Norton 360 Mobile Security review: Good but expensive

Norton 360 Cellular Safety is a part of the producer’s Norton 360 multi-licence safety bundle, nevertheless it can be bought individually for cell solely.

You select between a subscription with out VPN and id monitoring for darkish internet leaks, and one that features them. Each are comparatively costly: the only subscription prices £12.99 per year or $19.99 in the US and the complete model with VPN for £22.98, once more for the primary 12 months.

Norton doesn’t have a free model, however you may get a full refund throughout the first 14 days. Simply keep in mind to unsubscribe earlier than then within the Google Play Retailer in case you don’t wish to preserve paying. It’s additionally available for iOS.

After set up, an preliminary virus scan, and the same old fidgeting with all of the permissions the app wants, I’m greeted by a clear and uncluttered interface. It utilises the restricted display screen house effectively, however it may be just a little troublesome to intuitively perceive the place your varied features are.

VPN, for instance, is underneath the privateness part, and it’s the one function there. Why not simply name it VPN then? Nonetheless, there aren’t that many particular person features, so that you’ll be taught that rapidly.

Scanning and VPN

You do a guide virus scan with a swipe down on the display screen, and swipe as much as discover a safety report. It logs the app and consumer exercise, and likewise provides you an in depth record of put in apps and their dangers, how a lot information they accumulate, what permissions they request, and extra.

Norton blocks entry to malicious web sites in apps like Chrome, Instagram, Fb, and Outlook. Most likely extra apps too, however these have been the related ones I had put in on my take a look at cellphone. Even hyperlinks in textual content messages are scanned earlier than you may click on on them.

You may as well get a fast icon to Norton Secure Search, a separate search field that gives secure search outcomes. The identical function can be out there within the Home windows model of Norton 360.

The VPN (in case you select this plan) is likely one of the higher ones I’ve tried, with quick servers, or not less than quick sufficient, all around the world. There aren’t as many to select from as, for instance, McAfee’s service, with servers in about 30 nations. However even on the opposite aspect of the planet, they’re quick sufficient to stream from video providers, for instance.

Whether or not which means you may all the time escape regional locks is not any assure, however no VPN can declare that.

Identification monitor and extra

Identification Monitor, which retains observe of delicate data on the darknet, allows you to register 5 e mail addresses, 5 cellphone numbers, ten bank card numbers, and another data like gamer tags and passport particulars.

Norton’s service supplies the identical warnings as its opponents on no matter I select to observe, however is way much less intrusive in comparison with McAfee, which doesn’t take word once I manually mark an issue as mounted. It’s far more discreet and easy.

All of Norton’s options are individually excellent. It’s 100% virus-proof, it provides wonderful safety for internet searching and hyperlinks in on the spot messaging, SMS and e mail, and the VPN service is admittedly good in case you really feel like paying for it.

However that’s it, you don’t get any bonus options like backup, name management or anti-theft. Then the considerably excessive worth could make it arduous to justify a purchase order.

Specs

• Norton 360 Cellular Safety
• Android 8+
• Present and former two variations of Apple iOS
• Privateness monitoring
• Looking safety
• Safe search
• VPN
• Wi-Fi management
• Quantity blocker
• Identification monitoring