Statistical Submission: NPE.exe

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

Hello. I had downloaded the 21.0.2.1 update for 360 and noticed some entries in security history that concerned me. They said Statistical Submission: NPE.exe and Sample Submission: NPE.exe. Here are some further details

 

Category: Norton Community Watch
Date & Time,Risk,Activity,Status,Recommended Action,Date Updated,Submitted By,Description,Submission Details
9/25/2013 5:29:07 PM,Info,Sample Submission: NPE.exe,Pending,No Action Required,9/25/2013 5:29:07 PM,Norton 360 Premier Edition,Sample Submission: NPE.exe,CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA\norton\{0c55c096-0f1d-4f28-aaa2-85ef591126e7}\n360_21.0.2.1\npe.exe


I know NPE.exe is supposed to be Norton power eraser, but I don't see why they'd be submitting info to Norton. Is this a problem? Thanks. 

2

Hi caleb89sw

Has NPE been run on the computer if it has then I think it’s just the Norton community watch collecting information?

 

 

ATB

 

intesec

3

As intesec notes, it is Community Watch function of Norton sending infromation your Norton has found. It is usually information on things that are found during system scans. This info is used to help Norton with things like the download reputation, and any intrusion attempts that are made on your system.

 

This info is used to create updated definitions, or just let Norton know how the users are using the different features of the product. This will hopefully end up with a better product.

 

 

 

4

Well, I haven’t run it, but I noticed it was featured on norton 360, so I assume its downloaded.

5

Hi caleb89sw

Is it possible that some one else may have downloaded and run NPE or are you the only person using the computer?  Do you have a copy of NPE on the computer?

 

 

ATB

 

intesec

6

No, I'm the only one who downloaded stuff from Norton recently and I didn't download NPE. The only thing that I noticed concerning NPE was the option in 360 V21.0.2.1.

7

Hi caleb89sw

The option in 360 regarding NPE, does this mean its downloaded with v21.0.2.1 and does it have a button to launch it or does it run when a full or quick scan is performed?

 

 

ATB

 

intesec

8

I’m not sure. I’m hesitant to look much into it, because I don’t want to activate it unintentionally.

It looks like it redirects to a web page giving you an option to download it.

9

Hi caleb89sw

Thank you for the responses.

You might like to set, remove risks automatically, to ask me click apply, click ok, close all programmes and restart the computer.

When NPE has run it gives the option not to delete the files it has found.

 

 

ATB

 

intesec

10

Ok, I looked into it again and it looks like NPE is installed on the computer. I just needed an administrator password to make it work. Does that make any difference?

11
caleb89sw wrote:

Ok, I looked into it again and it looks like NPE is installed on the computer. I just needed an administrator password to make it work. Does that make any difference?

Hi cable89sw,

 

I'm not answering your question. I'd instead recommend having a look at this thread before going ahead:

 

http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-360-Norton-Internet/Norton-Power-Eraser-is-like-a-box-of-matches/td-p/981335

 

 

12

Thanks for the link. I haven't run the program. I just looked for it to see if it was included in 360. I'm still new to these updates.

13
caleb89sw wrote:

Thanks for the link. I haven't run the program. I just looked for it to see if it was included in 360. I'm still new to these updates.

You are welcome.

 

As far as I'm concerned, I'm no tech savvy so I'd never run it on my own as it seems it could do more harm than good.

As an additional information, it was run once on my system by a Norton Support guy in my country, the NPE detected a couple of files but the guy asked me before removing them and since I knew they were legit files he didn't touch them and they are still there.