Norton 360 for Gamers Review (2025): Is it the right choice?

Full Review

Norton is ranked #1 of the 28 best antivirus of 2025.

Norton 360 offers robust security features that stand out from competitors. Even the basic plan, Norton Antivirus Plus, includes an advanced anti-malware engine, firewall, anti-phishing tools, password manager, 2 GB of cloud storage, and a 100% Virus Protection Promise, ensuring a refund if a virus can’t be removed.

Upgrading to Norton 360 Deluxe adds parental controls with School Time, a no-limit VPN, dark web monitoring, webcam protection, a privacy monitor, and 50 GB of cloud storage. Norton 360 for Gamers is nearly identical to Deluxe, but includes the Game Optimizer, which automatically detects when you’re gaming and lowers resource-intensive programs.

All of Norton’s plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Anti-malware

Norton’s malware scanner is among the best, using a vast malware database, heuristic analysis, and machine learning to detect various threats. In our testing, Norton’s full system scan caught 100% of the 1,200 malware samples, including viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, and zero-day attacks—matching top competitors like Bitdefender, McAfee, and Avast.

Norton’s real-time protection is equally effective, blocking malware in plain, zipped, and encrypted formats before they could infect the system. The full scan took just 38 minutes, faster than most competitors, and Norton Insight can further reduce scan times by whitelisting safe files.

Users can choose from several scan options, including quick, custom, and smart scans, with the ability to schedule them. Norton also automatically suppresses notifications and scans when using full-screen apps, making it ideal for gamers.

Overall, Norton’s malware protection is comprehensive, fast, and highly effective without impacting system performance.

Anti-phishing

Norton’s Safe Web browser extension offers strong anti-phishing protection, blocking most phishing sites, even those missed by browsers like Chrome. Available on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, it provides detailed reports on flagged websites and community reviews. You can also check any site’s safety rating directly from the Safe Web dashboard, offering transparency and additional insight.

The Safe Search engine provides color-coded ratings (green for safe, orange for caution, and red for dangerous), but its accuracy is inconsistent. In testing, it often misclassified safe websites or left them untested, and the color-coding feature had some issues on desktop, particularly with browsers other than Edge.

Norton Link Guard, a feature integrated into Safe Web, adds an extra layer of security by monitoring links on social media and webmail, alerting users to unsafe content. This is particularly useful for avoiding phishing attempts via shared links.

Overall, Norton’s Safe Web offers excellent anti-phishing protection, though the Safe Search tool could be more reliable.

Firewall

Norton’s Smart Firewall offers advanced protection far superior to the default firewalls in Windows and macOS. It safeguards against ARP and DNS spoofing, SSL man-in-the-middle attacks, and unauthorized port access, while providing extensive customization options for advanced users—more so than competitors like McAfee.

In our testing, Norton’s firewall detected every network intrusion, even those missed by the Windows firewall. It also placed network ports in Stealth mode, making them invisible to potential hackers, which is a significant security advantage.

The firewall allows users to set access rules for individual programs and manage traffic for built-in Windows services like Remote Desktop and Network Discovery. For most users, the default settings provide strong protection without the need for adjustments.

Norton also monitors 136 uncommon network protocols that malware could exploit, notifying users of any suspicious activity.

Overall, Norton’s Smart Firewall is highly effective, blocking all tested intrusions and offering deep customization for those who need it.

Password manager

Norton’s password manager stands out among antivirus offerings with strong features like 256-bit AES encryption, unlimited storage, and multi-device synchronization across PCs, Macs, Android, and iOS. It includes auto-save, auto-fill, a password generator, and vault auditing, which identifies weak, reused, or outdated passwords.

The setup is straightforward, allowing imports from other password managers and offering seamless autofill functionality. Norton also offers biometric logins on mobile devices and two-factor authentication (2FA) for additional security, although 2FA is tied to the Norton account, not the password manager itself.

However, recovery options are limited. If you lose your master password, you can only recover it using biometrics (if previously enabled) or the recovery key. Without these, your only option is to delete and recreate the vault.

While it lacks features like emergency access or more flexible recovery options found in standalone apps like LastPass, Norton’s password manager is a top choice for antivirus-integrated solutions, offering robust security and ease of use, and it’s completely free.

VPN

Norton Secure VPN is one of the best VPNs bundled with an antivirus in 2025, offering unlimited browsing data even on its lowest-tier plans—unlike many competitors, which restrict data on cheaper plans.

It provides strong security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch (Windows and Android only), a no-logs policy, and split-tunneling (also Windows and Android only).

Norton also offers Wi-Fi security, an ad blocker, and its own Mimic protocol, which obfuscates VPN traffic to bypass restrictions and reduce throttling.

Norton’s VPN has over 2,000 servers in 29 countries, which is sufficient for most users, though smaller than standalone services like NordVPN or Surfshark.

It supports streaming on platforms like Netflix, Max, and BBC iPlayer but doesn’t work with Disney+. Speed-wise, while slower than some competitors, it still performs well enough for HD streaming and general browsing. However, its long-distance connections, such as from the US to Europe, can cause noticeable delays.

