Norton (software)

Last updated
Norton
Norton-logo-2021.svg
Product type Security software
Owner Gen Digital
Country United States
Previous owners
Website us.norton.com

Norton, formerly known as Norton by Symantec, is a brand of Gen Digital co-headquartered in Tempe, Arizona and Prague, Czech Republic. Norton originally provided utility software for DOS, [1] and currently offers a variety of products and services related to digital security, identity protection, and online privacy and utilities. [2]

Contents

Norton was acquired by the Symantec Corporation in 1990, and in 2014, Symantec separated their business into two units. One was focused on security, and the other was focused on information management; Norton was placed in the unit focused on security. [3]

As of 2022, Norton is a consumer cybersecurity brand of Gen Digital, the parent company formed following the merger between NortonLifeLock and Avast. [4]

History

Peter Norton Computing, Inc. was a software company founded by Peter Norton. Norton and his company developed various DOS utilities including the Norton Utilities which originally did not include antivirus features.

In 1990, the company was acquired by Symantec and renamed Peter Norton Consulting Group. Symantec's consumer antivirus and data management utilities are still marketed under the Norton name. [5]

In early 1991, Symantec's Norton Group launched Norton AntiVirus 1.0 for PC and compatible computers. The company updated and diversified its product line until combining its offerings into one seamless product, Norton Security. [6]

In the 1990s, Norton provided software to check computer systems for Y2K compliance. [7] In 2019, Symantec was renamed to NortonLifeLock following Broadcom’s acquisition of its enterprise division, [8] leading to the combination of the Norton 360 suite with the LifeLock identity threat protection offering, which was purchased by Symantec in 2017. [9]

In 2019, the Norton 360 brand was reintroduced, replacing Norton Security and adding privacy features including a virtual private network (VPN) and identity theft protection services alongside its traditional antivirus features. [10]

Products and Services

Norton's products are primarily digital security tools for personal computers, server devices and mobile devices. It is currently compatible with PCs running Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11, MacOS, and since 2011, Android and iOS, and is available as an annual subscription. [11] [12]

Norton software is licensed to consumers. The brand's primary product is Norton 360, available in multiple editions. [13] Norton 360 Standard Edition includes real-time threat protection, Norton's Secure VPN, cloud backup, a password manager, and a smart firewall. A mobile version of the software is also available. [14] Norton 360 Deluxe and Norton 360 Advanced editions also add parental controls and digital identity features including dark web monitoring for leaks of personal information. [15]

Norton also offers its traditional antivirus software, Norton Antivirus Plus, as a standalone service, as well as separate subscriptions for Norton AntiTrack, Norton Secure VPN, and Norton Identity Advisor Plus. [16] Other services, including PC tune-up and optimization software, are also available as separate offerings. [17]

In January 2022, several users brought to light an issue with a hidden backdoor crypto-mining tool in the Norton 360 security software suite. [18] Following the report in media Norton highlighted the procedure for uninstalling the product from their computer.

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antivirus software</span> Computer software to defend against malicious computer viruses

Antivirus software, also known as anti-malware, is a computer program used to prevent, detect, and remove malware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gen Digital</span> Multinational software company

Gen Digital Inc. is a multinational software company co-headquartered in Tempe, Arizona and Prague, Czech Republic. The company provides cybersecurity software and services. Gen is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 stock-market index. The company also has development centers in Pune, Chennai and Bangalore. Its portfolio includes Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender, and CCleaner.

Norton AntiVirus is an anti-virus or anti-malware software product founded by Peter Norton, developed and distributed by Symantec since 1990 as part of its Norton family of computer security products. It uses signatures and heuristics to identify viruses. Other features included in it are e-mail spam filtering and phishing protection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avast</span> Czech security software company

Avast Software s.r.o. is a Czech multinational cybersecurity software company headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, that researches and develops computer security software, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Avast has more than 435 million monthly active users and the second largest market share among anti-malware application vendors worldwide as of April 2020. The company has approximately 1,700 employees across its 25 offices worldwide. In July 2021, NortonLifeLock, an American cybersecurity company, announced that it was in talks to merge with Avast Software. In August 2021, Avast's board of directors agreed to an offer of US$8 billion.

Norton Internet Security, developed by Symantec Corporation, is a discontinued computer program that provides malware protection and removal during a subscription period. It uses signatures and heuristics to identify viruses. Other features include a personal firewall, email spam filtering, and phishing protection. With the release of the 2015 line in summer 2014, Symantec officially retired Norton Internet Security after 14 years as the chief Norton product. It was superseded by Norton Security, a rechristened adaptation of the Norton 360 security suite.

Webroot Inc. is an American privately-held cybersecurity software company that provides Internet security for consumers and businesses. The company was founded in Boulder, Colorado, US, and is now headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, and has US operations in San Mateo and San Diego, and globally in Australia, Austria, Ireland, Japan and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PC Tools (company)</span> Australian software company

PC Tools, formerly known as WinGuides.com, was a software company acquired by Symantec in 2008; the new owner eventually discontinued the PC Tools name. Company headquarters were in Australia, with offices in Luxembourg, the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Ukraine. The company had previously developed and distributed security and optimization software for the Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows platforms.

