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• Pros

  Affordable, flexible pricing. Robust server network. Integrated ad-tracker blocking. Good speed test scores.

• Cons

  No P2P or BitTorrent support. Few server locations.

• Bottom Line

  Norton Secure VPN offers VPN protection from a trusted name in security in addition to flexible pricing. That said, it lacks advanced security features and doesn't allow BitTorrent.

Even before the US government opened the gates for internet service providers (ISPs) to sell your information, the big names in antivirus software rightly identified virtual private networks, or VPNs, as the next frontier in security. Symantec's Norton Secure VPN has a strong security pedigree and an affordable, flexible pricing scheme that places it well within impulse-purchase territory. A continued aversion to BitTorrent and a dearth of advanced features may limit its attractiveness to some, however.

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What Is a VPN?

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When you switch it on, a VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server controlled by the VPN company. Your data enters the tunnel, which keeps it secure from anyone snooping around on your network. Out on the web, anyone watching your movements will see the IP address of the VPN server, not your real IP address. That's another layer of security.

Your Internet Service Provider can now sell anonymized information about your online activities. Personally, that's more than I can stomach. A VPN keeps your ISP in the dark and it also ensures that your online activities are harder to monitor.

Pricing and Features

Norton lets you choose a subscription that refreshes monthly or annually, with a discount for the longer of the two. You can also choose a plan that covers one, five, or 10 devices. Five is the industry average for the number of devices included in a subscription. I appreciate this level of flexibility, since it lets customers tailor the offering to their needs.

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Monthly plans start at $4.99 for one device, $7.99 for five devices, and $9.99 for 10 devices. Annual plans start at $39.99 for one device or five devices (that's right, both plans cost the same), and $59.99 for 10 devices. That sounds like an incredible deal, but note that annual plan pricing changes after the first year. Once that passes you'll pay $49.99 for one device per year, $79.99 per year for five devices, and $99.99 per year for 10 devices. Monthly plans do not change after the first year.

When I review VPNs, I focus on the monthly pricing for comparison. Through that lens, Norton Secure VPN compares quite favorably. As of this writing, the average per-month cost of a VPN is about $10.30. NordVPN costs quite a bit more at $11.95 per month, and Private Internet Access VPN costs quite a bit less at $6.95 per month. Both offer excellent features and experiences, and are Editors' Choice winners as a result.

As you may have heard, Norton also sells a few other security tools. Annual add-on bundles are also available to new customers purchasing Norton security products. A subscription to Norton 360 Standard includes Secure VPN for one device, and a Norton 360 Deluxe or Norton 360 With LifeLock Select subscription raises the number of devices to five.

If you decide to go ahead and purchase a subscription with Norton, you'll have a hard time doing so anonymously. Norton only accepts PayPal and major credit cards. Other VPN services, such as TorGuard VPN, will accept anonymous Bitcoin payments and even prepaid gift cards from other merchants, such as Best Buy and Starbucks. TorGuard also offers a host of special add-ons for its subscribers, including access to an extra-fast 10GB network and static IP addresses. Norton Secure VPN has no additional features for sale, but is itself included as an add-on for other Norton products.

VPN Protocols

I prefer VPN services that use the OpenVPN protocol. Not only does it have a reputation for speed and reliability, but its open-source pedigree means that it has been picked over for vulnerabilities.

Norton Secure VPN uses OpenVPN for its Android, macOS, and Windows apps. iOS devices connect via the IPsec protocol, which isn't unusual, as Apple requires iOS VPN apps to jump through approval hoops if they want to include OpenVPN. Still, I'd like to see Norton work to support newer and more secure protocols across all devices.

Norton's Servers and Server Locations

Norton offers VPN servers in 73 locations in 29 countries. If a VPN company has a diverse offering of server locations, you can be assured that no matter where you go, you'll find a server nearby for better performance. It also means you have several locations to choose from when spoofing your location.

The number of countries in which a VPN company operates can vary greatly. NordVPN, for example, covers 62 countries, Private Internet Access is in 53 countries, and ExpressVPN offers servers in 94 countries. By comparison, Norton Secure VPN's offering is on the low side, but does cover effectively span the globe. I'd still like to see Norton offer more coverage for Africa and South America, specifically. Norton also does not provide VPN servers in China, Russia, or Vietnam—three areas with particularly repressive internet policies. It does offer servers in Turkey, however.