Torrenting is supported but only on dedicated servers via Norton’s standalone VPN app. This restricts P2P traffic to servers in the Netherlands, which may affect speeds for users outside Europe.

Norton Secure VPN is included in the Standard, Deluxe, and LifeLock plans, supporting 1, 5, and 10 devices, respectively. While not as feature-rich or fast as standalone VPNs, Norton’s VPN provides solid encrypted access, a user-friendly interface, and unlimited data, making it one of the best antivirus-bundled VPNs available.

Other security features

Norton 360 offers a wealth of additional features aimed at optimizing system performance, protecting privacy, and enhancing security. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most valuable tools included in the package:

Private Browser

Norton’s Private Browser is a free Chromium-based browser available for Windows and Mac. While it consolidates many of Norton’s security features, it doesn’t stand out for advanced users who could achieve similar results using browser extensions. Key features include:

• Privacy Guard: Blocks ads and trackers, although not all ads were successfully blocked in testing.
• Web Shield: Detects and blocks malicious websites in real time.
• Extension Guard: Flags potentially harmful browser extensions, though the blocking seemed inconsistent.
• Privacy Cleaner: Clears cookies, browsing history, and cached data, simplifying Chrome’s built-in features.
• Video Downloader: Allows video and audio downloads from non-YouTube sites.
• Coupons (US only): Helps find online shopping deals.

While useful for beginners, it doesn’t offer much beyond what can be achieved with a standard browser and extensions.

Data Protector

Norton’s Data Protector is a strong defense against ransomware. It blocks ransomware attacks before they can encrypt files and allows users to customize which files and folders to protect. During testing, it successfully blocked all ransomware attacks, even those whitelisted for testing purposes. This feature is highly effective and offers excellent detection rates.

Parental Controls

Norton’s Parental Controls are among the best available, providing comprehensive monitoring and control over children’s online activities. Available for Windows, iOS, and Android, key features include:

• Accurate web and app content filtering.
• App blocking and screen time management.
• Monitoring YouTube activity and search engine queries.
• Location tracking for mobile devices.
• “School Time” mode to restrict non-educational content during school hours.

The ability to monitor unlimited devices makes Norton ideal for large families. However, the controls don’t work on Macs or Chromebooks, and tech-savvy kids may find ways to bypass them on Windows.

Privacy Monitor

Norton’s Privacy Monitor helps users remove their personally identifiable information (PII) from data brokers. It scans 19 different broker sites, compiling those that have your data, and allows you to request removal manually or via a paid assistant service. This feature works well and simplifies a tedious process, although it’s similar to offerings from competitors like McAfee.

Device Optimization

Norton’s default device optimization tools are basic but effective for routine maintenance. Features include:

• Optimize Disk: Defragments hard drives.
• File Cleanup: Removes temporary system and browser files.
• Startup Manager: Controls which programs run on startup.
• Graphs: Provides a timeline of important system activities.

The Utilities Ultimate upgrade offers more advanced cleaning, including real-time browser and system junk file removal, and more customization options.

Utilities Ultimate

Norton’s Utilities Ultimate provides automatic system cleanup and optimization tools that can significantly improve your PC’s performance. Key features include:

• Process Manager: View and close background apps for better performance, functioning like an enhanced Task Manager.
• System Junk Cleaner: Removes broken registry items, shortcuts, and junk files to boost speed.
• Uninstaller: Simulate or manually uninstall apps easily, offering a more user-friendly alternative to Windows’ default uninstaller.
• Disk Optimizer: Automates disk cleanup to prevent bloated files from slowing down your computer.
• Data Recovery & Shredder: Recover deleted files or permanently delete them.
• NetBooster: Optimizes internet settings to improve video streaming, downloads, and gaming.
• RAM Reclaimer: Frees up additional RAM to enhance system speed.

While Norton’s built-in tools are good, Utilities Ultimate offers an upgrade for users seeking peak performance, though it’s only available as a paid add-on with most plans.

Dark Web Monitoring

Norton’s Dark Web Monitoring scans dark web forums and breach databases for leaked personal data. Available in 30+ countries, it monitors a wide array of information such as bank account numbers, credit card details, addresses, and more. Norton stands out by using live agents to infiltrate dark web forums, providing insights that automated tools may miss. If your data is found, Norton notifies you with instructions on how to protect your identity.

LifeLock Identity Theft Protection

Norton’s LifeLock service, available in select countries (primarily the US), offers comprehensive identity theft protection. Features include:

• Credit Report Monitoring from TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax.
• Live Identity Recovery Assistance and legal help for identity theft victims.
• Credit Freezing and monitoring of social security, 401k, and court records.
• Insurance Protection with up to $1M in payouts for identity theft-related damages and legal fees.

While LifeLock is top-tier, its availability is limited, and additional family members incur extra costs.

Driver Updater

Norton’s Driver Updater scans your system for outdated drivers and updates them with one click. It uses a database of over 50 million malware-free drivers, ensuring compatibility and security. It also includes a driver backup and revert tool to handle any compatibility issues post-update, although the updater works efficiently without needing it often.

