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With so many cyber threats on the internet, protecting your private data has become more necessary than ever to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
One way to do that is by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service like Norton VPN. Not only will you be able to surf the web safely, but also access geo-blocked streaming and gaming services.
In this Norton Secure VPN review, we’ll take a closer look into what Norton VPN has to offer and whether it’s the right choice for you or not.
At a Glance
There’s a lot to love about Norton’s VPN service, from its large number of servers to the excellent streaming performance and flexible subscription options.
We do have some concerns, though, the most notable one being the lack of a strong DNS leak protection system. It also doesn’t support torrenting, which is quite a let down.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 2800+ servers in 30 countries
- Uses AES-256 encryption
- Can unlock Netflix and other streaming services
- Supports up to 10 devices (at additional costs)
- Uses the OpenVPN protocol
- Ad tracker protection
- Automatic kill switch
- Flexible pricing plans
- Excellent customer support
Cons
- No P2P torrenting support
- Poor DNS and IPv6 leak protection
- No Linux support
Norton VPN - Full Review
Now, let’s explore Norton VPN’s features in more detail to find out whether you should be using it.
Security
Norton VPN implements AES-256 bit encryption, the same encryption technology that banks and governments use. This means that your computer will be safe from any possible cyber attacks. On top of that, the service offers ad tracker protection, which keeps your data safe from advertising companies, including Google itself.
Additionally, Norton VPN has an automatic kill switch, which disconnects your device’s connection in the event that the server went down unexpectedly and reconnects only when the server is back online. This prevents your real IP address from getting exposed during these technical issues.
However, the service’s DNS leak protection is pretty much useless. We’ve tested the service using several independent tools, and there were some DNS leaks with all of them. We hope that Norton will work on finding a solution to this problem soon.
It’s also worth mentioning that Norton VPN hasn’t released any third-party security audits for the public. The company has conducted some indeed, but the information is strictly confidential.
Servers
Norton has more than 2800 servers in 79 locations distributed in 30 countries all over the world. Some of the locations include Singapore, United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and Denmark. As you can tell, there are servers in every single continent, except for Antarctica, of course.
Norton VPN has an average global server speed of 81Mbps, pretty close to what several other popular VPN services have to offer, which is ideal.
Streaming & Gaming
When it comes to streaming, Norton VPN is capable of unlocking many streaming services in the US and other countries, including popular services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. However, this isn’t something that you should expect to work well consistently. In certain instances, you may not be able to access some streaming services.
By the same token, Norton VPN is excellent for gaming, ensuring that your gaming sessions are fully encrypted and secure. Just make sure that you connect to a nearby server to get the fastest possible speeds and avoid lag.
Torrenting
Unlike many other VPN services, Norton VPN doesn’t support P2P connections, meaning you can’t use it to download torrent files at all.
Platforms
Norton VPN is available on several desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Unfortunately, though, it’s not available on Linux.
Protocols
Norton VPN uses OpenVPN, an open-source protocol. It’s probably the best choice for VPN users as anyone is free to debug its source code and fix any potential issues and vulnerabilities.
Some other VPN companies have started using WireGuard, another open-source protocol that offers enhanced security, stability, and speed. However, it’s still considered new technology, and Norton could implement it anytime soon.
However, Norton VPN’s iOS app uses IPsec protocol instead of OpenVPN because Apple has some strict requirements for using an open-source protocol on its closed-source mobile operating system.
Subscription Plans
Norton offers two subscription plans for its VPN service: a monthly plan and an annual plan. The monthly plan is pretty affordable, costing just $4.99 for one device. If you need to add more devices, that price goes up to $7.99 for 5 devices and $9.99 for 10 devices. We like how flexible this service is when it comes to billing.
On the other hand, the annual plan will set you back $39.99 each year for 1-5 devices and $59.99/year for 10 devices. However, keep in mind that these prices are for the first year only. After that, you’ll have to pay $49.99 for one device, $79.99 for 5 devices, and $99.99 for 10 devices.
While Norton VPN isn’t the most affordable option out there, it’s still relatively cheap compared to other VPN services.
Customer Support
Norton offers an excellent customer service system through lots of support channels, including phone support, live chat, social media support, and forums. Not many VPN services offer phone support, so it’s a very welcome addition by Norton’s team.
You can reach out for support round the clock and expect to get your query solved in a relatively short time. No complaints here!
Final Verdict
When all is said and done, we can confidently say that Norton VPN is an excellent VPN service that’ll keep your data safe and even let you access geo-blocked streaming services, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Despite having some flaws, including insufficient DNS protection and lack of P2P connection support, it’s still easy to recommend Norton VPN for budget-minded users who want to have some protection level during their online activities.
