Norton
Product typeSecurity software
OwnerGen Digital
CountryUnited States
Previous owners
Websiteus.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]

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, 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.[8]

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 10 and 11, MacOS, and since 2011, Android and iOS, and is available as an annual subscription.[9][10]

Norton software is licensed to consumers. The brand's primary product is Norton 360, available in multiple editions.[11] Other features included in the product are a personal firewall, email spam filtering and phishing protection. The program was released in September 2014, replacing Norton 360, Norton Internet Security, and Norton AntiVirus. A mesh Wi-Fi network is developed by Norton, intended to protect computers inside the network from unsafe Web sites. A mobile version of the software is also available.[12]

A cloud-based parental control service known as Norton Family Premier is developed by the company,[13] formerly known as Norton Online Family. The software is aimed at "fostering communication" involving parents and their children's online activities.

Norton Computer Tune Up is a program that helps users increase the performance of older computer systems. The program uses inspection and repair services designed to restore speed and performance in place of a new computer or repair-shop work. Norton-certified technicians are available to offer repair assistance.[14]

Norton Guides (1985)

Developed and distributed by Peter Norton Computing. The guides were written by Warren Woodford for the x86 Assembly Language, C, BASIC and Forth languages which were made available to users via a terminate-and-stay-resident program that integrated with programming language editors on IBM PC-type computers. This appears to be the first example of a commercial product where programming reference information was integrated into the software development environment.

Security considerations

In January 2022, several users brought to light an issue with a hidden backdoor crypto-mining tool in the Norton 360 security software suite.[15] Following the report in media Norton highlighted the procedure for uninstalling the product from their computer.

Awards

  • 2022 - Norton 360 was awarded Best Protection (Windows), Best Android Security Product, and Best MacOS Security Product by AV-TEST[16]
  • In November 2023, Norton 360 Deluxe maintained the PCMag Editors’ Choice award and “Excellent” rating.[17]

See also

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". www.symantec.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  8. ↑ Desire Athow (2019-04-29). "Norton adds a VPN and more to its refreshed 360 products". TechRadar. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  9. ↑ "New Norton 360 app can now completely protect your Android and iOS devices - Tech Guide". www.techguide.com.au. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  10. ↑ Fenech, Stephen (2022-09-30). "Norton 360 Advanced is an insurance policy against identity theft". Tech Guide. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  11. ↑ published, Desire Athow (2021-11-12). "NortonLifeLock on why it's getting back behind the classic brand name". TechRadar. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  12. ↑ Darren Allan (2021-06-25). "Norton Mobile Security: what is it and what's included on Android and iOS?". TechRadar. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  13. ↑ "Norton Family". PCMag UK. 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  14. ↑ "Norton Computer Tune Up". us.norton.com.
  15. ↑ Here’s the truth about the crypto miner that comes with Norton Antivirus
  16. ↑ "AV-TEST Award 2022 for Norton". www.av-test.org. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  17. ↑ "Norton 360 Deluxe Review". PCMAG. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
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