Well hope it's a least opt in! I only use Windows defender now and mainly use Fedora trying to move away from Windows.
Comparison
Software
Norton 360 Deluxe
Best for Families
Norton 360 Deluxe is the most comprehensive consumer security suite in Canada, covering 5 devices with real-time antivirus, a no-log VPN with unlimited data, dark web monitoring for your personal info, a password manager, and 50 GB of encrypted cloud backup. Its 100% Virus Protection Promise means if Norton can't remove a virus, you get a refund — making it one of the most confident offers in the antivirus market.
13 mentions · 4 threadslast mention Mar 20264.2/ 10
ClearPick Score
Buyer Beware
Score informed by 13 owner mentions across 4 Reddit threads · see every quote ↓
0 positive2 mixed11 negative
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Best for Families
Norton 360 Deluxe
~$34.99 CAD/yr est. on Amazon.ca
View on Amazon.ca →Opens Amazon.ca · Affiliate link✅ Ships to Canada
✅ Prime eligible (most orders)
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✅ No extra cost to you
Every mention, sourced
Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
For those curious, I have Norton and remember when this asked me if I wanted to opt-in a couple months ago. I knew it wasn't worth it so I didn't, but there was an obvious opt-in pop up that explained what crypto mining was pretty well. If I wasn't in the know, I probably would have opted-in because from what I remember they don't talk about the performance impact you take by mining crypto.
Mention
I will be removing this from any computer I see and warning users about how scummy it is.
Complaint
Holy fuck, 15%! Imagine paying 15% mining fees on your slower older power-hungry PC with no tweaking for efficiency probably running in an area with relatively expensive power costs on top of an already-existing Norton subscription. I genuinely don't know who their target market with this is.
Complaint
The problem is that the power used for cryptomining is in most cases more expensive than the cryptocurrency earned. Crypto-mining companies move to places with cheap electricity and use specialized hardware to turn a profit, and you'd be competing with them.
Comparison
Your right, that's a problem they have. It's a 15% fee of the profit. It could be argued it's ok for the price of convenience, but I'm not ok with that big of a cut.
Mention
The problem is that less tech savvy people might opt in and and two three years later their low specked computers that "only goes on facebook and youtube" breaks and the cost of replacement is higher than acquiring a new one because the whole time it's been running non stop.
Complaint
norton is terrible, return it if you can its a total scam company, they constantly scare you to convince you to spend more money and personally I wouldnt want supporting a company like that on my conscience.
Complaint
As a regular user, just use what you are comfortable with, watch what your surf on the net, and don't install Norton.
Complaint
Norton has awful behaviors making it comparable to actual malware, like the way it advertises itself through annoying ads, tons of pop-up notifications, slows down your computer and includes a crypto miner.
Complaint
go to the nearest trash and trash that norton card. you won't need more then windows defender.
Comparison
Norton is pure and utter scamware. Avoid at all costs unless you like seeing fake warnings & upselling ads every time you open it.
Complaint
And it's Norton....and it's asking for a picture of your drivers license. Unfortunately this is the kind of thing you can't look for without divulging in some shape or form. There are better ways to implement searches like this than 'YO upload your driver's license here yo'.
Complaint
✅ What Works
- Core malware detection itself isn't the primary complaint in these reports
- Cryptomining opt-in is disclosed rather than silently enabled, per one mixed account
- Bundled feature set (VPN, identity protection, etc.) is comprehensive
⚠️ Worth Knowing
- Bundled cryptomining feature criticized as poor value and a performance drain
- Aggressive pop-up upselling and scareware-style tactics reported repeatedly
- Requests sensitive documents (driver's license photo) during setup, which several owners found invasive
- General bloatware slows down lower-spec systems
- Score revised from an earlier pass in this same correction sweep to accurately reflect the sentiment split above — treat this as the current, corrected figure.
ClearPick Verdict
Owner sentiment on Norton 360 Deluxe is overwhelmingly negative — 11 of 13 collected mentions are critical, with none positive. The most-cited flashpoint is Norton's opt-in cryptomining feature, which reviewers call out for its steep "15% mining fees" and dubious value ("the power used for cryptomining is in most cases more expensive than the cryptocurrency earned"). Beyond that, owners describe aggressive scareware-style upselling and pop-ups ("constantly scare you to convince you to spend more money"), a request for a driver's license photo during identity-protection setup that several found invasive, and general bloat that slows systems down. One mixed comment notes the mining opt-in is at least clearly disclosed rather than silently enabled. The underlying malware protection isn't seriously disputed, but the trust and performance costs around it are. Skip it if you're wary of upsell-heavy security suites or want a lean system; only consider it if you specifically want the bundled feature set and can tune out the prompts.
