Norton adds VPN to its updated 360 Products

Symantec tacitly realigned its Norton range of software, removed some of the old favorites and recruited new talents to offer a broader range to an audience facing multiple security and confidentiality issues.

The change highlights the fact that security is no longer limited to virus protection and marks the real first step in integrating LifeLock, the identity theft protection service that Symantec acquired in 2017 for $2 billion in the security suite.

Norton Antivirus Basic has been replaced by Norton Antivirus Plus. It is essentially the same antivirus, but now includes 2GB of cloud storage. It now costs $39.99 for the first year and $59.99 thereafter, a tenth more than the previous edition. It is also available as a monthly subscription for $5.99.

Norton is the only security provider that currently offers monthly and annual payment options. According to a Symantec spokesperson, this is due to the fact that “customers who connect to mobile platforms [and] expect a monthly price.”

Norton Security Standard and Norton Security Deluxe have become Norton 360 Standard and Norton 360 Deluxe. Both now include VPN and cloud storage as standard and are suitable for individuals or families of up to five people.

Another company favorite, Norton Security Premium, has been replaced by three separate products: Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, Norton 360 with LifeLock Advantage, and Norton 360 with LifeLock Ulitmate Plus.

All three offer the LifeLock Identity Warning System with reimbursement for stolen funds and a variety of alert and monitoring services. The premium version offers protection for an unlimited number of PCs, Macs, smartphones or tablets for $299.99 in the first year.