Thread for version 24.xx issues and suggestions

[majorbuzz]

@SoulAsylum - Thanks for the update issues post.
Norton has a very long way to go to catch up to the older V22.
Norton reminds me greatly of Microsoft. Don’t ask, just release. Then take your sweet a$$ time fixing whatever you wish.

[SoulAsylum]

Most companies are that way. BETA out, cash in. Sell-up galore. Funny thing is its their responsibility to release a product that functions the same as you were paying for before removing things. Just my dime, Microsoft is about to learn how it feels to have their rear end handed to them with their Recall trash. Its nothing more than AI Beta garbage. And taking data whether people think so or not. Can’t wait to see all the financial losses they suffer over it. Now where’s my popcorn lol.

SA

[majorbuzz]

@SoulAsylum

Just my dime, Microsoft is about to learn how it feels to have their rear end handed to them with their Recall trash.

@SoulAsylum - I’m with you all the way on your feelings above Amigo.

Just another update on the very latest Norton 24 December Update. Issues with both Live Update running consistently even though it’s marked as manual, as well as software updater have not been addressed.

[GHen]

Great idea! I’m noticing some performance costs(issues) in Version 24.

AMD 5950x CPU, with NortonSecurity.exe “running” and not executing scans.
-On Version 22 with “Power Save Mode On” ~125 Threads utilized, ~4100 Handles(~4500 Handles on System)
-On Version 22 with “Power Save Mode Off” ~130-~320 Threads utilized, ~4200 Handles(~4500 Handles on System)
-On Version 24 (Power Save Mode N/A) ~360 Thread utilized, ~6500 Handles(~11000 Handles on System)

I’ve also noticed NortonSecurity.exe has seperate components/processes with Version 24 using additional Threads/Handles that are not running as seperate with Version 22.
NortonVPN(even when disabled), etc.

[bjm]

@majorbuzz

To anyone. I thought I’d share an inconsistency I’ve constantly seen since the first version of Norton 24 after running a full system scan.
Please note the number of items here that were supposedly scanned.

Now if we take a look into security history and see how many items were scanned, it never matches.

In comparison, to the many many much larger issues we are all facing, this is tiny. Yet I thought it should be known.

@majorbuzz
does this help
https://community.norton.com/t/quick-scan-is-weird-after-norton-360-update-v-24/263651/8

[Bill_H]

I was just updated to version 2.4.12.9694 build 895. When I turn on the VPN it slows my internet connection from 932.2 Mbps down to 1.98 Mbps. I reverted to version 22. Everything worked fine in version 22 and earlier versions.

Any others having problems? Is there a setting I need to change? Any other ideas?

[Bill_H]

@SoulAsylum

Ok folks. I knew I had this link somewhere. Here is the direct download link for version 22.24.8.36

https://buy-download.norton.com/downloads/2024/22.24.8/N360/US/N360-ESD-22.24.8.36-EN.exe

SA

Is this a full install of version 22.24.8.36? Why is this install file only 51,332 kb while the installer for 22.23.10.10 is 234,505 kb?

Oops… I was looking at the wrong file. I see it is actually 239,671 kb. Sorry about that. Ignore this post.

Thanks!
Bill

[Scoop8]

Issue with Cloning Hard Drives

To The Norton Staff ::

I’m a routine Backup Clone PC user. I’ve Cloned my HDD’s as one tool for full-HDD backups on several PC’s for many years. I also Image occasionally but I prefer Cloning since my Desktop PC has 2 “Hot Swap Racks” (allows Hard Drives to be inserted & rejected like a DVD Player, etc) for ease of Cloning.

After I completed a routine Cloning of my Laptop after the Norton Upgrade from V22x to the new V24x product, My Cloned Hard Drive booted up ok as usual but my Norton Tray Icon displayed a Red “x”. When I opened up my Dashboard, there was a screen that said “No more Licenses available”, etc.

I’m currenetly using 2 of 5 Licenses, for my Desktop & Laptop PC’s.

I’d never encountered this message over the many years of Cloning my PC’s periodically with all of the older Norton Vx products.

I went to my Norton 'Net Site Account & as I expected to see under the “Manage Licenses” option, the newly-Cloned spare Hard Drive had been added as a License slot. I removed a couple of old V22x Licenses from years ago & added a License slot to the Cloned Hard Drive & that fixed the issue.

However, going forward, could you (Norton Staff) modify V24x to match the older versions where a License isn’t required for each Hard Drive on the same PC/Device?

The workaround is easy; from my Norton Acct 'Net page, Remove License, etc) but it would be nice to revert back to how the older versions allowed a paid Licensed user to maintain spare Hard Drives for the same PC/Device.

