Upgrade for Free
Cybercrime is evolving. So is your protection. *Offer for existing members for the remainder of your subscription. Terms apply.
Run Smart Scan to help keep you Cyber Safe
Applicable for: Windows
Smart Scan helps you identify security, performance, and network issues, and provides solutions to help keep your digital life more secure.
Tips
- Ensure your device remains connected to the Internet when you run the Smart Scan. If your device is not connected to the Internet, Smart Scan is limited to virus and malware scan. In addition, ensure that you do not run any other Norton scan.
- Smart Scan is compatible only on Windows PCs. Go to the System requirements article and select Norton Device Security > Windows to see the up-to-date system requirements.
Run a Smart Scan
-
Open your Norton device security product.
-
On the left pane, click Security.
-
In the Security dashboard, in the Scans tile, click Open.
-
In the Preset scans tab, next to Smart Scan, click Start.
Wait for the viruses and malware scan to complete.
-
If there are items that require attention, review the risks and take appropriate action, and then click Resolve Now/Resolve All.
-
In the Smart Scan wizard, click Next and wait for the Software Updater scan to complete.
-
If there are outdated programs detected, select the programs, and then click Update.
For certain programs, you have to review the state and take appropriate action.
-
In the Smart Scan wizard, click Next and wait for the network scan to complete.
-
If there are items that require attention, review the risks and take appropriate action.
Your options are:
-
Trust This Network
-
Disconnect
-
Enable Secure VPN
-
Open Secure VPN
The options may vary depending on the entitlements of your subscription plan.
-
-
Click Next and wait for the advanced issues scan to complete.
By default, your Norton product uses the personal information from your Norton account to check exposure of your personal information. If we do not have enough of your personal information, your Norton product displays the Edit Your Info option. Click Edit Your Info to edit your personal information and then click Run Scan to run the advance issues scan again.
-
If there are items that require attention, click View Solution / Resolve Issue.
You may be directed to purchase the relevant entitlements to resolve the identified issues.
-
If there are no issues with any of these scans, Smart Scan displays No issues found.
-
After the Smart Scan is complete, click Finish.
-
If Smart Scan notifies you about additional solutions, click View Solution to know about the available solutions.
The Smart Scan feature is not available in all countries.
Learn more about Smart Scan
Smart Scan performs the following scans:
Viruses and Malware scan
Scans the areas in your computer that are most vulnerable to cyberthreats and helps you eliminate the threats.
Software Updater scan
Scans your computer for outdated third party programs to help eliminate security vulnerabilities. To learn more about Software Updater, read Update your programs with Norton Software Updater.
Network scan
Scans for network vulnerabilities which include:
-
Weak Wi-Fi password
-
Weak Wi-Fi network encryption
-
Unprotected Wi-Fi network
-
Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks
Advanced issues scan
Scans for performance and online privacy issues, and notifies you with recommendations.
Performance issues: scans the performance of your computer by detecting:
-
System junk files
Temporary system files and other unnecessary files that take up disk space and impede computer performance.
-
Broken registry keys
Broken, leftover, or duplicate registry keys that could create problems for your computer.
-
Broken shortcuts
Shortcuts that longer point to the correct location. Broken shortcuts take up disk space but serve no purpose.
-
Browser data
Browsing cache, cookies, browsing history, and download history files that diminish browser performance.
-
Startup and background processes
Potentially unwanted startup and background activities performed by apps and programs installed on your computer that slow down your computer's startup time.
-
Outdated drivers
Outdated, corrupted, vulnerable or missing drivers are a common cause of Windows PC crashes, freezes, and bluescreens. They also lead to security gaps that cybercriminals try to exploit to access your computer.
Online Privacy issues: scans your online privacy issues by detecting:
-
Exposure of your geographic location
-
Exposure of your IP address when connected to a public Wi-Fi or unprotected network
-
Exposure of your personal information
Personal information may include your contact details, home address, family information, information related to your job and social profile, and court records that get exposed in data broker websites.
Scan for exposure of personal information is available only to users of Norton 360 with LifeLock plans.
-
Detection of tracking cookies from your browser history
Scan for detection of trackers in browsing history is available only if you are on Windows 11/10 and use Chrome, Edge, or Firefox browser.
-
Exposure of your personal information in the dark web
Personal information on the dark web may be bought or used by hackers to commit identity crimes.
After Smart Scan completes each category of the scan, you can identify the security status based on the following:
-
A green status indicates that your device and personal information are secure.
-
An orange status indicates that there are some issues that require your attention.
-
A red status indicates that there are some urgent issues against your protection that require immediate resolution.
You will be provided with options to fix the issues detected to help keep your devices and personal information safer from cybercriminals' attacks. We recommend that you resolve the issues detected in the current category before you click Next and proceed to the next category of the scan.
Not all issues can be addressed by Smart Scan. Some of the fixes may involve getting additional entitlements that are not part of your current subscription plan.
If Smart Scan recommends you to get an entitlement that is not part of your current subscription plan, you can purchase the relevant entitlement from the Smart Scan wizard. Entitlement such as Norton Utilities Ultimate that you purchase gets installed and activated automatically. For other entitlements, you will be presented with instructions on how to use them.
Need more help?
Last modified: 04/24/2025
Was this article helpful?