Buzz
Norton Mobile Security, also known as Norton Security and Antivirus for Android, boasts over 10 million downloads and installations on Google Play. While it may lack some features found in other Android security apps, its malware detection capabilities are outstanding. Even the free version comes with a range of useful and unique tools.
The interface of Norton Mobile Security is straightforward and user-friendly. However, it can have a significant impact on system performance, and the premium package comes at a slightly higher price. Norton also offers free apps for password management and app locking.
Price and Protection Level
The free version of Norton Mobile Security offers basic features, while the paid versions provide users with a fuller range of features.
The premium package offers a $5 discount, dropping from $29.99 to only $24.99. This pricing is still higher compared to most other premium security apps for Android, which typically cost around $10. However, the Norton Mobile Security license can be used on up to 10 devices.
Norton also provides antivirus software for Mac and Windows, which users can purchase with a license applicable to Android. Norton Security Deluxe for 5 devices is priced at $89.99/year, and Norton Security Premium for 10 devices is priced at $109.99/year. Currently, the discounted prices for these apps are $40 and $50 respectively.
Additionally, Norton offers several add-on apps available on Google Play. Among these are 3 free add-on apps, including Norton App Lock, Norton Identity Safe password manager, and Norton Clean optimizer.
Last but not least is the Norton Wifi Privacy Secure VPN app. Priced at $29.99/year, Norton Wifi Privacy Secure VPN provides users with VPN connections on their devices.
Device Protection Level against Malware
Norton continues to offer highly effective malware protection features. Users can choose from options like Quick Scan, Full Scan, or Scan Now within the app window, which includes scanning options for SD cards as well.
Scanning only third-party apps takes about 10 seconds with Norton Mobile Security, but scanning SD cards and pre-installed apps takes about 25 seconds.
Users can also schedule daily, weekly, or monthly scans.
While browsing the web, Norton protects you from hidden phishing sites, working on Chrome, the default Android browser, Firefox, Opera, Samsung's default browser, and UC Browser.
Malware Protection Performance
In independent AV-TEST lab evaluations of security and antivirus apps on Android conducted in July this year, Norton Mobile Security achieved scores beyond perfection.
The app detected 100% of 3,328 real-time malware samples and 100% of 3,129 malware samples collected in the past 4 weeks.
Among the 5 Android antivirus apps evaluated by AV-TEST, Bitdefender Mobile Security and Norton achieved detection rates of 100/100%. Following are PSafe DFNDR (99.9/99.9%), Avast Mobile Security (99.8/99.9%), and CM Security Master (99.0/99.3%).
In evaluation tests, some antivirus apps had fluctuating detection rates, but not Norton Mobile Security. In AV-TEST evaluations conducted bi-monthly, Norton maintains a 100/100% detection rate, occasionally dropping to 99.7% or 99.8%. Bitdefender Mobile Security remains the only app with a consistent 100/100% rate.
Security Features and Free Tools
Norton's Anti-Theft feature encompasses all the essential functions users seek.
Notably, it automatically locks your device if the SIM card is removed. Commands can still be issued via the Norton web portal at My.Norton.com/MobileSecurity or through SMS messages.
For SMS commands, setting a passcode for each part of the command allows you to send commands to your device from any device. SMS commands include Lock, Locate, Scream, and Wipe.
Using the web portal, you have two additional options: Lost mode and Sneak Peek. Additionally, you can customize the message displayed on the device when you use the Lock command or put your device in Lost mode.
Location function in the web portal works better, allowing you to view the current location and location history of your device.
Lost mode activates Lock, Locate, Scream, and Sneak Peek commands simultaneously. Sneak Peek captures a photo from the device's front camera if the user accesses Take Photo from the web portal or whenever activities are detected after using the Lock or Lost command. Sneak Peek doesn't alert the person holding your phone, and the last 10 images will be uploaded and saved in your Norton web portal.
The execution speed of commands has been improved, and the web portal interface has been redesigned to be simpler.
