I’m moving to Malwarebytes once my subscription runs out soon. Reverting to the old version and haphazardly maintaining its updates is too much for me, and version 24 still lags my browser and access to programs on start up. I just can’t handle all the processes and lag this new Norton does anymore, and the overheating is too much of a risk on my system. Maybe I’ll come back if they get their act together. I’d go with Bitdefender, but they’re apparently dropping support for windows 7 this year so my options are limited.
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I use Chrome mostly. Another user of our subscription uses Brave. Another uses Firefox.
For many reasons, I don’t want to rely on a browser being our only way of clearing tracking cookies. I need to find a program that can be run on the computer which will do it. I truly HATE that Norton removed this feature and is now asking you to pay for a whole other program in order to get it.
Malwarebytes looks interesting. A virus scanner? Will it remove tracking cookies as part of it’s scan? Would I use it instead of Norton/BitDefender, or in addition to?
That sounds great. I’ve never used BitDefender, can I ask a couple questions?
When you say that the firewall is more straightforward … is it just allow/block, or can you get them to ask each time, and choose something like “allow once”, or is it just always/never like McAfee is? (McAfee does remove tracking cookies, but they allow you very little choice about what and how they do things, they just do them for you and don’t really ask what you want to do)
Does Bitdefender full scan find and remove tracking cookies, or not?
Do they just fix problems that crop up, or do they prompt you and ask what you want to do with each one?
I’m looking for something more hands-on, where the program doesn’t make all the decisions for you but actually shows you what they found and then asks what you want to do.
It would be lovely to not be constantly asked to buy more programs (that are expensive) just to get the services that I used to get with this program … so that part sounds great 
Thanks for posting your experience with them!
I hadn’t used Bitdefender either, but when I realized this latest Norton fiasco was actually as bad as it is and was still happening after months of customer complaints… I had Norton cancel my renewal and did a little research including the recommendations at pcmag that placed Bitdefender at #1 above Norton and sounded logical: The Best Antivirus Software for 2025 | PCMag
I have no connection to them, just simply prefer not to support abusive companies like Gen Digital.
To answer your question; I’d recommend just installing the free trial of Bitdefender Total Security and test it out. You’ll likely find like I did that the UI is so much better than Norton. And yes, what I noticed right away is that if an EXE tries to go out to the internet, it blocks it, gives a nice prompt where can allow it, or navigate to the EXE folder to confirm it’s a legitimate exe. The exe remains blocked until you click the Allow button. I’m finding a lot of apps that I wasn’t aware were establishing outbound connections!
Regarding tracking cookies, it has that too. It’s called “Anti-tracker” you can enable/disable it globally, or enable extensions for Edge, Firefox, Chrome individually…
More details can be found here: https://www.bitdefender.com/content/dam/bitdefender/consumers/case-studies/total-security/EN.pdf
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Dans mon post du 9 janvier dernier (extrait ci-dessus), je me réjouissais que l’analyse avancée de Smart Scan n’affichât plus les éventuels problèmes de performances si vous ne possédez pas d’abonnement à “Norton Driver Updater”. Aujourd’hui, cela est réapparu
Mesdames et Messieurs qui êtes en charge du développement de Norton sachez une bonne fois pour toute, que je ne veux absolument pas que ma suite de sécurité prenne en charge la mise à jour de mes “pilotes”. J’ai utilisé par le passé “Norton Driver Updater” que j’ai très vite abandonné car il n’est absolument pas fiable et m’avait contrainte à restaurer une “image système”.
Par ailleurs, sachez que je suis parfaitement disposée à changer de solution de sécurité si Norton persévère dans ses erreurs.
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NORTON SAFE WEB BROWSER EXTENSION
I just noticed that the above extension was just updated 24 days ago after a full year. I was wondering if anybody has been using this latest version (3.23.0.29) and if you’ve had any issues with it. Thanks folks!
as test: 3.23.0.29
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/norton-safe-web/
Norton 360 Safe Web block
as test: with Norton 360 Safe Web disabled
========================================
as test: with Norton 360 Safe Web enabled
Firefox cycle → call suspicious link
re-call suspicious link after time
fwiw ~ feels like Norton 360 Safe Web block/notice holds power (after closing notice) for a time period and calling suspicious link renders Secure Connection Failed page…then after a time period…Norton 360 Safe Web renders Threat secured notice.
as always…your mileage may vary
Caveat: I do not run Norton Safe Web extension
@bjm
Thank you sir. It appears the updated extension, as well as the suite with version 24 are both blocking the page.
