@SoulAsylum
I checked the appdata folders on my computers and see the same Avast folder and file you have but the dates of the datascan.json files on my systems predate the v24 install. There are also up-to-date datascan.json files in the Norton appdata folder. I searched the web and came across this. It appears the previous versions of N360 were depositing file as well. Topic: Norton Security now silently installs Avast software? @ AskWoody
For what it’s worth, I wholeheartedly agree with your comment that we own our computers. Unfortunately apps have become intrusive, creating backdoors. They may be legit but it’s almost impossible for users to suss out.
This is a monster thread, a lot of unpaid GURU’s spending their precious time trying to help people fix this horrid disgrace of a rollout. So I’m sure other’s will chime in here,
From what I’ve researched so far, this is EXACTLY what Norton is doing to its customers. They’re basically saying: “We’re going to FORCE you to use our new garbage up-selling version 24 update. If you try to roll it back to version 22, we’re simply gonna reinstall v24 again without your knowledge or consent. If you don’t like it, go screw yourselves.”
For that reason, I’m done using Norton after 10+ years. I’d strongly recommend you let it expire and move to Bitdefender or one of the many other choices out there. In my opinion, everyone should do the same.
This type of blatant disregard for customers is stuff that generally happens when marketing people and greed take over an organization. The only way to change their thinking is for them to see market share quickly shift to their competitors.
It’s horrible, stupid, reckless, all that and more. But they decided to go down this path and should pay the price for it.
Merry Christmas
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Did you ever find a way to remove the annoying notification about performance scan issues?
@Norton_is_horrible… What you wrote essentially sums up why we all are faced with this horrible software. I’ve had three different ways of getting in touch with Norton support and specifically left them the link to this entire thread going back to late October. Some folks here swear that Gen (their new parent Co) is monitoring this entire post, yet I have to point out that I haven’t seen one person from Norton appear here.
Hence, they simply don’t care. 
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You can revert to version 22 and stop the update to version 24 by turning off automatic live updates and never clicking on live update. You must then manually download the virus definition updates as often as you want them to be updated as explained here:
I have done this, but I am already tired of having to manually download and install the definition updates. I don’t think I will continue doing this for very long. I am waiting to see if they fix the most important problems with version 24. If that isn’t done by the end of January, I 'm going to leave behind Norton after more than 20 years of being a customer. This whole update has been a fiasco.
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All: For the sake of sanity. Its a sight better to download a definition set once a day to remain devoid of the 24.xx continuing issues until 24.xx is customer sustainable than to abandon everything. Personally, I wouldn’t be doing the same unless I were absolutely convinced Norton is going to make good on their products. Everyone has individual needs so mine, is just a suggestion to stay the course. In 2017 we had a mess that was epic in its own right at the time. New version release that took a lot of customer input and listening from Norton to get right. Now is a second time so…stay the course a bit. Although I don’t have any input about how or when corrections will come, my personal experience says they will. Hope everyone had an awesome holiday!!
SA
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I think I am done with Norton. Uninstalled on my main laptop. Enabled Defender and Google Password Manger. I have two months left to my subscription. Will test drive this new config until then. Too many issues with 24. I have been using Norton for a couple decades.
Yea, since you posted the link for older version, and link for definitions. I installed that version again, and have been doing the manual updates. All is working as it should. Thank You for that!
I already paid for the subscription renewal earlier in the year. So Gen Digital has until that time to fix version 24. If not. I wont renew. Hopefully though, they do get it right and get it back to what we rely on for a product as a whole.
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VPN Issue: I have N360 installed on two Windows 10 PCs. One is working fine. The other attempts to connect to the VPN, but never receives the Virtual IP. It retries every 30 seconds, but never receives a virtual IP. I have tried each region, same result. Without the virtual IP, there is no internet access. For now I am leaving the VPN turned off on that PC. It worked fine under v22.
I’ve been using Norton for about 7 years with no problems until this morning. I am running the Norton 360 Deluxe (subscription). When I tried to start the VPN, it failed. I went to the online help and downloaded the ‘Norton Power Eraser’ and it found no problems. I downloaded the ‘N360Downloader.exe’. During the ‘Device Security installing’, it failed stating that it collected and compressed some error logs, but couldn’t SEND them because it didn’t have an internet connection. My browser (EDGE) connected to every website I tried. So now I have no Norton360 at all.