Norton AntiBot, developed by Symantec, monitored applications for damaging behavior. The application was designed to prevent computers from being hijacked and controlled by hackers. According to Symantec, over 6 million computers have been hijacked, and the majority of users are unaware of their computers being hacked.

LifeLock Inc. was an American software company active from 2005 to 2017. The company was best known for its eponymous LifeLock identity theft prevention software, now sold by Gen Digital after the latter acquired LifeLock in 2017. LifeLock's system monitors for identity theft, the use of personal information, and credit score changes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malwarebytes</span> Internet security company

Malwarebytes Inc. is an American Internet security company that specializes in protecting home computers, smartphones, and companies from malware and other threats. It has offices in Santa Clara, California; Clearwater, Florida; Tallinn, Estonia; Bastia Umbra, Italy; and Cork, Ireland.

Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG is a German multinational computer security software company mainly known for its Avira Free Security antivirus software. Although founded in 2006, the Avira antivirus application has been under active development since 1986 through its predecessor company H+BEDV Datentechnik GmbH. Since 2021, Avira has been owned by American software company NortonLifeLock, which also operates Norton, Avast and AVG. It was previously owned by investment firm Investcorp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avast Antivirus</span> Antivirus computer program

Avast Antivirus is a family of cross-platform internet security applications developed by Avast for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Avast offers free and paid products that provide computer security, browser security, antivirus software, firewall, anti-phishing, antispyware, and anti-spam, among other services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norton Security</span> Computer security suite by NortonLifeLock

Norton Security is a cross-platform security suite that provides subscription-based real-time malware prevention and removal in addition to identity theft protection and performance tuning tools. Other features include a personal firewall, email spam filtering, and phishing protection. It was released on September 23, 2014. In April 2019 it has been replaced by the Norton 360 brand.

NordVPN is a Lithuanian VPN service provided by Nordsec Ltd with applications for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, and tvOS. Manual setup is available for wireless routers, NAS devices, and other platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proton VPN</span> VPN service operated by Proton Technologies AG

Proton VPN is a VPN service launched in 2017 and operated by the Swiss company Proton AG, the company behind the email service Proton Mail. According to its official website, Proton VPN and Proton Mail share the same management team, offices, and technical resources, and are operated from Proton's headquarters in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland.

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited is a personal virtual private network software product available for iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux.

Clario is a security software development company that offers consumer-facing digital security and privacy applications for use on a range of operating systems including iOS, Android, macOS.

Surfshark is a brand of VPN services offered by a Lithuanian capital, now Netherlands-based company of the same name.

Norton 360 was an "all-in-one" security suite for the consumer market developed by Symantec. Originally released in 2006, it was discontinued in 2014; its features were carried over to its successor, Norton Security. However, in 2019, Symantec released a "NEW Norton 360", as a product replacement for Norton Security.

References

  1. ↑ "History of Norton Utilities". softpanorama.org. Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  2. ↑ "Gartner Says Worldwide Security Software Market Grew 5.3 Percent in 2014". Archived from the original on May 30, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Symantec to split into two companies". USA Today .
  4. ↑ "NortonLifeLock Merges With Avast to Form New Company Called 'Gen'". PCMAG. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  5. ↑ "History of Symantec Corporation – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com.
  6. ↑ "Symantec to slim Norton line to single security suite".
  7. ↑ "Symantec Norton 2000 Protects Small Businesses and Consumers by Pinpointing Y2K Problems on Desktops, Laptops - Symantec". Symantec . Archived from the original on 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  8. ↑ "Symantec is now NortonLifeLock as Broadcom closes purchase of its enterprise business". SiliconANGLE. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  9. ↑ Stiennon, Richard. "The Demise Of Symantec". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  10. ↑ Desire Athow (2019-04-29). "Norton adds a VPN and more to its refreshed 360 products". TechRadar. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  11. ↑ "New Norton 360 app can now completely protect your Android and iOS devices - Tech Guide". www.techguide.com.au. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  12. ↑ Fenech, Stephen (2022-09-30). "Norton 360 Advanced is an insurance policy against identity theft". Tech Guide. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  13. ↑ Desire Athow (2021-11-12). "NortonLifeLock on why it's getting back behind the classic brand name". TechRadar. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  14. ↑ Darren Allan (2021-06-25). "Norton Mobile Security: what is it and what's included on Android and iOS?". TechRadar. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  15. ↑ Chiara Castro (2022-12-06). "Keep an eye on your data with Norton Dark Web Monitoring". TechRadar. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  16. ↑ "Norton AntiTrack Review". PCMAG. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  17. ↑ "Norton Computer Tune Up". us.norton.com.
  18. ↑ Here’s the truth about the crypto miner that comes with Norton Antivirus
  19. ↑ "AV-TEST Award 2022 for Norton". www.av-test.org. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  20. ↑ Zehentmaier, Verena (2023-02-24). "AV-Comparatives Awards 2022 for Norton". AV-Comparatives. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  21. ↑ Team, SE Labs (2023-02-06). "Annual Report 2023". SE Labs. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  22. ↑ "Norton 360 Deluxe Review". PCMAG. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.