Norton Security Update Is Available Now e-mail scam: how to spot it and what to do
It uses the name of a well-known security suite to appear legitimate. The full message reads as follows: Fraudsters use scare tactics to make people click the "Renew Subscription" button.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Norton Security Update Is Available Now e-mail scam: summary
| Distribution | Shady websites; deceptive ads, freeware installations |
|---|---|
| TYPE | Phishing scam; adware |
| SYMPTOMS | Fake pop-up errors, security alerts, antivirus scans appear seemingly out of nowhere |
| DANGERS | Fake system scans can trick people into downloading potentially unwanted programs or even malware |
| Name | Norton Security Update Is Available Now |
| Type | Phishing message |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 8 more facts
| Symptoms | A phishing e-mail asking you to sign in |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Arrives as | |
| Pretends to be | A well-known company |
| Claim | Your account needs urgent attention |
| Asks for | Your password |
| First seen | 12 April 2022 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What the Norton Security Update Is Available Now e-mail scam e-mail looks like
What a phishing e-mail asking you to sign in said
Norton Security 2022 Subscription Update
New update for your Norton 360 Total Protection is available on April 8, 2022.
Update now to protect your computer and prevent it from being susceptible to virus threats.
If your PC is unprotected, it can be exposed to viruses and other malware attacks.
From our report of Apr 2022 · not reviewed since
Distribution methods
Online scams are rarely found through search results.
Most of the time, users stumble upon them, while browsing through other shady websites. Pages that engage in illegal activities are especially dangerous since they are unregulated. Such pages are full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects.
You should avoid clicking on random links and buttons. Think twice before clicking on the big "Download" and "Play" buttons. Make sure they are safe first.
However, sometimes such sites can appear without any user input. This can happen if your browser is hijacked or you have an adware infection.
Apps that get listed there go through an extensive review process. But you still do your research - read the reviews, look at the ratings, and the number of users. It is best to choose those applications that have plenty of positive feedback, and thousands of users.
How to tell the Norton Security Update Is Available Now e-mail scam e-mail is fake
From our report of Apr 2022 · not reviewed since
- "Norton Security Update Is Available Now" is a deceptive message shown by crooks to fool users into providing personal information, downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), and even malware.
- The bogus website then proceeds to redirect users to what seems like an official page of Norton security.
- Using affiliate marketing in such a fraudulent campaign is certainly inappropriate and it is clear that Norton has nothing to do with it.
- Check your browser for malicious extensions; performing a scan with legitimate security tools is recommended
- The Norton Security Update Is Available Now scam might have appeared because your browser is hijacked.
Is Norton Security Update Is Available Now e-mail scam dangerous? What the senders want
From our report of Apr 2022 · not reviewed since
Clean your browsers
Cookies are small pieces of data that are used to include all sorts of settings.
While they can't be malicious by themselves, they can be stolen by third parties and used for malicious purposes. Therefore, security experts advise cleaning web browsers from time to time.
Cookies can store data like your IP address, geolocation, websites you visit, links you click on, and things you purchase online. Use a maintenance tool like to take care of this issue automatically. Besides, this powerful software can fix various system errors, corrupted files, and registry errors, which is especially helpful after a virus infection.
From our report of Apr 2022 · not reviewed since
Norton Security Update Is Available Now is a scam that tries to trick people into thinking their system is in danger
It uses the name of a well-known security suite to appear legitimate.
The full message reads as follows:
Fraudsters use scare tactics to make people click the "Renew Subscription" button. The website also pretends to scan the system by showing a fake animation. It then "determines" that the computer is infected by multiple viruses and is in danger. You should keep in mind that websites are unable to perform any scan of your machine.
That means that crooks might be getting a cut from every customer who clicks on their link and purchases a subscription.
What to do after the Norton Security Update Is Available Now e-mail
If you only received the message and clicked nothing, step 3 is all you need.