As for the number of servers, Norton offers some 1,500 in total. That's pretty good and more than much of the competition. Note, though, that NordVPN well over 5,200 servers, while CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and TorGuard all have over 3,000 servers. Most VPN companies spin servers up and down as necessary, but more servers means you're less likely to encounter an overstuffed server.

Some VPN companies rely heavily on virtual servers. These are software-defined servers, meaning that several virtual servers can be running on one physical machine. Virtual servers can also be configured to appear as if they are in a country other than where their physical host is located. That can be an issue if you're concerned about the specific locations through which your data travels. Norton Secure VPN also relies heavily on virtualization, with 1,200 of its 1,500 servers being virtual. However, all virtual servers are located within the country listed; they do what they say on the tin.

Your Privacy With Norton Secure VPN

When you use a VPN, you're effectively granting them access to everything you do online. That's fine if your VPN company is a good actor, but that's not always the case. Norton Secure VPN, however, has a strong pedigree, coming as it does from an established name in the security industry.

That pedigree is backed up by good privacy protections for customers. VPN companies outline what information they collect and why in their privacy policies. Norton has many services, but provides a privacy policy specific to its VPN product. It's short and easy to read, which I appreciate. It also covers every single Norton product, which, while a bit overwhelming, is undeniably comprehensive.

Many readers have questions about how much information VPN services can collect from users, and the answer varies from company to company. A Norton representative told me, 'Norton Secure VPN does not log information about where you go on the internet.' The service does look at aggregate bandwidth usage. Importantly, Norton told me that the company does not make money from sources other than subscriptions. That's good, as less scrupulous companies could sell your personal information for a tidy profit.

The policy is very clear that the company retains very little information:

During the use of Norton Secure VPN, we route the user's internet traffic through Symantec's network, which is a 'No Log' network. This means that Symantec does not store the user's originating IP address when connected to Norton Secure VPN and therefore Symantec cannot identify individuals. Symantec's automated rule-based traffic management may require real-time analysis of internet data traffic, including destination websites or IP addresses and originating IP addresses, though no log is maintained regarding this information. Symantec does not store information about the applications, services, or websites which the user downloads, uses, or visits.

The company does, however, collect anonymized information relevant for research, which is outlined in the privacy policy.

Depending on where a VPN company is based, it may be subject to mandatory data retention laws. Norton, which is owned by Symantec, is based in Mountain View, California. The US currently does not have any laws that require VPN companies to collect or maintain user information, so that's one less thing to worry about. Norton says that were it to receive an order from law enforcement to hand over user activities, it could not.

Many VPN companies engage in third-party evaluations to ensure that there are no vulnerabilities that can be exploited. TunnelBear has publicly released its second annual report, while NordVPN and AnchorFree Hotspot Shield have completed evaluations that cannot be fully shared publicly. Norton has confirmed that it has also undergone third-party evaluations, but cannot share the results. Norton has not participated in the Center for Democracy and Technology's VPN questionnaire, but has provided me with much of the same information.

I prefer that the results of such audits be shared as publicly as possible and question the utility of reports that are kept secret, but approve of the direction VPN companies appear to be heading.

Hands On With Norton Secure VPN

I had no trouble installing Norton Secure VPN on my Lenovo ThinkPad T460s laptop running Windows 10. It took just a few minutes to install and set up and was ready to work immediately out of the box.

Most VPN companies have opted to create an app that stands apart from the operating system, as any other app would. The Norton Secure VPN app, however, is anchored to the System Tray. That's a little annoying for me, as someone who needs to fiddle with every possible setting, but most people will probably leave their VPN out of sight and out of mind.

Norton Secure VPN wants to keep your VPN protection active—so much so that I had trouble finding how to switch it off. It turns out you toggle the switch at the bottom of the screen, which I had mistaken for a connection setting. Nudging users towards better security is a good thing, but I don't care for apps whose tools aren't immediately understandable.

Given Norton's security pedigree, I hoped to see the company's VPN packed with advanced features. That's not the case. Aside from the option to connect automatically and to launch the app on startup, the Norton Secure VPN app has nothing more to offer. There isn't even an option to change your VPN protocol, though I suspect most users won't miss this or other wonky options. Norton Secure VPN is meant to be installed and for the most part ignored, and that's going to be fine for most people.

A Norton representative told me that the company offers specialized servers for video streaming and unblocking content. I couldn't find any way to connect with those servers, unfortunately. In fact, the Secure VPN app won't let you drill down to select specific servers, a feature found with the best VPN services. Again, I suspect this is because of an emphasis on simplicity.

