Norton 360 in 2026 Free add-on with Plusnet

[#1]

Hi is it really worth using the free Norton pack in the add-ons over windows 11 Bitdefender ?

Also is it worth having on mobile devices or Ipads over using their own built in protections ?

Just wondering what others think and should it be installed just because its free for 24 months.

I use internet for browsing,streaming tv/movies and shopping/banking etc, would I benefit from it over Windows 11 built in protections?

[#2]

@Stillgame2026 Personally, I would avoid that program - it is not really needed with the tools already available, and if it behaves as it used to do, it is a resource hog and constantly interrupts your browsing.

[#3]

@Stillgame2026 

You will get both yea and nay answers, probably with recommendations that Linux as the answer to all your security problems. Personally, I much preferred Kaspersky before the world went mad. I now use Norton on my PC, which is the only device used for on line shopping and banking. I don't bother on IPads or both Apple and Android phones as they are not used for financial transactions, apart from a link on the Apple phone to a separate bank card/account that only ever has a small credit balance. This card is also linked to a Parking App on the Android phone. I am not aware of Norton slowing or corrupting processing.

Many years ago I received the following advice: 'I reckon that about half the advice that I have ever received has been wrong, so a long time ago I decided that I might as well do my own research and decide for myself'.

If you do go for Norton, beware of automatic renewals at rip off prices. I always cancel these immediately and at renewal buy a new licence from a cheap source.

[#4]

@Baldrick1 Although my preferred OS is Linux-based, I would never even suggest others use it merely based on the 'security' aspect - I may do so for other reasons, but they do not apply in this case.

I confess I haven't even looked at the current iterations of Norton - for many years - so maybe it has improved in its behaviour. I do have a W7 machine still in very occasional use, but it is connected to the 'net for maybe a few minutes each time it is used, and I do have an AV program on it (Avast), which has never yet thrown up any valid warnings. 

[#5]

Personally I would (and do) stick to the Windows "built in" security with Windows 11.

I have a selection of browsers to avoid the "signed in" problems of Chrome and Edge and anything that doesn't need those accounts is visited in Firefox or DuckDuckGo.

DuckDuckGo is good for advertising heavy websites as it tends to work without triggering AdBlock messages.

Opera has it's uses as well. 

[#6]

@jab1 

My comment regarding the likely wide range of responses were not aimed at you in any way. 

@Stillgame2026 

Most security issues are the result of human error. The security suite provides another layer of protection in cases of human error. Preventing being tricked into falling into the trap goes much wider than just the installation or not of an additional security suite. 

Whilst I only run the basic Norton installation minus the bells and whistles, I only use 'clean' email addresses. If one of my numerous addresses becomes listed on the https://haveibeenpwned.com/ website, I immediately change it, it's a pain but I have only had to do it twice over the past 20 plus years. I also block a lot of junk links via a pi-hole.

I would never advise people on the correct means of protecting their on-line presence in case there was a breach and it was interpreted as being due to poor advice.

[#7]

Thank you peeps will think things over! As for Norton being hungry on my pc I have an 14th gen i9 CPU so plenty of horse power  

[#8]

My experience was 'belt and braces' being the best of options using Avast, Malwarebytes and others but turning off Microsoft's own protection under W7.

Having skipped W8 research showed Microsoft's built-in protection had improved dramatically with W10 then W11. Now I only use Window's built-in protection. I haven't had a virus in over 25 years.

But the weakest link in security is frequently the user. I never click a link in an email even from a trusted source. Never open an exe file unless you know it's come from a reputable, original site, etc.

As for horsepower I need to squeeze every bit I can when rendering 4K video or audio with 50+ tracks so, even with a 16 core (32 thread) Ryzen 5950X 4.9GHz, I'm not wasting any power.

[#9]

Nice spec