circumstance - before I even get to the point of installing NIS.

 

Both IE and Firefox have default tracking-protection scenarios - which are enabled by default.    IE 11's default is much more comprehensive than IE10's - and IE11 will protect you automatically against many scenarios which had to have a set of tracking-protection-lists added manually to IE10.

 

Because Firefox has an auto-update feature that runs transparently by default - and because IE11 is now generally available for W7 - I expect Firefox is enhancing its default tracking-protection configuration to meet the competition's feature-list checkbox items. 

 

Thus, many of the things you are experiencing may simply be automatic responses by the respective browser manufacturers to the "browser- warz featureitis-listbloat".  :smileywink:

 

As long as you confirm NIS strips tracking-cookies that evade Browser protection schemes - which you have done previously as already detailed - things are working properly.

 

You now have new layers of bulletproofing in your "Layered Security Model".  Rejoice!  :smileylol:

 

 

Everything is working fine.  It ain't broke.  Don't fix it.

 

20

 

Hey Everyone,

 

Sorry for the delay in my replying to this thread, I have been very busy of late. However I have some good news :)

 

Last week there was an update via Windows for Internet Explorer 11. And as soon as it was done, i surfed a bit, then ran a scan.

 

And the Tracking Cookies were back!!

 

So there quite clearly was an incompatability issue with Norton somewhere along the line. Not blaming one or the other, but I do believe for that short amount of time, Norton wasn't scanning or picking up any dangers associated with Internet Explorer. Something I think everyone should be mindful of in future.

 

So for now I'm satisfied with the performance of Norton, and will keep the free version of Malwarebytes as a back up.

 

I have also added the Abine tracking protection list to my IE, as per a recommendation from on here.

 

Thanks everyone however for your help. in this thread and the other one I started too.