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Running a desktop or laptop at home without a competent antivirus program installed is like heading outdoors without a mask these days. The threat of being infected with a virus - both of a COVID & Digital nature - is very real because one will never know when they are lurking around the corner.
And how about installing antivirus software for our smartphones? Considering the amount of time spent on our mobile devices, it feels a tad reckless not to do the same. Because with the proliferation of using our phones for everything from ordering food, shopping, transport, working, banking and learning, these online activities also come with the heightened risk of malware, spyware, phishing, and identity theft. Even more so in today's world, no? As a result of the pandemic, most of us have been working from home with our kids having home-based learning lessons more frequently as well. All these means we are using our electronic devices more... which makes it even more crucial that we secure our digital devices and protect our online personal information.
Personally, I have been using Norton's antivirus software for the longest time and I think it is true when I say that Norton is a brand that’s almost synonymous with cybersecurity. But antivirus is only one form of cyber defence because now that I have kids who have their own mobile devices, the levels of threat gets multiplied substantially. In short, the poop just got real. 😅
So, if you have kids who are using electronic devices at home - phones, computers, iPads / tablets - I strongly recommend Norton 360 Deluxe. It is by far my favorite cybersecurity software for keeping my kids and their devices safe.
I won't go into the details of the usual Anti-Spyware, Antivirus, Malware & Ransomware protection that it offers because that is actually standard fare. But what sets Norton 360 Deluxe apart from the rest is its excellent Parental Control feature, which is so easy to implement and monitor the online activities of my kids.
Norton 360 Deluxe Parental Control
Norton Parental Control gives you tools to see what videos they watch, websites they visit, terms they search for, and mobile apps they download, including GPS location monitoring for Android & iOS, content filtering for PCs, and more. Parents can install an app on each monitored device to enforce rules and monitor activity, which can be viewed from a web console as well as apps for Android & iOS.
Getting Started
One thing that caught my attention was the program's ease of use. Norton has definitely streamlined its dashboard over the past years, making it more user-friendly.
The first thing to do when you launch the Parental Control dashboard is to create individual profiles for your kids. To add a child, enter his/her name, select an avatar or upload a profile photo, and specify a restriction level (Low, Moderate, High, and Very High).
As you can see from the table below, the web supervision levels vary for different ages for obvious reasons.
Next, you specify the device on which you want to install Norton Parent Control and follow the corresponding instructions.
Ale has been using the iPad frequently for her Home-Based Learning as well as playing games, so naturally, it was added to her profile.
Setting House Rules
The great thing about Norton Parental Control is your kids will be AWARE of the restrictions being put in place. These restrictions are spelt out clearly in a set of House Rules like "Websites that I visit can be monitored" and "My time on the computer can be restricted", all of which the kids will be able to see and easily understand. This keeps everything transparent and helps to facilitate positive parenting and engage on important topics proactively with our kids.
Web Filtering
The most critical component of all parental control tools is controlling and monitoring the content that our kids are exposed to on the web. This is especially so for young kids.
Norton Parental Control's content filter offers fantastic customization options which range from categories (37 of them!) like abortion, suicide, tobacco, pornography, and drugs. You can also add specific websites to block or allow websites that your child needs to access but are blocked because it falls under one of the categories.
From the 'Activities' tab, you can view a child's most active categories and every site they access, as well as sites that were blocked.
Time Supervision
Not only can you monitor how much time your kids are spending on the devices, you can also dictate the amount of time they can spend on the devices too. The dashboard allows you to block out the hours in a day that the device cannot be used and should they bust their time limit, the device will be locked.
Location
In addition to keeping your kids safe online, Norton Parental Control also allows you to monitor your child's real-time location to ensure he/she is safe. Now that I have 2 teens, this is an extremely useful feature for both the wifey and me because knowing where they are - especially after school hours - will give both of us a peace of mind when we are at work.
Mobile Apps Supervision
Norton Parental Control lets you view which mobile apps your kids have downloaded on their Android devices. In addition, it allows you to record time usage spent on these apps and block them, if necessary. Admittedly, this feature does not work on iOS devices as they come with their own inbuilt function for this purpose.
Search
You can also view a complete list of the things that they searched online.
And should your child attempt to search for inappropriate content, you will be notified.
Speaking of notifications, you can configure them based on your preferences. And you can also create another 'Parent' profile for your spouse.
Now this is probably the most extreme measure to take 😅 but at least know that you are able to instantly lock your child's device should the situation call for it.
Other Features
As mentioned earlier, the entire
Norton 360 Deluxe comes with Anti-Spyware, Antivirus, Malware & Ransomware protection. But in addition to all those - and Parental Control - it is also bundled with cloud storage (PC Cloud Backup), a Password Manager, secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) access, and webcam protection (SafeCam for PC)!
I don't know about you but I currently don’t use VPNs enough to justify paying for it as a separate subscription so it’s cool to have this feature included in the package.
On top of everything, did I mention that I love the interface of the
Norton 360 dashboard?
Everything is laid out in such a clear manner. Want to turn on VPN? Hit that button. Want to back up your data on cloud? Hit that button. Want to see your child's online activities? Hit that button.
Pricing
For ALL of the features mentioned above, how much would you pay for the Norton 360 Deluxe subscription?
I remember just a few years ago, an annual antivirus subscription cost close to $100 and that was for one computer.
And that is good for up to FIVE devices - which means it only costs $1.15 PER MONTH, PER DEVICE!
(There is the
Norton 360 Standard plan which costs $49 per year but that is only for ONE device and does NOT come with Parental Control)
For $69 per year, you get a peace of mind for five devices with the following features:
- Anti-Spyware, Antivirus, Malware & Ransomware Protection
- PC Cloud Backup (75GB)
- Firewall for PC and Mac
- Password Manager
- 100% Virus Protection Promise
- Parental Control
- Secure VPN
- SafeCam for PC
- And the best part, 60-Days Money-Back Guarantee on all Norton plans!
It is super COMPREHENSIVE, if you ask me!
So, is Norton 360 Deluxe the best antivirus software for families?
After using it for close to a month, I have to say YES.
Besides being one of the most easy-to-use and efficient antivirus software on the market, it offers more than just antivirus protection – it is the best all-around one out there currently and gives the best value in terms of the different features it comes with for one pricing.
Above all, it provides parents with a complete parental control solution by having search and site age-appropriateness filters, excellent screen time management, activity monitoring, and the tools needed such as SafeCam for PC, to protect your kids against cyberbullying or web predators.
And the outlay for this peace of mind?
$1.15 per month, per device.
BUT HURRY! The price of $69 PER YEAR for Norton 360 Deluxe won't last forever as it is currently on promotion, so hop over to Norton to make your purchase, or you can just click on the image below!
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