It’s likely you’re experiencing issues like many here on this forum when you received a Christmas Preset from “Gen Digital” a.k.a. LifeLock marketing team when they pushed a new up-selling version of Norton to your machine. You may be able to confirm this by observing slower than hell performance, missing features, or from scrolling through page after page of reported issues here. As you’ll read here, this new version (v24) is broken garbage. The tell-tale sign of the new version: you’ll now see more marketing popups, notifications in your task bar that simply never go away until you click on them, browser popups or rouge browser tabs opening that you didn’t open, trying to sell you more norton products and services. And you’ll see NEW “Norton Store” (WTF ?!?)_within the norton UI, prompting you to buy more and pay “Gen Digital” more money on top of what you already paid for the “Deluxe” Norton experience you thought you already paid for.
Will try to save you some time here, best advice would be to cancel your Norton subscription and switch to Bitdefender or one of the many other protection options out there that haven’t been overtaken by sales people, ignorance, and greed.
I automatically received the Version 24 a day ago, it is the up to date version posted 24.12.9725 (Build 24.12.9725.897)
Since it was sent directly to me I did not run live update again and they restart.
I have been monitoring and the virus definitions are working correctly.
I also noted a text file in the reports on the C drive that explains to me what it is doing in the background, so I know it is working and it seems fine for now. The report is similar to the old windows update text file on windows before windows 10 was established. You would be able to tell what was going on in the background.
What I don’t care for is that it does not automatically run a scan after the virus definitions like it used to.
I have not ran any scans yet and have not manually ran live update. Should I run live update manually at all?
It does have a lot of repetitive entries in the security history as described in the forum.
Since I am a simple user and just let Norton run in the background and have not fiddled with it, I know it is working when I check the status.
I presume at some time I will have to run scans, however, I AM NOT LOOKING TO RUN LIVE UPDATE MANUALLY since the virus definitions are current as the intelligencer describes.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Time will tell.
The less you use and play with it, the happier it seems to be.
Thanks.
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@Win7and10 Its good that you are satisfied with the 24.xx version allowing it to do exactly as is was programmed to do. Your needs may not be as detailed as others that are posting here about. Backups not working, VPN issues, scans running on their own, no access to networked storage devices. The list is long. This is the reason myself and others are reverting to the older version while Norton works out what they want customers to be able to do with their products.
Additionally, for me the forced 24.xx upgrade caused ALL my devices to appear in different versions. At lease one was on a trial subscription that was never installed and using a different serial number I didn’t purchase. My account was totally hosed up for a second time in less than a years time. Hoping your experience is a good one with 24.xx. This thread is always open in the event you need help.
SA
I appreciate this forum and have your instructions on hand to revert to the other version if problems arise as they are ready to implement if need be.
My concern was that I never ran live update again after the new version showed up. I’m thinking it is doing it’s job in the background.
Thanks again!
When I was on 24.xx Live Update would run automatically when I was away or overnight. Actually whenever the installation found it necessary. Running LU manually may kick start that process for you.
SA
No, I did not. The notification about performance scan issues (after the Smart Scan) is still there.
About 14 years ago, when Symantec was on the verge of bankruptcy, the company was shaken up and suddenly Norton became usable, fast and had good detection rates. Now that investors are back at work who just want to make money and who have no idea about anything, the only thing that helps is for us users to avoid Norton. Then things will soon go downhill again and perhaps decent software will be produced again. Until then, the only thing that helps is to firmly avoid Norton and its products.
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Could you post the location (ie folder location, etc) of the Text File on your C Drive that you mentioned that shows what is happening in the background?
I have uninstalled my Norton 30 24.xx due to it making my Thrustmaster TS-PC racer force feed back steering wheel carry out calibration every time I start my PC. There must be something sent out to USB devices that is thate same as powering off the device.
Before Norton update the only time the wheel would calibrate was during first pc start after a power outage or if i made it do one manually. Using windows defender on my sim PC still have Norton 360 on other two PC’s condering removeing it from all 3 and going to another AV.
I did the same, removed that horrid disgrace using the Norton removal tool (https://www.norton.com/nortonremover), felt so good removing that crap.
Running “Bitdefender Total Security” for a few days now and appears to be working great. They offer a 30-day free trial. Has all the features I use. It’s fast, the UI is clean. And the best part, Bitdefender doesn’t have all the constant obtrusive annoying pop-ups, scare tactics, up-selling nonsense, etc. Defender has the look and feel of a real antivirus program. Not the “we’re gonna monetize the hell out of this” approach we’ve been seeing from Gen Digital for some time now.
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