STACK #190 Aug 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

continued

Norton 360 Premium is a digital download and ongoing subscription service, the first 12 months of which can be purchased to protect one, two, three, or up to five devices. These days, protecting against digital threats isn’t just for computers; phones and tablets can be compromised in many of the same ways. Thankfully, it’s a cinch to install Norton 360

Premium on computers or compatible iOS and Android devices by opting to email a download link (or use a scannable QR code) during setup. Norton 360 works in the background, not using up too many precious system resources, and actively monitors your internet goings- on. Once installed, you can take a tour of the software to be more proactive with its additional features. For instance, an inbuilt secure VPN protects your device on public Wi-Fi networks and automatically selects the nearest region to preserve speed. If you want to manually shift regions, that’s a few clicks away, while the VPN blocks pesky ad trackers by default. Everyday viruses Digital viruses are a type of malware that are typically user-activated. The way to get people to interact with viruses is to fool them into thinking they’re opening a legitimate file, then the virus can self-replicate to other installed programs. This is why up-to-date antivirus software is so important for protecting against accidental interaction with software containing viruses. Contrary to popular belief, protecting Mac and iOS mobile devices is just as important as protecting PCs and Android devices.

password to keep your complex passwords stored and accessible across devices. The final feather in Norton 360 Premium’s cap is Parental Controls (for PCs), which lets you monitor and manage the online activities of

top of this, there’s 100GB of secure cloud backup storage to store a scheduled backup or whatever files you’d like to get off your hard drive but keep online. Handily, Norton 360 Premium also includes a password manager that can generate and store complex passwords for the site portals you visit. It can also be used to analyse your existing logins for password vulnerabilities. Plus you can use your face, fingerprint, or a single master Scammer glossary Adware: Malware that bombards you with ads. Dark web: A somewhat invisible part of the internet, which can only be accessed with specific software. Exploit: Software vulnerabilities that can be hacked by scammers (keep software and OS up to date to avoid). Malware: A combo of ‘malicious’ and ‘software’, this term covers viruses, spyware, ransomware, and other nefarious software. Phishing: Attempts to steal personal information, usually masquerading as a legitimate source. Ransomware: Malware that encrypts device files and demands payment to unlock them.

your kids. Whether you’re after basic malware protection or more in-depth shielding from other cybersecurity threats, Norton 360 Premium is a great peace-of-mind purchase.

360 EXTRAS Norton 360 Premium automatically updates for you, but you can manually activate updates if you’re particularly paranoid, or pop a quick malware scan. You can also customise scans or run a deeper device analysis if you’re worried, and there are plenty of other perks. The software can be used to optimise your device, clean up squatting files taking up precious storage space, and control which applications start with your computer. On

Spam: Unwanted online content, usually email, that may contain links to malware-stuffed sites. Spyware: Malware that discretely observes and

collects data from personal devices. Virus: Malware that infects other files.

62 AUGUST 2020

jbhifi.com.au