Sometimes the VPN doesn't show up in my taskbar, especially after Windows 10 updates. What works best for me is to sign out of my computer and sign back in. Then it almost always shows back up. Unfortunately, there must also be some bug in Norton's VPN because on my computer, it signs me out randomly while I'm using the computer, not because it went to sleep from non-use. I have to then sign in again. On my phone it just tells me it's disconnected randomly- I just have to turn it back on again, not sign back in. It's completely random, no reason on my end for either occurrence. This just started in the last six months or so.
I posted a similar complaint under another thread, but will camp on to this one.
I see where the most recent patch for 360 included some changes for the integrated VPN (one is that apparently there is no longer a standalone VPN offering at all). Now when I activate the VPN manually (grrr), it comes up almost instantly (it used to take a few seconds). This leads me to believe the services for the VPN are now starting automatically on boot. There's also a Win 10 notification banner that pops up telling me what region I'm connecting to. So, some progress, it seems, has been made.
Now all we need is an option within the configuration to select "start VPN on boot" or some such, and we'll be in business. Are you listening, Norton?
Is anyone else seeing those changes as well?
I agree with Jabba the Hut. Why doesn't it stay on when the computer is on. I had Avast, and didn't have this aggravation. I gave up on Norton years ago, but came back because I've been a Lifelock customer for years. Norton hasn't changed.....
Posted: 04-Feb-2020 | 11:58AM • Permalink
Jabba the Hut:This is utter nonsense. I shouldn't have to manually restart my VPN every time I reboot my computer. Once clicked on, it should stay on. As mentioned previously in this thread, this is deceitful business practice. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Hi
Are you US customer?
Yes, I am a US customer.
Norton hasn't changed since I used them years ago. I've been a member of Lifelock for several years and I hoped the Lifelock connection would make handling virus protection, VPN and Lifelock protections easier than using separate providers. Well, it hasn't!! I've had trouble installing Norton and now the VPN isn't automatic. Doesn't appear the Norton has changed at all.
Jabba the Hut:This is utter nonsense. I shouldn't have to manually restart my VPN every time I reboot my computer. Once clicked on, it should stay on. As mentioned previously in this thread, this is deceitful business practice. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Hi
Are you US customer?
This is utter nonsense. I shouldn't have to manually restart my VPN every time I reboot my computer. Once clicked on, it should stay on. As mentioned previously in this thread, this is deceitful business practice. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Below, the bolding is not for shouting, I would have used a color for the text, but did not see that option..... sorry
Norton should be totally honest with customers. As others have mentioned, the 360 offering with VPN does not clearly and honestly state the vulnerabilities to the users passwords and data during the period in which the computer has been started and when the user "remembers" to activate the VPN. Fine, if Norton feels a separate explicit VPN product is required to be subscribed if the user truly wants proper protection.
Just tell people the truth in an open and straight forward way.
Kudos for realized that your VPN was not starting automatically when you needed it most during travel! Unfortunately, you are not missing something but, rather, are seeing the same issue we on this thread have been trying to get a resolution for.
That being said, it may be a moot point anyway now because Norton put out some updates probably yesterday (1/31) and they seem to have broken secure VPN completely. It looks like many people are having an issue now according to the following thread:
https://community.norton.com/en/forums/vpn-not-working-update-2220169-connection-failure-error
After using the Norton 360 Deluxe for the first time when travelling, I immediately noticed that the VPN does not start automatically. Hence, unless Windows users turn off all background app processing, your internet transactions are vulnerable to being sniffed while you fiddle with bringing up the Norton 360 Deluxe control panel and explicitly starting the VPN.
If I am wrong, I welcome a reply that tells me how to apply the correct settings so that the VPN truly protects all my internet transactions, not just the ones that occur after I explicitly restart the VPN manually.
I see no warning from Norton telling the 360 Deluxe VPN has serious security flaws, so perhaps all is well and I am simply missing something?
I also have this problem
My Norton VPN wouldn't start also. I didn't know if it was running or not. If you click the norton VPN start menu item, nothing observable happens, so you don't know. then I noticed a sign in window for norton vpn showing up in lower right immediately after log in to windows 10. But you can't paste your password in the form. So then I went to my lastpass p.w. manager and wrote down the 22 character p.w. and the next time i started the computer entered it and it seems to work. I'm guessing from the previous posts I will have to do the same each time I start the computer. Sure wish someone could automate this computer process... Thanks Mickey from/in the dinosaur age of wifi/computing/etc
I am in total agreement with Dominic, this is unethical. I am a long term Norton customer also.
You are most welcome John, glad we could help with an answer.
Cheers
Dear Norton,
Frankly, this is nonsense. I was lured by your advertising to upgrade to Norton Security 360 Deluxe with additional features that were an enhancement to my existing Norton Security Deluxe subscription. Secure VPN was one of these additional features that I was very interested in. The Standalone version of Secure VPN is advertised as a monthly or annual subscription cost, as is Norton 360 Deluxe but at a higher rate. One would expect that by buying Norton 360 Deluxe (i.e., implied complete coverage) subscription at the higher cost that they would have, indeed, a worry-free and comprehensive solution. Since the Secure VPN component of Norton 360 Deluxe DOES NOT start automatically on the Windows OS, the Norton 360 Deluxe product falls short of advertised features.
Also, it is illogical that one would need to remember to *manually* turn on this feature every time they reboot their system when using Norton 360 Deluxe. For every user that installs this product and turns on Secure VPN once, as I did, they are going to assume they are then protected henceforth. Since they are actually not protected after a reboot, they will likely never realize and be, once again, exposed to those exploits that your features are designed to protect them against. This is misleading and, frankly, unethical.
I am a long term Norton security product customer. This issue is of not auto-starting the Secure VPN component which is part of Norton 360 Deluxe is simply wrong. I urge Norton to reconsider making this feature configurable to autostart upon Windows reboot.
Thank you.
Thank you for the answer, Its like most things I buy, they promise you everything and you get very little, The sales pitch is good on the site, then you pay and you don't get the product you thought it was. My free Mcafee with Bt was doing a good job, should have stayed with them, there is no way my family will remember to turn the vpn on. Basically I just bought a virus checker.
Thanks for your input and help.
Hello John. The "stand alone" version of the VPN is the one which will start with Windows. The VPN in the Norton 360 will not as it is by design. Many product suggestions have been submitted to the Norton team about this, we are all hoping the additional feature to load with Windows is added soon.
Cheers