Software Updater

The Software Updater automatically checks for and updates outdated programs on your system. It’s easy to use and can handle updates for multiple apps at once without draining system resources. You can also exclude certain programs or enable automatic updates for maximum convenience.

Cloud Backup

Norton’s Cloud Backup is available only for PC users and functions similarly to popular cloud storage services. It allows users to schedule backups, select specific files, and choose between local or cloud backups. Depending on your Norton plan, you get between 2 GB and 500 GB of storage, making it a practical tool for users without other cloud storage solutions.

Additional Features

Norton 360 includes several other notable extras:

• PC SafeCam: Prevents unauthorized remote access to your webcam.
• Spam Filter: Filters out spam emails and allows customization of trusted and blocked addresses.
• AntiTrack (add-on): Blocks online trackers and disguises your digital fingerprint for private browsing.
• Safe Email: Monitors up to 5 email addresses for phishing attempts, scams, and malware (for an extra fee).

Plans and pricing

In the table below are the core products with their features and prices.

The prices shown are from the USA. However, most brands have different prices (and currencies) in other regions. So visit the brand’s website to see the price in our country.

Note that some features, like the identity theft protection features, are accessed through Norton’s website, rather than the app.

Plan description

Norton offers a range of antivirus plans to suit various needs and budgets, from basic coverage to extensive security and identity theft protection. Here’s a quick rundown:

Norton AntiVirus Plus

This basic plan, costing $19.99 / year, offers strong malware protection for one device along with a smart firewall and 2GB of cloud storage. It’s basic but effective for a single device.

Norton 360 Standard

For $39.99 / year, this plan covers one to three devices and adds features like VPN, dark web monitoring, and webcam protection. It’s a great starting point for comprehensive security.

Norton 360 Deluxe

At $49.99 / year, this is Norton’s best-value plan, supporting up to five devices. It includes parental controls, privacy monitor, and a whopping 50GB of cloud storage.

Norton 360 for Gamers

Tailored for gamers, this $44.99 / year plan offers the game booster Norton GO. In our tests, it optimized games noticeably, making it a top pick for gamers.

Norton 360 Premium & Advanced

Available in select countries, these plans provide extra storage and cover up to 10 devices. Priced at $59.99 / year, they’re good if you have multiple devices and lots of data.

Norton 360 with LifeLock Plans (US Only)

These plans combine identity theft protection with robust antivirus features. Starting at $99.99 / year, they provide credit monitoring, legal assistance, and substantial identity theft insurance.

Norton’s plans offer strong antivirus protection with extras like VPN, cloud storage, and identity theft protection in higher-tier plans. However, the subscription model lacks flexibility in adding extra devices. Still, Norton covers a broad range of cybersecurity needs, from basic to premium.

Test score comparison

We conduct in-house anti-malware tests and review the results from AV-Test, a German lab renowned for its objective evaluations. Below is the average of the last 10 AV-Test results for Windows. Their scoring criteria are:

• Protection (1-6): Effectiveness in blocking malware.
• Performance (1-6): Impact on system speed.
• Usability (1-6): Frequency of errors like false alarms.

We calculate a final score using this formula:

Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.

While these results influence our choice of the best antivirus for Windows 11, other factors like privacy and identity protection also play a key role. For a similar analysis for Android or macOS, visit our other comparisons:

• The best antivirus for Android.
• The best antivirus for Mac.

Note: Brands not listed in the table either do not participate in AV-Test trials or are tested too infrequently, such as Surfshark Antivirus.

Source: AV-Test (Last updated: December 2024).

Price comparison

We’ve compared the prices of the top antivirus products for Windows. To make it a fair comparison, we looked at what it would cost us, to protect a  single Windows PC with the most essential features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-phishing (web protection)
• Firewall
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN (no data limit)

A few notes:

• Some brands are missing features, lowering their value for money.
• Prices are second-year prices in the USA, without first-year discounts.
• Prices are rounded up for readability (e.g., $99.99 becomes $100).

Brands have different prices outside the USA. See those on their website.

User reviews

We’ve compared the user reviews of all antivirus brands. We’ve used the scores and review count of TrustPilot, a leading user review platform. 

We consider scores above 4.0 very good. Lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.

Source: TrustPilot. Last Update: December 2024.

Company Profile

Norton is part of the Gen Digital family (NASDAQ: GEN), a global leader in Cyber Safety with a mission to make the digital world safer and more private for everyone.

Gen is a collection of renowned cybersecurity brands that serve over 500 million users in 150 countries. Its portfolio includes Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, and AVG.

Operating from dual headquarters in Tempe, Arizona, and Prague, Czech Republic, Gen brings together cutting-edge AI technology and data analytics to tackle today’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges. 

By consolidating these brands, Gen combines expertise and innovation to address both current and future cybersecurity threats.

How we test antivirus software

At SoftwareLab, we provide thorough and unbiased antivirus reviews to help you make informed cybersecurity decisions. Our comprehensive testing covers all critical aspects of antivirus performance. We assess each product in six key categories, weighted by importance:

For even more details, visit our blog posts on how we test antivirus software.