NORTON 360 WITH LIFELOCK IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION. Cyberthreats have grown exponentially since great numbers of people have started to work from home. While large enterprises can roll out network-based endpoint security systems, the employees of most smaller companies are on their own and are struggling to protect their home computers while cybercriminals increasingly target security-naive at-home employees and their families.
The age of cyber home invasion is here
The home-based workforce must suddenly navigate the internet and hundreds of novel work-from-home apps that have sprung up without the guidance of the IT-department or cybersecurity experts.
With opportunistic hackers and scammers around every corner, everyone needs a simple solution for device security, online privacy, and identity theft protection. We’ve been looking at comprehensive solutions available on the market for ordinary people and found this Norton with Lifelock 360 review.
What is Malware?
Malware, short for ‘malicious software’, is software specifically designed to damage a person’s computer or steal the information store. Most computers get infected without the owner realizing it. There are many different types of malware:
- Spyware
- Ransomware
- Worms
- Viruses
- Trojan horses (trojans)
- Adware
- Greyware
and many other forms of malicious code that can infiltrate a computer.
What is identity theft?
Identity theft is exactly what it sounds like – when someone steals your personal information and uses it to impersonate you. Identity thieves use your information to commit credit card fraud, mortgage and utility scams, health insurance fraud, and often will empty your bank account.
How can I protect myself from Malware and Identity theft?
Never use any connected device without a form of active malware protection. An antivirus has two jobs:
- To scan your device and remove malware files that have infected your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
- To prevent infections before they strike while protecting your private and financial information online.Real-time Threat Protection for your Device
Norton AntiVirus technology uses machine learning and “emulation” (running each file in a small virtual machine) to determine if a file is good or bad. Antivirus software has advanced to the point where it can protect you even if it is the first time the antivirus encounters a new piece of malware to provide real-time threat protection.
However, Norton 360 takes the concept even further. Norton 360 with Lifelock gives you complete coverage against malware and identity theft by not only guarding against malware but also by guarding your online privacy.
What’s the big deal with online privacy?
Nowadays, we live on the internet. As a consequence, we leave a trail of data behind on every app we use and website we visit. Anything that is in any way connected to anything else collects and stores that information.
A major problem is cookies and the fact that it is much too easy to click ‘accept’ on pop-ups that ask to save cookies in your browser, allow GPS apps access to your location, or use your microphone or camera to render personalized services. We allow all of this without even thinking about privacy ramifications.
Every click, mouse point, search, and all other online actions are recorded and the information gets passed on or sold to anyone with a few dollars to spend. Norton offers online privacy protection in the form of a secure VPN, privacy monitoring, and their SafeCam feature.
1. Why do I need the Norton VPN?
Norton’s VPN protects your data at the source. It obscures and anonymizes your activities to prevent intrusive data collection while you are online.
- It changes your IP address and encrypts your online activity, helping to give you online privacy.
- It protects your information such as credit card numbers and passwords while using public Wi-Fi networks.
- It blocks ad trackers to hide your personal preferences from advertisers.
- It anonymizes your internet activities.
2. Why do I need the Norton Privacy Monitor?
The information gathered from ad trackers, cookies, location, and personal preferences gets sold to marketing companies, which will use that information to craft targeted advertising aimed at influencing your behavior.
There is also a new, rapidly growing breed of data brokers who display your private information online, and who sell their ability to mine the internet for all of your juicy private information for a small fee.
Norton’s Privacy Monitor combats this casual peddling of your private information by:
- Seeking out the sites where your information is displayed
- Checking the type of information that is being displayed
- Providing quick access quick links to request an opt-out
- Tracking the sites you’ve requested to opt-out of
- Monitors those sites to ensure that the information does not re-appear.
3. Why do I need Norton’s Dark Web monitoring?
Data breaches occur every, and most data breaches are too small to justify the attention of the press. However, this information end up on the Dark Web, where phishing scam artists snap it up for their next malware campaign. Norton can notify you if they find your personal information offered for sale on the Dark Web.
4. Why do I need Norton’s password manager?
How many online accounts do you have? Twenty, fifty, or even hundreds? It’s impossible to create a secure password for each without re-using a few. It’s much safer to create, store, and manage your passwords, credit card information and other online credentials in a single secure online vault.
5. Why do I need Norton’s 10GB cloud backup facility?
While Norton offers protection against ransomware there is always the possibility that your device might get stolen or damaged beyond repair. An automatic, secure cloud backup process will secure your important files and documents against hard drive failures and allow seamless transition between devices.
6. Why do I need Norton’s SafeCam?
While the webcam on your PC is a great way to keep in touch with family, friends, or business associates, it is also vulnerable to hacking. With Norton SafeCam, you’ll get notified when cyber criminals try to use your webcam. SafeCam also monitors software that requests access to your webcam and gives you the option to allow or block webcam use.
Antivirus is just the first building block
NortonLifeLock technology blocks over 7 million threats a day, and can detect a wide range of threats and alert you if they find any potential suspicious activities. In the event of identity theft, they have a dedicated U.S-based Identity Restoration Specialist who will work to resolve your identity theft problem, including reimbursement in the case of stolen funds.
Privacy protection must become a way of life
“Be careful, Be Aware” is the new mantra: Be suspicious of any email attachments, every site you visit, and every file you download. That is not enough, though. Antivirus software is critical for every device, because no matter how careful you are it only takes one mistake for all of your files to be held hostage by ransomware.
There are alternative and additional solutions for when you suspect that your information is being sold. Services like OneRep exist to help you check what information about you is out there and helps you to remove it. There are a lot of websites that sell information and keeping ahead of the “opt-out” process can be a full-time job. OneRep monitors over 100 websites to remove data as it appears and reappears.