Contact Backup
For Android users who don't want to rely solely on Google for backing up contacts, this app feature can activate backups from your device or from the Norton web portal. The initial backup is performed automatically during setup, and users can choose to update backups daily, weekly, or monthly.
After contacts are backed up, you can view or search your contacts from the web portal, and you can download contacts as a CSV file in case of emergencies.
Call and SMS Blocking
Norton Mobile Security also features call blocking. Essentially, it's just a block list and history, along with the ability to block unidentified users, specific phone numbers from call logs or certain numbers from your contacts, or any other number.
This feature isn't as flexible as in other Android security apps, but Norton's call blocker lacks options, making the feature more effective.
Safe Search
For safer web browsing, Norton's Safe Search, provided by Ask.com, is a useful tool for you. This feature relies on data from Norton's Safe Web technology to determine whether a website is safe or not. If there's a green box with 'OK' or the Norton logo, it indicates a trusted website.
The downside of Safe Search is the high number of ads displayed in search results.
Advanced Security Features and Tools
App Advisor
This feature includes 2 parts: App Advisor provides you with information about currently installed apps, and App Advisor for Google Play scans and provides recommendations for apps as you browse them in Google Play.
App Advisor also has 3 risk levels: High, Medium, and No, but app ratings apply to individual criteria only. These changes enhance the value of App Advisor, as users can clearly distinguish real threats.
Privacy Report
This function is separated from App Advisor. The Privacy Report score appears on the screen based on the apps you have installed. Privacy Report monitors whether any apps are sharing your personal data, and if so, Norton tries to locate where that data is being sent, helping to prevent excessive mobile data usage.
Link Guard
Link Guard is a new feature that helps defend against malicious links sent via email or SMS.
Link Guard analyzes the links you receive, similar to what you see in App Advisor in Google Play, then notifies you whether the link is safe or sends you a warning if it's a malicious link. Note that you must pair your default browser with Link Guard in the settings to activate this feature.
Add-on Apps
Norton App Lock
Norton App Lock allows you to add an extra layer of security to your device. If you prefer not to set a common unlock password on your device, you can restrict access to specific apps.
During the initial App Lock setup, you'll need to create a pattern or a 4-digit PIN. Once set up, you can use fingerprint to unlock apps if your device supports this feature.
Norton also suggests apps for users to lock. Simply tap the overflow button in the top right corner and select Lock Recommended Apps to lock all suggested apps. Additionally, you can scroll through apps and select the ones you want to lock.
Norton Identity Safe
Norton Identity Safe is a free cloud-based password manager, where you can securely store important data such as addresses, credit cards, and banking information. After entering data into the app and activating Identity Safe, the app automatically fills in security data when needed with your approval.
You can choose to use the integrated browser within Identity Safe or opt for other external browsers.
System Impact
To evaluate the impact of running Norton Mobile Security, several tests using the Geekbench 4 Android benchmark tool on Samsung Galaxy S8 running Android 7.0 Nougat were conducted.
After installing the app, device performance saw an average decrease of 5.35% compared to the Geekbench 4 test. During full scans, device performance dropped by 2.35%, lower than the baseline performance.
With these results, Norton Mobile Security ranks last in terms of effectiveness with installed apps and third in malware scanning performance.
Installation and Support
Installing Norton Mobile Security takes only about 90 seconds. Additionally, you need to access My.Norton.com/MobileSecurity and create an account there.
Regarding user support, Norton primarily assists users through the Norton Community website (visit community.norton.com), which features active forums and blogs to address user queries.
For specific issues, you can utilize the live chat feature. Norton also provides 24/7 phone support, but you need to fill out an online form describing the issue beforehand.
User Interface
The interface of Norton Mobile Security is quite impressive, featuring a minimalist design, simple and lightweight interface. While some features like App Advisor have undergone some visual enhancements, most other features remain unchanged.
Overall review of Norton Mobile Security 2017: excellent protection features. Simple interface, compact design, and superb security level. It's worth spending some money to use the app.