NordVPN, on the other hand, has a host of specially configured servers for streaming video or connecting to the Tor anonymization network. It also features a large map on its app, that invites clicking and exploration. TunnelBear opts for bright colors and powerful bears to liven up its app. Norton is very much on the other end of the spectrum in terms of design.

A danger when using a VPN is that it might leak your true IP address or DNS information. In my testing I confirmed that Norton Secure VPN hid my IP (and by extension, my ISP). The DNS Leak Test tool showed that Norton successfully hid my DNS information as well.

Norton Secure VPN and Netflix

Netflix in the US isn't the same as Netflix in the UK, or any other country for that matter. The content that's available is dictated by deals cut by Netflix, and sometimes that means content will be available in one country and not another. As a result, Netflix and VPN companies are locked in a cat-and-mouse game, with Netflix blocking VPN users and VPN companies finding ways around the blockade.

Fortunately for Norton, Secure VPN had no trouble with Netflix. I was able to stream from Netflix while connected to a US VPN server without issue. Your mileage, however, may vary.

Beyond VPN

In addition to its VPN protection, Norton Secure VPN also blocks ad trackers. These are used by advertisers to track your movement across the web. It does not, however, appear to block ads wholesale. It's also not a configurable tool, unlike the TunnelBear Blocker browser plug-in, which lets users decide what they want blocked.

If you're keen on file sharing, Norton probably isn't for you. While most VPN services, such as NordVPN, allow BitTorrent and P2P services on specific servers, Norton has a blanket ban. If you're keen on the torrenting, consider TorGuard VPN. This product is made with file sharing in mind, offering a high-bandwidth network and static IP addresses for sale.

Speed Test Results

When I test VPNs, I compare speed test results from Ookla with the VPN active to results without the VPN active. For an exhaustive look at how I test VPNs, read my aptly titled feature How We Test VPNs.

See How We Test VPNs

(Editors' Note: Speedtest by Ookla is owned by j2 Global, the parent company of PCMag's publisher, Ziff Davis.)

My testing found that Norton Secure VPN increased latency by a mere 25 percent. I also found that it reduced download speeds by 83.6 percent, and upload speeds by 76.7 percent. All of these results were below the median average in each category.

You can see how Norton Secure VPN compares in the chart below with the top ten performers among the over 30 services we tested.

The results show that HideIPVPN is the fastest VPN I've tested so far. Keep in mine that I always warn against choosing a VPN solely for its speed test results. The available features, overall value, and dedication to customer privacy are all vastly more important.

Norton Secure VPN on Other Platforms

In addition to the Windows app reviewed here, Norton has Secure VPN apps available for Android, iOS, and macOS. That should cover just about all your devices. Notably, Norton does not offer browser plug-ins, which let you spoof your location for just your browser traffic. The company also does not provide client software for streaming devices, nor does it have instructions on how to configure your router to use a VPN. Those are fringe scenarios, but could be deal breakers for some consumers.

A Reasonable VPN Choice

Just about everyone needs a VPN, and Norton Secure VPN makes a strong case for itself with flexible and affordable pricing options. Including bundles for the company's popular antivirus software doesn't hurt, either. The service certainly lacks the bells and whistles of competitors, but its set-and-forget approach is probably a great match for existing Norton customers. If that sounds like you, give Norton Secure VPN a whirl. We still recommend our Editors' Choice winners, which offer a little bit more of everything: NordVPN offers more servers and features, Private Internet Access and ProtonVPN both offer more for less, and TunnelBear matches Norton for features but excels with charm and friendly design.

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Symantec Norton Secure VPN

Bottom Line: Norton Secure VPN offers VPN protection from a trusted name in security in addition to flexible pricing. That said, it lacks advanced security features and doesn't allow BitTorrent.

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Stuck without a data connection on the road? Free public Wi-Fi is one of those little luxuries that can make travelling easier, but you do need to exercise caution in how you use it.

Here are some tips on what to look out for when using public Wi-Fi, whether you use a laptop, smartphone or tablet.

Choose your network wisely

Tempted to connect to that elusive 'Free Wi-Fi' hotspot? It's worth doing your homework before selecting any network that's open or not familiar to you. For example, if you're in a coffee shop or public library, make sure to verify the name of the network with staff or on signage before connecting.

It's pretty easy for someone who wants to intercept your data in a man-in-the-middle attack to set up a network called 'Free Wi-Fi' or any other variation that includes a nearby venue name, to make you think it's a legitimate source.

