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| Norton Secure VPN Review |
Our verdict: Although Norton Secure VPN is not fully featured like other Virtual Private Network (VPN) products, it is a good choice for users with less-demanding VPN needs. It provides good value to single device users and is compatible with the award-winning Norton Security Suite.
Unique Advantages
• Sturdy Server Network
• Great Geographic Server Diversity
• Adaptable Pricing
• Subtle presence on the desktop
• Discount with the Norton Security Suite
• Live Chat Support
Company Background
Norton
(also known as Norton by Symantec), is a division of the American
software company Symantec Corporation. Norton’s parent company, Symantec
is a leading digital security solutions provider and is enlisted in the
Fortune 500 list. Since being acquired by Symantec in 1990, Norton has
developed a range of products and services related to software security.
Awards & Prizes
Norton
Secure VPN is a subsidiary service of the acclaimed brand – Norton by
Symantec. Time and time again, the digital security company has proved
its mettle on the global stage:
- In 2012, Norton received the Best Security Software award by PC Advisor.
- Norton by Symantec won AV-TEST’s Innovation Award for Mobile Security in 2015.
- Norton Mobile Security and Norton Family Premier were also acclaimed by PC Magazine’s, Editor’s Choice Awards in 2015.
Server Locations
Most
public Wi-Fi connections are not secure and offer little protection
against malicious users. A VPN gives its users online privacy and
anonymity. It is an essential security layer to protect your private
data and avert hackers from eavesdropping on your network traffic. It
achieves this by encrypting your data and rendering your connection
through a secure and anonymous server.
It’s important for VPNs
to have a diverse distribution of servers across the world. Norton
Secure VPN has a fairly impressive network of 73 server locations
spanning 29 countries. Though the server locations don’t feature
countries like China and Russia; the list expands to geographically
distributed countries like Australia, Turkey, South Africa, Israel,
Brazil, Mexico, Japan and countries in Eastern Europe.
The number
of locations VPN networks operate on varies across companies. If you’re
hoping for a greater number of locations, you should consider other
options. CyberGhost is distributed across 90 countries; Nord VPN covers
63 countries while Express VPN spans 93 countries.
Speed and Reliability
Having a secure connection shouldn’t
mean that you have to compromise on the speed and reliability of your
connection. Norton VPN provides fast service for its consumers and has
an express speed for local connections. TechRadar conducted speed tests
to measure the VPN’s performance against a 75Mbps connection. Servers in
the UK rev up to download speeds of 60-66 Mbps. Servers located in
European countries nearby also have fairly fast speeds, ranging between
50-65 Mbps.
On the same connection, a server in the US fared
between 45-65Mbps. Though speeds in distant locations like Australia and
Mexico (15-25 Mbps & 8-18 Mbps respectively) were fairly low; they
are sufficient for most users.
These statistics are for a single
connection. The VPN performance varies according to the strength of the
connection you’re using.
Platforms and Devices
• All versions of Microsoft Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 or later.
• All versions of Microsoft Windows 8/8.1.
• All versions of Microsoft Windows 10 except Windows 10 S. Edge browser not supported as well.
• Mac OS X, the current and previous two versions.
• All Android phones with Android 4.1 or higher.
• All iPhones or iPads that run on the current and previous two versions of Apple iOS.
Works With
The
Norton VPN works well for users who use standard and official
applications in all Windows, Mac, iOS and Android operating systems. On
other platforms and devices, the VPN has limited compatibility.
Pricing
The
annual cost of a single license is $39.99. Five devices have a greater
value costing $39.99 for one year as well. A secure VPN’s ten device
license costs $59.99 initially.
The price is relatively cheap
compared to other VPNs and what makes it even more attractive is when
you bundle the Norton VPN with their antivirus offering. Users can get a
sweet deal if they go for the Norton Deluxe 360 bundle which includes
their VPN. You can give 5 devices award-winning antivirus protection
along with VPN protection for up to a year at just $49.99.
The
company doesn’t offer a free product to test its service but provides
its customers with remarkable 60-day money-back guarantee. However, the
money-back guarantee is regulated under some terms and conditions, so
it’s best to check them first.
Encryption & Logging Policy
Norton’s
Secure VPN website policy claims that the service caters a no-log
virtual private network. This means the service doesn’t track or store
your activity.
The Bottom Line
Norton Secure VPN
offers its consumers adaptable pricing, a strong network of servers, and
the brand assurance of a digital security giant. Though it lacks some
advanced features, for a user with simple VPN needs, especially those
who want to also add a great antivirus, Norton Deluxe 360 with Secure
VPN is a worthy choice.