@BJM – Yes, I noticed that as well.
At the same time, with both safe webs engaged, it seems like whoever catches it first will block the page.
How come you don’t like the extension and use them both?
BJM… please tag me so I’ll get email notification you replied. Thanks.
Hello @majorbuzz
fwiw ~ as test: 14-Jan-2025
(spreading malware for 3 minutes)
==============================================
(spreading malware for 2 minutes)
==============================================
(spreading malware for 1 minutes)
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A titre d’information, aujourd’hui, j’ai effectué un test rapide pour m’assurer que Norton 360 fonctionnait correctement.
J’ai utilisé le site www.wicar.org. Je m’empresse de préciser que mon objectif était simplement de voir si Norton version 24.xxx. dont le fonctionnement a été automatisé (l’utilisateur n’a pas besoin de modifier les paramètres de sécurité) se montrait “réactif”.
Je dois reconnaitre que Norton n’a pas failli lors de ce test très basique et sans réelle valeur. Il a réagi quasiment immédiatement.
Dans un souci de clarté (pour ne pas alourdir mon post avec de nombreuses captures d’écran) mais également d’objectivité, j’ai choisi délibérément de ne pas les inclure.
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Hello @Norton_is_horrible
I like that Bitdefender Total Security VPN has a desktop shortcut & a systray button…albeit, limited to optimal server location & 200mb free daily traffic. Premium VPN is an addable subscription.
I like Bitdefender User Guide.
I’m not finding Cloud/Local Backup feature?
I’m finding: Ransomware remediation works by monitoring applications that access/modify your files, and backs up those files, until a verdict is given for the application. If the application is deemed safe, the backup is deleted. If the application is deemed unsafe, their actions are blocked, and the files are restored to the original. The backups are only kept locally.
Bitdefender Chat support commented: Ransomware remediation is not a replacement for a proper backup solution.
Bitdefender Premium offers Premium VPN and SecurePass password manager.
@bjm
Don’t you think Bitdefender PREMIUM is a bit on the expensive side after first year?
Bitdefender Total offers Bitdefender Safepay protected browser, a sealed environment that is designed to keep your online banking, e-shopping, and any other type of online transaction private and secure.
@majorbuzz
Geez, haven’t checked prices yet.
Just playing a little with Bitdefender Total Security trial on spare machine.
Bitdefender on Amazon.
Bitdefender Total Security User Guide - 284 pages.
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Innumerable Norton products open in Task Mgr frying my CPU, fan running not stop, laptop burning hot (until I remove Norton V24 then it’s back to normal).
The interface isn’t clean, easy to look at or navigate, it looks outdated.
The interface won’t allow me the control as I had with the prior version, which, since I pay for it, I have every right to have.
The interface is stopping my browser(s) from opening immediately, but instead taking 30 seconds - 2 minutes before they finally load.
The settings are a mess and all over the place.
No way of “ending task” on Norton at all, literally cannot just shut it down, which any user, for any program or app, paid or not, but definitely paid, should be able to do at their discretion for whatever reason they wish or need to.
The VPN keeps connecting me to areas/locations too close to my home, same state, just a city or 2 over, that’s NOT anonymity, and it only allows you to choose another Country rather than another state. The prior version (the BEST version they ever had in every aspect), didn’t allow you to choose the State either, but at least it didn’t continue to connect me (every single time no matter how many times I shut it and reopen it) to the same city every single time, which is the one right near where I live.
The prior version before this forced V24, upon opening My Norton had a clean, easy to see and work with page. There weren’t tons of dark colors and various different, and too many, far too many, links and areas to go - you saw all you needed to see, spread out and clean on one page.
The version prior to V24 if opening in 360 classic, was also easily navigated for a novice or technically advanced user. Everything was right there, eezy peezy and clean to look at.
There are many more things that are wrong with it, but my biggest issues, in this order are:
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TOO MANY instances of Nortan are being opened and run at one time, which is literally frying my CPU, memory and killing my laptop.
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It’s now allowing my browsers to immediately open, but taking far too long, which was always immediate.
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I currently have 14 Norton processes running and my CPU total use is between 3 and 5%. This can go up when a Norton background task is running, but in no way is Norton ‘frying’ my CPU.
This is a security feature of 360. If you can stop all tasks, so could a zero day malware that might hit your system, or if someone got physical access to your system. If you really need to disable a task, you can always turn off Norton Tamper Protection to allow you to do that.
Interface layouts can be a personal taste item. No developer will be able to please all users when they make changes they feel are needed.
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