If you are connecting via Windows, make sure to turn off file sharing and mark the Wi-Fi connection as a public network. You can find this option in the Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change Advanced Sharing Settings. Under the Public heading, turn off the file sharing toggle. You may also want to turn on the Windows Firewall when connecting to a public network if it's not already activated. These settings are also found in Control Panel > Windows Firewall.

On Mac, open up System Preferences and navigate to the Sharing icon. Then, untick the checkbox next to File Sharing. Here's a full rundown on how to disable sharing and removing public home folder sharing options in OS X.

You can also turn on the firewall within OS X by heading to System Preferences, Security & Privacy and click the Firewall tab.

Use a VPN

Creating a virtual private network (VPN) is one of the best ways to keep your browsing session under wraps. A VPN client encrypts traffic between your device and the VPN server, which means it's much more difficult for a would-be intruder to sniff your data.

If you don't already have a VPN set up through your employer or workplace, there are other options available. One free implementation is SecurityKISS which offers ad-free VPN access with data limited to 300MB/day. That's plenty of scope for checking email, looking at maps and other casual Wi-Fi uses.

CyberGhost is another option that offers a free tier, but also has a paid version that boosts speed.

For detailed instructions, here's how to set up a VPN on an iOS device and on Android.

There are many other VPN services available, including paid and free options. It's worth doing your research to work out which is best for your needs, especially if you are a heavy-duty user.

Disconnect.me helps to protect against session hijacking via browser extensions for Chrome, Opera and Safari, but on the VPN front it also offers a standalone Android app called Secure Wireless that automatically detects unsecured Wi-Fi and activates a VPN where needed.

Check for HTTPS

Like the old saying goes, check for the lock in your browser to make sure it's secure. One way you can force your browser to use HTTPS is through an extension, such as HTTPS Everywhere. This is available for Chrome, Firefox, Firefox for Android, and Opera.

It's important to note that HTTPS Everywhere works by activating encryption on all supported parts of the website. As outlined in its FAQ:

'HTTPS Everywhere depends entirely on the security features of the individual web sites that you use; it activates those security features, but it can't create them if they don't already exist. If you use a site not supported by HTTPS Everywhere or a site that provides some information in an insecure way, HTTPS Everywhere can't provide additional protection for your use of that site.'

Patch it up, check your apps

It's time to start forming some good patching habits. Keep your browser and internet-connected devices up to date with the latest versions, but make sure to do this on a trusted home or work network -- not on public Wi-Fi.

There have been instances of travelers being caught off guard when connecting to public or hotel Wi-Fi networks when their device prompts them to update a software package. If accepted by the user, malware was installed on the machine.

Also, if you're on a mobile device, don't assume that your apps are automatically secure or using HTTPS. Unless outlined by the app developer, it's safest to presume that the app is not conducting a secure transaction. In this case, you should use your browser to log on to the service, and check for a HTTPS connection in the status bar.

Enable two-factor authentication

It's good practice to enable two-factor authentication on services that support it, such as Gmail, Twitter and Facebook. This way, even if someone does manage to sniff out your password when on public Wi-Fi, you have an added layer of protection.

On the topic of passwords, try not to use the same password across multiple services. There are plenty of password managers available to make your life easier -- here are six of our favorites.

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Forget the network

Once you are all done with your Web browsing, make sure to log off any services you were signed into. Then, tell your device to forget the network. This means that your phone or PC won't automatically connect again to the network if you're in range.

In Windows, you can uncheck the 'Connect Automatically' checkbox next to the network name before you connect, or head to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center and click on the network name. Click on 'Wireless Properties' and then uncheck 'Connect automatically when this network is in range.'

On Mac, head to System Preferences, go to Network, and under the Wi-Fi section click Advanced. Then uncheck 'Remember networks this computer has joined.' You can also individually remove networks by selecting the name and pressing the minus button underneath.

In Android, you can do this by entering into your Wi-Fi network list, long press the network name and select 'Forget Network.' On iOS, head to Settings, select Wi-Fi networks, click the 'i' icon next to the network name and choose 'Forget This Network.' As an extra precaution, you should also turn on 'Ask To Join Networks' which is also found in the Wi-Fi networks menu.

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Finally, be very careful with what you do on public unsecured Wi-Fi. It's best to save that Internet banking session for when you're able to connect via cellular data, or on a secure network.

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Editors' Note:This post was originally published August 20, 2014, and has been updated.