If you clicked the link or typed anything on the page it opened, do every step, starting with the password.
Step 1: Change the password you typed on the fake page
If you typed a password on the page the Norton Security Update Is Available Now message opened, assume the sender has it. Go to the real site by typing its address yourself and change the password there, choosing one you have never used.
Change it anywhere else the same password was used, and sign out all other sessions if the service offers it. Any browser on Windows 11 or Windows 10 will do, as long as you do not follow the e-mail's link.
Microsoft account, Security page (account.microsoft.com/security): Change password. Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Step 2: Turn on two-step verification
With two-step verification on, a stolen password alone no longer opens the account, because a sign-in from a new device also needs a code from your phone.
Switch it on for the e-mail account first, then for banking, shopping and social accounts that use that address.
Check the recovery phone, the recovery e-mail and any forwarding rules while you are in the settings, since attackers change them to come back. The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Microsoft account: Manage how I sign in, where two-step verification and the sign-in methods are. Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Step 3: Report the e-mail and delete it
Do not reply and do not click anything else in the message. In Outlook select the e-mail and choose Report > Report phishing; in Gmail open the three-dot menu next to Reply and pick Report phishing.
That trains the filter for everyone on the service, and the message goes to the junk folder. If the e-mail came to a work address, forward it to your IT team as an attachment first.
The steps are the same in the web mail and the mail apps on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web: Report > Report phishing. Full procedure with screenshots: Report a phishing e-mail
Step 4: Scan the PC if you opened a file from the message
A fake sign-in page only steals what you type, so most readers can skip this step. If the Norton Security Update Is Available Now e-mail made you download or open a file, delete it and scan the PC.
In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and then Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now. The offline scan restarts Windows 11 or Windows 10 and takes about 15 minutes.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
From our report of Apr 2022 · not reviewed since
Remove possible browser hijackers
You can learn more about how browser hijackers operate from the articles we wrote about the most recently detected ones, like Gateway-search.net, MySearchConverters, MySearchConverters.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
- Click Safari > Preferences...
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
From our report of Apr 2022 · not reviewed since
The dangers of PUPs
One thing that we did not mention previously is that your machine could be infected by adware which is causing this erratic behavior.
It is a type of PUP (potentially unwanted program) that can generate commercial content on your device. This can be done without any user input.
Adware is most often spread through freeware distribution platforms. They include additional programs in the installers without clearly disclosing it. Usually, people just skip through the installation process to be able to test the new software as soon as possible and this is the biggest mistake.
To avoid PUPs from sneaking into your system, you should apply certain security measures. Always choose the "Custom" or "Advanced" installation methods, read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The most crucial part is to inspect the file list and uncheck the boxes next to any items that seem suspicious or unrelated.
Another thing you should note is the danger of peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms, and torrent websites. They are breeding grounds for all kinds of malware because they are unregulated. The best you can do is get your software from official developer websites. Even though it might get costly, you will most likely save in the long run by keeping your system safe and healthy.
From our report of Apr 2022 · not reviewed since
Scan the system for adware
and are great options because they are proven and trusted anti-malware tools.
They can detect most threats hiding in your machine, and eliminate them completely.
Manual removal can sometimes result in the renewal of infection as users fail to eliminate all the related files that are hidden in various folders. However, if you still want to do this yourself, you can proceed with the guide below:
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
Questions about Norton Security Update Is Available Now e-mail scam
Can reading "Norton Security 2022 Subscription Update" infect my computer?
Reading it cannot. An e-mail is text and pictures, and current versions of Outlook, Gmail and other web mail services do not run code from a message just because you opened it. What can cause harm is an action:
- signing in on the page the link opens
- opening an attachment
- enabling macros in a document
The message "Norton Security 2022 Subscription Update" was built to lead you to one of those steps. If you stopped at reading, delete it and use the report button so the provider can block the same wave for others. Nothing needs to be removed from Windows.
