Odd Problem this time.With VPN
Issue abstract:
VPN loads as per normal but no VPN Tunnel Listed.
Detailed description:
Once my computer is up and running I immediately start up Norton and load VPN which works as per normal, except this time there is no VPN Tunnel listed in the Internet connection - even though the internet is connected and everything runs normally = Browser, email and even Norton’s check for updates.
However, on the Norton home screen there is a window with ‘Scam Protection’ and the message ‘You’re Offline’ which I am not.
Everything is working and operating normally (internet) except half of Norton’s operations are also normal and the other half (which includes the VPN) shows offline. Initially I did the usual - restart router and restart Windows but still the same. Oh, and the VPN is still checking and blocking trackers - even though I am ‘offline’.
Not causing me any internet issues but what ? A Bug ?. I found what seems to be exactly the same problem in a post in 2021 and another 2 years ago. Is there an explanation for this ?
Windows 7 SP1 and Firefox ESR.
Standalone version of Norton VPN or N360?
SA
Norton 360 Delux 1 with VPN included.
Oh, and Norton updated itself to the latest protection build 26.4.10932 - while it was ‘offline’.
@FrancisE_Neill You cannot see or find these VPN tunneling settings in your Norton product?
SA
I can. With Norton VPN it just worked for years, until now. At startup and turning on the VPN I would get two entries in the Network tab - Internet access and Norton VPN Wireguard. No wireguard at the moment.
However, various sections within Norton 360 that showed ‘you are offline’, all are now showing ‘Online’ and working as normal as always - except VPN details even though VPN loaded and showing the normal IP address it always does when operating with ‘wireguard’ channel active.
On my ‘Settings’ tab I don’t have the Exclude Software Updates’ option, only Exclude apps from VPN. I’ve never really changed anything in the Settings because it just worked.
Another question though. In the Network tab (now showing ‘online’) there are also 1100 entries of ‘Norton VPN Wireguard” entries since first installing 360 and VPN. Would this have anything to do with my current issue and is there a way to remove all that VPN history ? I have a sneaking suspicion that all those entries may somehow be at the root of my issues.
Please post a screenshot of the Wire Guard entries. This is what I see when using the N360 VPN my side in my history. My screenshot previously is what is available in the current version 26.4.10932 (build 26.4.10932.983) release. Are you on that version as well? TIA.
SA
I don’t have that screen inside my Norton 360 so it is getting more confusing. Perhaps I should uninstall Norton and reinstall ? I have that 360 Build, it’s like you have a different version of Norton 360.
I originally had Norton Antivirus Plus and then upgraded to Norton 360 Plus a couple of years ago and it’s been running perfectly ever since - until this week.
The last few days (which prompted me to post here) Norton has automatically switched between offline and back online and the VPN connects but no Wireguard tunnel. And today I noticed it’s (VPN) has switched off ‘Ad-tracker blocking, which was working yesterday.
I have not changed any settings anywhere so I am completely at a loss as to what my install is doing. And I’ve done a full virus scan in case one slipped by but all comes up clean.
And it gets very sluggish when this screen is loaded.
If you are contemplating removal and reinstalling use this remover for the version you have installed. Don’t remove Norton from Control Panel. Note - Perform a removal ONLY and reboot the machine. When rebooted download your product from your Norton account area and reinstall it. Manually run live updates to make sure you are on the current latest build.
Current version removal:
SA
Thanks, I’ll do that tonight. Busy day so will do what you recommend as soon as I can get back and let you know the results later or tomorrow. (It’s 1pm here right now)..
I did exactly as you suggested. Still not a lot of joy. Following are two screen dumps (Not anymore, the editor would accept them because ‘Too many characters’). The first is the same as you posted, which I couldn’t find on my Norton but finally found where it was ‘hiding’. Which shows the VPN working and logged as ‘Public’. When I click to switch to private it flicks over to the next screen but doesn’t change from ‘Public’.
Which brings up the second screen, which is almost identical to my original screen dump except that it has added a new entry in recent networks but is not actively recorded as internet access. It also shows ‘Private’ but the first screen dump shows it as ‘Public’ and doesn’t change.
For about the first hour after completing the reinstall several sections were ‘Offline’ again but then became ‘Online’ without me doing anything. Also the ‘Dark Web Moitoring’ will not open, even though I had it all set up previously for several actions. It looks like the remove left most of the history behind and the reinstall automatically picked it up - except the Dark Web Monitoring.
I still have absolutely no idea even more so now. All I can think of is that the latest patch 26.4.10843 had something to do with it. I had the latest patch .10932 on my removed 360 removed of course and didn’t include it in the reinstall, instead putting in the .10843 patch so I don’t know how Liveupdate hasn’t picked it up as it shows everything is up to date. It will probably do it when I’m not looking again.
But thanks for all your help. I’m just going to leave it and wait for another patch and see if that fixes things. Trying to fix it has wasted so much time and I am no further ahead with it. I would really like to know how to get rid of the VPN connections history though as I’m convinced that all that is probably at the basis of my 360 not working 100%. I am just so disappointed that Norton decided not to keep working and changed for no reason (that I know of) at all.
It’s just not my day. I posted my original screenshot without any issues. Now this editor will not allow me to post another screenshot identical to the original (because there are too many characters (?)). At least my extremely wordy post explains just about everything I can think of. Only thing - on the list of VPN Network connections previously posted, it has added a new one #1101 but in the ‘Previous Network Connections’.
In the meantime the ‘Active’ VPN has the normal IP address and now the ‘Ad tracker blocking’ is working (at least that’s what the tab shows)
It’s really messed up now. Norton Safe Search can’t find anything.
Going to watch Netflix and see what happens tomorrow.
PS: I couldn’t let it go. Just deleted and reinstalled all Norton Browser addons and working again.
Now I’m really going to go watch Netflix - might get started on Star Gate.
Thanks for the status update.
SA
