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Symantec retires Norton ConnectSafe (DNS) on November 15, 2018

Computer uses who use Symantec's NortonConnectSafe public DNS service need to switch to another service soon as Symantec announced the shutdown of the service.


Symantec launched Norton DNS back in 2010 and renamed it in 2014 to Norton ConnectSafe. The service was launched at a time when many major Internet companies started to offer public and free DNS services (Google launched Google DNS in 2009).


Symantec promised that its service would make the Internet connection of user's safer, faster and more reliable than default DNS services by ISPs. The service supported multiple DNS IP addresses designed to protect users against malicious Internet traffic and activity and optionally as a blocker for adult content and other non family-friendly content.


Norton ConnectSafe will be shut down on November 15, 2018 for all users. Devices that use Norton ConnectSafe DNS servers will be unable to connect to Internet sites and services starting on that day.


By retiring Norton ConnectSafe, the service will be terminated for use or support. If you are a current user, you can keep using your service through the end of service date November 15th, 2018. After this date ConnectSafe will no longer be available for use.


The company stated that a shift in its "business focus and investment" prompted for the shutdown of Norton ConnectSafe and that it does not offer a direct alternative for consumers.


Symantec published  a support page on the Norton website that provides users with instructions on removing Norton ConnectSafe settings from their devices.


norton connectsafe shutdown


Windows users are asked to run the following operations on their devices:



  1. Open the Start menu.

  2. Type ncpa.cpl and load the result to open the Network Connections control panel applet.

  3. Right-click on any adapter that is enabled and select Properties.

  4. Confirm the UAC prompt if it appears.

  5. Double-click on the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IP) entry.

  6. Switch from "Use the following DNS server addresses" to "Obtain DNS server address automatically"

  7. Click ok.

  8. Repeat the process for any other network connection used on the device and for any other device that you use that runs Windows.


The process switches the DNS server that is used on the device from Symantec's Norton ConnectSafe servers to the servers provided by the Internet Service Provider.


You may switch to another DNS provider such as Open DNS or Cloudflare DNS instead and may want to consider using DNSCrypt on top of that to encrypt DNS traffic.


Now You: Do you use a third-party DNS service?


Ghacks needs you. You can find out how to support us here or support the site directly by becoming a Patreon. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Symantec retires Norton ConnectSafe (DNS) on November 15, 2018 appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

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