[SoulAsylum]

@Bill_H Version 24.xx is full of issues that we shouldn’t be banging our heads about when the previous version does what we are expecting it to. My suggestion is stay on version 22.24.3.36 and update with intelligent updater until 24.xx is prime time ready. Norton has engineers to figure things out, and they should do so pretty darn quick from the posting going on here. Someone made the glorified decision to try patching a few different technologies into an update to Norton that never was vetted correctly and tested. From what I personally have experienced, features being depreciated isn’t customer oriented. Major companies have dedicated BETA channels that DO NOT release software that is not consumer ready, and if Norton wants to garner “telemetry” it should look closely at a dedicated BETA CHANNEL not pushing it to the consumer. I’m staying on 22.24.8.36 until 24.xx is a product that restricts, takes away, lowers bandwidth when using the VPN to a crawl. Doesn’t tell me where I can and cannot send a backup to. Its my data not theirs, this is my machine, not their nor Microsoft’s nor any other company. We shouldn’t be stressing over a product, period. The creators should. Just my rant on it.

Edited: Avast BETA looks like this. Specifics to each product. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have that here? And I have already suggested it for the record. I’m just one person though with a singular perspective lol.

SA

[Bill_H]

High SoulAsylum

With your help I did revert to 22.24.8.36 and am checking for Intelligent Update virus definitions on the broadcom site.

See Revert to Version 22.24.8.36 safe source file to download - #8 by SoulAsylum

Thanks again.
Bill

[SoulAsylum]

Yes indeed you did. This old goat musta missed that feed bag earlier. LMBO!!

SA

[GiBibby2]

Slowly losing my patience with this garbage version. Updates require restarts, which I have to do twice because first time Norton says it can’t start up properly and repair didn’t fix it (this was after a bug with the About tab showing a 0 in number of definitions.) Right now I did an update and restarted, but this time didn’t have to do another since Norton now wanted to work again. But I’m still getting the unprotected icon in the tray despite being protected, and now Norton has done a LiveUpdate without my prompting and with the auto option OFF, now stuck for 30 minutes trying to download and process a supposed update after I JUST UPDATED. I’m tempted to restart to get out of this infinite updating stuck loop, but I know what’s going to happen if I do: it’ll corrupt itself or break everything. I really hate this version 24. Nothing works right. Reverting is too much of a hassle and I don’t want to renew my sub again if this doesn’t work. I was slightly hopeful when it seemed like they were listening and fixing this mess, but this feels like I’m right back where I started.

[majorbuzz]

@SoulAsylum

Someone made the glorified decision to try patching a few different technologies into an update to Norton that never was vetted correctly and tested.

@Anyone— Well since the beginning of December I’ve been privileged by Norton with two version number updates, the latest being 24.12.9725. That makes a total of three updates since I’ve been saddled with this junky version 24 (Oct 24.)

So far, none of the problems I have have been corrected, two of them have been live update and software updater running by themselves when turned to manual. Live update in particular likes to run roughly once at least every hour.

On the bright side, my VPN lets me choose my point of origin and doesn’t restrict my download speeds of <1 Gig all that much. On several occasions Safe Web has stopped me from going to what it believes are malicious sites. I have to wonder if it’s the Firefox safe web extension, or one that is built into this version.

That all from me for now. Cheers everyone!
@SoulAsylum @bjm @Bill_H

[bjm]

@majorbuzz

On several occasions Safe Web has stopped me from going to what it believes are malicious sites. I have to wonder if it’s the Firefox safe web extension, or one that is built into this version.

Hello @majorbuzz
for example:
Detected by Safe Web is Norton 360 v24 Safe Web - not Norton Safe Web extension.

===========================================
Learn more about (Norton 360 v24) Safe Web here

Norton 360 v24 Safe Web (Browser Protection)

Web Shield blocks malicious websites, phishing attempts, and downloads that could potentially infect your device. Web Shield prevents online attacks by blocking malware, fake websites, dangerous URLs, and scams.

Web Shield protects your system from online threats by scanning data that is transferred between your device and the web. Web Shield works below the browser level, so it works with any browser and doesn’t require extensions.

Web Shield scans your data when you browse online. This safeguards your computer from malware. Web Shield blocks websites and prevents hackers from using your computer as a host when hacking into other computers.

Web Shield detects the most recent threats. It works in real-time, scanning files and programs as they’re opened or downloaded.

Web Shield intercepts web traffic before it hits the browser and runs it through a real-time scanner. Web Shield looks over web pages and checks them for threats before the page is loaded.

==================================================

@majorbuzz

On several occasions Safe Web has stopped me from going to what it believes are malicious sites. I have to wonder if it’s the Firefox safe web extension, or one that is built into this version.

https://community.norton.com/t/change-in-verified-by-in-web-browser/251997/2

[majorbuzz]

@bjm

Norton Safe Web

Hi @bjm. Thanks so much for the info you sent my way about Norton Safe Web and Web Shield. I did click the link and spent some time reading all that was there.

