Norton Safe Web Lite

(Recently became final.)

For Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox only.

Norton Safe Web, from Symantec - Safe Websites | Norton Safe Web Lite

"Norton Safe Web Lite provides a safer search experience by warning you of dangerous Web sites right in your search results, so you can search, browse, and shop online without worry."

It adds one start-up item:

http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/417/weblite3.png

It comes in the form of a non-customisable toolbar:

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/4215/weblite5.png

Norton Safe Search (not seen above) is powered by Ask.com :

http://safeweb.norton.com/images/global/safe_web.gif

 

I couldn't find anything in the EULA stating anything about Ask.com.

I believe they took it back, because their user base complained about it. Anyway, what are your opinions about it? (This question is for everyone using it, willing to share their thoughts.)

 

Coincidentally, I've recently been pondering the subject of Symantec's relationship with Ask(and, presumably IAC also), and have found it difficult
to uncover much detail. e.g.
http://www.symantec.com/about/news/release/article.jsp?prid=20090203_01

It certainly seems SafeSearch uses Ask results, primarily:

http://community.norton.com/t5/Nort...and-Improved/m-p/129849/highlight/true#M65035

The fact that this add-on(lite) is "free" makes one wonder if Norton is
getting same 1-2 dollars per install as stated by Pedersen(post#24) of
Immunet thread:
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=278611

Sure, there's no such thing as a free lunch, but what does Symantec's
connection with Ask really mean?

 

Thank you for those links.

And, yes, you're right; there's no such thing as a free lunch. But, I believe that Symantec decided not to bundle Ask.com anymore, after users started to complain about it. I'm talking about the Norton Safe Web addon in their paid product. I think it was earlier this year. Not sure, though.

Based on what malexus has mentioned (It is a post from June, though. Maybe, back then, Ask.com still was part of Norton Safe Web.), I decided to install Norton Safe Web Lite in a virtual machine, and I haven't seen any mentions about Ask.com or IAC in the EULA.
I guess it should be mentioned if they make use of it, at least in the free add-on.
I haven't search the web back then and see if it would display results given by Ask.com, though. But, if they do, they it should be stated in the EULA, and unless I missed it, I haven't seen any mentions.

 

as far as I can see they removed ask search from their dns server aswell?

 

Can any of you get to see a download link for Norton Safe Web Lite at the link http://safeweb.norton.com/lite ?

I've been just there, but it redirects to http://safeweb.norton.com

No download option. I remember I downloaded it from there, sometime ago.
Has Symantec took it back?

 

Norton DNS uses the Ask.com:

 

I don't think it is DNS.
Look, I did exactly the same error and my result is:



I still can't get that search page...
I think it is that Norton toolbar (I guess Norton Safe Web Lite?) you have is redirecting you to the search page.
try on different browser or with toolbar disabled.

 

here it is.
It has direct link to .exe (http://liveupdate.symantec.com/upgrade/nortonsafeweb_lite/nortonsafeweblite.exe)

 

Odd. I guess that the link showing or not is language dependent. Perhaps, it only shows if it detects that the browser is running English. Now thinking, when I first downloaded it from there, I was running my browser in English.

Thank you

 

Yes, it seems to be language dependent.
If you look at system requirments it states "English" before each OS.

 

Considering that Norton DNS makes use of safeweb reports, what would be the interest in Norton Safe Web Lite?

Norton DNS blocks access to malicious domains, straight away. Norton Safe Web Lite shows ratings, but does it block access as well? If Norton Safe Web Lite only shows ratings, then for sure, it will be better to make use of Norton DNS. Otherwise, imagine you get some link in an e-mail coming from a friend, and this e-mail account has been taken over, you open the link... Norton Safe Web Lite won't block access? But, Norton DNS will. At least, in theory, of course.

Could you shed some lights whether or not it blocks access as well? I can't find any information regarding this doubt I have.

 

According to this page http://nortondns.com/privacy.html, they do partner with Ask.com for Norton DNS.

 

Jav, Looks like you're right, if I turn off Norton protection of Ask.com that message:

 

@m00nbl00d

Unlike the toolbar in NIS2011, Norton Safe Web Lite does not block access to websites.

NSWL is useful for people that want to use a different DNS and people like me, whom are currently stuck with O2 mobile broadband and can't change their DNS.

Also, even though the website would be blocked, I imagine there are some that like to be warned of malicious websites when viewing search engine results.

 

Thank you for letting me know.

It's a bit odd, though. The reason I was wondering is that Browser Defender (from PC Tools, which is part of Symantec from some time now) does have the same ratings as Norton Safe Web, and for what I was told quite some time ago, it does block access to malicious sites. That information was provided by one other user, and that he got from browser defender site back then (https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=1400531&postcount=37).

I don't seem to find this information anymore at www.browserdefender.com, though (http://www.browserdefender.com/help/).

I wonder if Symantec killed this feature? It must have been what happened.