Hands-on Review: Norton 360 Platinum with the new Financial Monitoring

Norton has introduced Financial Monitoring to its 360 suite, aiming to give users better control over their finances. Available with Norton 360 Platinum and Norton 360 Advanced, this new feature promises to alert users to unusual activity, subscription price hikes, and more. We explored its capabilities to see how well it delivers on its promises.

What is Financial Monitoring?

Financial Monitoring is Norton's latest addition to its comprehensive suite of security tools. The feature enables users to link their bank accounts, credit cards, and recurring subscriptions within the Norton dashboard. Once connected, the service proactively scans for irregularities, such as unauthorised charges, price changes in subscriptions, or loans taken out in your name.

This innovation arrives just in time for the bustling holiday shopping season, where online transactions surge—and with them, the risks of fraud. As the cost of living continues to strain household budgets, Financial Monitoring seeks to provide peace of mind by offering a single hub to track financial activities.

Setting Up Financial Monitoring

Getting started is straightforward. Users sign in to their Norton account and navigate to the Financial Monitoring tab. Adding financial institutions is seamless, requiring only login credentials for the accounts you want monitored. Customisation options let you set alert thresholds for large purchases, balance transfers, or cash withdrawals. This means you'll receive a notification for anything exceeding your predefined limits.

Removing an account is just as simple. Whether via the Norton dashboard or Member Portal, users can manage their financial connections with a few clicks.

Key Benefits

The standout feature of Financial Monitoring is its ability to alert users in real-time. Here's what it monitors:

• Large Purchases and Cash Withdrawals: Stay informed about high-value transactions.
• Recurring Subscriptions: Get notified of price increases on services you're subscribed to.
• Suspicious Activity: Detects charges or loans you didn't authorise.
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL): Tracks instalment-based purchases for better financial oversight.

The feature not only acts as an early warning system for potential fraud but also as a practical tool to manage everyday finances.

Part of a Larger Ecosystem

Financial Monitoring integrates seamlessly with the robust features of Norton 360 Platinum and Advanced. In addition to protecting financial data, these suites offer a suite of tools:

• Antivirus and Malware Protection: Guards against emerging cyber threats.
• Secure VPN: Adds encryption to ensure safe browsing on public or private networks.
• Dark Web Monitoring: Scans for your personal information on the dark web.
• Parental Controls and SafeCam: Enhances online safety for families.
• Cloud Backup: Protects critical data from loss or ransomware attacks.

Norton 360 Platinum supports up to three devices, while the Advanced plan covers five—perfect for households with multiple gadgets.

Our Experience

Testing Financial Monitoring was an intuitive experience. Adding bank accounts took less than five minutes, and the dashboard displayed a clear overview of our financial activity. Alerts were timely, arriving almost instantly when we simulated a large purchase and a subscription price hike.

Customisable thresholds are a nice touch, ensuring that users aren't overwhelmed by unnecessary notifications. However, it's worth noting that the feature's effectiveness depends on maintaining an up-to-date connection to financial accounts, as periodic reauthentication may be required.

Room for Improvement

While Financial Monitoring is a promising addition, it does come with limitations. Currently, it supports major banks and financial institutions, but smaller credit unions or niche services may not yet be included. Expanding compatibility could make it even more valuable to a wider audience.

Additionally, as with any security tool, users need to trust Norton with their financial credentials. Norton employs strong encryption and privacy protocols, but some users may prefer to keep their financial data separate from their cybersecurity tools.

Conclusion

Financial Monitoring is a thoughtful addition to Norton 360, offering tangible benefits for users who want to safeguard their finances against fraud and overspending. Its seamless integration with the broader Norton ecosystem makes it a valuable upgrade, especially during times of increased online shopping.

For Kiwis looking for a blend of cybersecurity and financial management, Norton 360 Platinum or Advanced with Financial Monitoring is well worth considering. It's not just about protecting your devices anymore; it's about securing your peace of mind.