I do see Norton Safe Web installed as part of Norton 360, on the notorious version 24. I also read under the browser extensions link that Norton Safe Web extension is also recommended. So I guess having the extension as well can’t hurt, even though it hasn’t been updated in over a year, though I hate using extensions I don’t absolutely use often because of their own security risks.

I see on your reply lots of “Web Shield”. I read it all, then Googled it, since I never heard of it before. From what I saw, Web Shield is only available when using Norton’s own browser. Yet, on the “False Detection Reported” print screen you took, it looks like you were using Microsoft Edge at the time. Am I following this all correctly?

[bjm]

@majorbuzz

I see on your reply lots of “Web Shield”. I read it all, then Googled it, since I never heard of it before. From what I saw, Web Shield is only available when using Norton’s own browser. Yet, on the “False Detection Reported” print screen you took, it looks like you were using Microsoft Edge at the time. Am I following this all correctly?

Google = Avast Web Shield

Web Shield protects your system from online threats by scanning data that is transferred between your device and the web. Web Shield works below the browser level, so it works with any browser and doesn’t require extensions.

[majorbuzz]

@bjm

Web Shield

@bjm – I see what you added after I first saw you ask me to Google Avast Web Shield LOL …
“Web Shield protects your system from online threats by scanning data that is transferred between your device and the web. Web Shield works below the browser level, so it works with any browser and doesn’t require extensions.”

So I went to the same location within Program Data that you did above, and essentially see the same items listed. So NOW I’m going to be thinking that both Avast and Norton have Web Shield Incorporated. Why not? Gen now owns both of them right?

[bjm]

@majorbuzz

So I went to the same location within Program Data that you did above, and essentially see the same items listed. So NOW I’m going to be thinking that both Avast and Norton have Web Shield Incorporated.

for example:
this Detected by Safe Web event here populates report with Norton\Antivirus\report\WebShield

• Norton Real-time Shield Scan Report
• This file is generated automatically
• Started on: Tuesday, December 10, 2024

12/10/2024 https://www.virustotal.com/ui/files/dcb945dbb702c9239f998cb41f2aab78bdeda329d4e48c257d6a756fd9abf509/behaviours?limit=40 [L] Script:SNH-gen [Trj] (0)

[bjm]

@majorbuzz

So NOW I’m going to be thinking that both Avast and Norton have Web Shield Incorporated.

regarding Avast…for example here & here

Norton brand antivirus protection now uses the Avast scan engine. This means that another anti-malware engine is disappearing from the market and the range of different solutions is shrinking.

The virus protection testers at AV-Comparatives.org have pointed this out, and Gen Digital Inc. has now also confirmed this to heise online. There are several indications of this. “The folder structure of the virus definitions and some core processes are now similar to identical. For example, the process aswEngSrv.exe , which has the same name for both products,” explains Peter Stelzhammer from AV-Comparatives when asked. He adds: “You can also find explicit references to Avast domains in an .ini file within the virus definitions directory in Norton”.

When asked by heise online, a Gen company spokeswoman replied: “Since the merger of NortonLifeLock and Avast in 2022, we have laid the foundation to closely link the products of the two industry leaders and create a new, world-class cyber security infrastructure. We are leveraging the best technologies from each gen brand to create a unified technology platform to deliver a better and more personalized experience for our customers.”

https://www.heise.de/en/news/Norton-relies-on-Avast-scan-engine-9866215.html

AI Overview
Gen Digital, a cybersecurity company encompassing brands like Norton, Avast, and LifeLock, utilizes the Avast threat detection engine within its security products, meaning that when you use a Gen Digital product like Norton, it leverages the advanced malware detection capabilities developed by Avast to protect users against cyber threats; essentially, Gen Digital leverages Avast’s technology as a core part of its security infrastructure.
Key points to remember:

• Merger:
  Avast was acquired by NortonLifeLock (now known as Gen Digital) which led to the integration of Avast’s security engine into Gen Digital’s products.
• Benefit:
  This allows Gen Digital to benefit from Avast’s robust threat detection network and machine learning capabilities.
• Brand names:
  While you may see “Norton” or “LifeLock” on your device, the underlying security engine powering the protection could be Avast.

Our family of consumer brands | Gen™ | Gen™

[majorbuzz]

@bjm

We are leveraging the best technologies from each gen brand to create a unified technology platform to deliver a better and more personalized experience for our customers.”

@bjm - You sure gave me enough to read Amigo. I get what’s happened over at Gen Digital with both Avast and Norton and safe web and Webshield as well.

But when all is done, we now have a hybrid anti-virus which maintains the name Norton not Avast. Thing is, IMO as well as everybody else here, we now are stuck with Version 24 which has been a total bust for quite a while. Does that mean that the current version of Avast is any better? Will Avast disappear? What’s better out there?