Will Norton Block Secret Downloads?

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I am a bit concerned, although it’s probably just my anxiety, that websites may have downloaded something to my computer without my knowledge and sent it to a secret place. Will my Norton block those things? If not, how would I search for new downloads?

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  • Your paranoia is founded in reality, due to the bewildering technical nature of computers and Internet communications. More people should be worried and take all available measures to counter act this snooping…but they likely won’t.

    The browser is the main conduit into the system, and you start with “cookie” control.
    “1st party” cookie assets are from the site you ask the browser to ‘fetch’. They are usually helpful, usually harmless and are often required to view and interact with the site.
    It’s actually better to keep these oft’ visited site cookies, because they save your site settings, preferences, log-in’s, ‘wish lists’, and so on.
    You may want to exclude them from cleaning with any utilities, like Glary Utilities, CCleaner, or clearing “when browser closes” (a browser setting).
    This strategy does have certain security implications, which can be convoluted. Analyze your entire threat landscape to make the best judgment.

    Your browser simultaneously (and unless modified) automatically fetches “3rd party” cookie assets. These components are not from the primary site, but from remote servers; these are normally associated with advertising and tracking your habits (the ‘spying’ you worry about).
    Because there can never be any certainty about what exactly is being returned, you should stop those 3rd party ‘assets’ from even getting inside your system in the first place; then fall back to removal tactics with a ‘scrubber’, such as “CCleaner” or “Glary Utilities” (for the less evil ‘stuff’); and a malware remover such as “MalwareBytes” http://www.malwarebytes.org/ for the really bad stuff.
    (See GRC for simple diagrams on how browsers fetch and display 1st and 3rd party ‘assets’; https://www.grc.com/cookies/operation.ht…

    Start by getting Firefox as your default browser & use it for everyday surfing; fall back to IE only for “last resort” viewing of substandard websites & Windows updates.
    The following mods help, but methods (vectors) constantly change.
    FIREFOX: Tools> Options> Privacy> top-slot, drop menu; tick “Firefox will use custom settings…”> Check ‘Accept Cookies from sites’
    & ►► Un-Check ‘Accept 3rd Party cookies’
    My recommended Firefox Collection, for improved security, and a tad bit of ‘appearance’ mod’s.
    https://addons.mozilla.org/collections/d… which includes flash cookie blocker.
    ►► At minimum get “NoScript” which blocks scripted assets (and tons of leverage vectors) until you specifically allow them.

    IE does not have exceptional “3rd party” blocking or control of anything really, and should not be used for any browsing. Use at your own risk.
    After you get set up, evaluate your browser’s cookie ‘asset’ handling, what info may be ‘leaking’, etc., go here:
    http://www.grc.com/cookies/forensics.htm

    I can’t say what Norton does or doesn’t do…I use Linux and don’t use that stuff.

  • Sure, Norton blocks any attempts to secretly download or install software.

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