I typed my password after "Norton Security 2022 Subscription Update". What now?
Act within the hour. From another device, open the real site of the account the message "Norton Security 2022 Subscription Update" imitated and change the password. If the same password is used anywhere else, change it there too.
Sign out of all other sessions, check the recovery e-mail and phone number, and look for mail forwarding rules or filters you did not create. Then turn on two-step verification with an authenticator app or a passkey.
If the fake page also asked for a card number or a bank login, call your bank and ask them to block the card. Finally, report the e-mail so others are warned.
Could Norton Security Update Is Available Now be a genuine message?
We checked it, and it is not. A well-known company is only the costume. The message exists to get your password, and real companies handle that inside your account, after you sign in normally, not through links, attachments or phone numbers in a message you did not expect.
Scammers copy logos and footers perfectly, so the design proves nothing. The sender address, the link target and the request are the reliable signs, and all three point to a scam here. Delete it, and if you are worried, check your account directly.
Why does Norton Security Update Is Available Now say that your account needs urgent attention?
Because that story works. A problem that needs fixing, a deadline and a simple solution make people act before they check.
The claim that your account needs urgent attention is the same for everyone who received Norton Security Update Is Available Now; it was written once and sent in bulk. Nothing about your own situation triggered it.
If you are unsure, look at the real account or service the normal way, without using the message. The claim will not be there, which settles the question. Then report the message.
What does Norton Security Update Is Available Now want from me?
In the end, your password. Everything else in Norton Security Update Is Available Now, from the logo to the deadline, is there to get you to that point without stopping to think.
Knowing the goal helps you judge your risk. If you did not give it, you lost nothing and can delete the message. If you did, the steps in this guide are ordered by what you handed over:
- passwords first
- then card and bank details
- then documents and anything you installed
- ran
Act on the highest item on that list first.
How do I contact the real a well-known company?
Not through anything in Norton Security Update Is Available Now. Type the official website address into the browser yourself, use the app you already have, or use the phone number printed on your card, contract or a previous genuine invoice.
Search results can be risky too, because scammers buy ads for support numbers. Once you reach the real a well-known company, you can ask whether there is any problem with your account and report the scam message; many companies have a dedicated address for phishing reports on their security page.
I entered my password on the fake page. What should I do?
Change the password on the real site right away, through its own website or app, and sign out of all sessions.
If you use the same password anywhere else, change it there too. Turn on two-step verification with an authenticator app or a passkey. Check the account for changes:
- recovery e-mail
- phone number
- forwarding rules
- recently sent messages
If you can no longer sign in, use the provider's account recovery page. Tell your contacts if the account sent messages in your name.
What should I do first after Norton Security Update Is Available Now?
Secure the account involved. From a device you trust, open the official app or website directly, change the password and sign out of all sessions. Turn on two-step verification with an app or a passkey rather than text messages if the service allows it.
Then check recent activity, linked e-mail addresses and recovery phone numbers for changes you did not make. If an e-mail with the subject "Norton Security 2022 Subscription Update" involved money, call your bank using the number on the back of your card. Only after that look into how it happened.
Does Norton Security Update Is Available Now mean my PC is hacked?
Not necessarily. The sign reported, an e-mail with the subject "Norton Security 2022 Subscription Update", is usually caused by a password that leaked or was phished, not by malware on the PC.
Passwords leak in breaches of other websites and are tried on many services. Still, rule out the PC:
- run a full scan in Windows Security
- check Installed apps for anything you do not recognise
- look at the browser's extensions
If all is clean, the problem lies with the account, and changing the password with two-step verification turned on is the fix.
Will Fortect remove Norton Security Update Is Available Now?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Norton Security Update Is Available Now, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Potentially unwanted program (read October 6, 2026)
- Cmu: Bundled Software and Attack Surface (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: Recognize and report phishing (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Support: Protect yourself from phishing (read October 6, 2026)