Norton Password Manager requires two sign-ins with private browsing
I recently acquired a new computer and downloaded a fresh version of Firefox, which I set up to start in Private Browsing mode. I also installed Norton 360 as my virus and firewall service, which is slightly different from the Norton Internet Security I was using on the old computer. I installed the Norton extension for its password manager on Firefox. On the old computer, I became accustomed to signing in to the password manager every time I restarted Firefox, but now I have to first sign in to my Norton account before I can even see the password manager sign-in page. I suspect that I haven't managed the exceptions for cookies, etc. properly, but a long chat with Norton support didn't succeed in getting rid of the double sign-in problem. Anybody know how to fix this problem or what I should try? I already made exceptions for what the Norton guy told me were the web addresses for the manager and the account.
All Replies (4)
Hi Tinwoodman, Private Browsing doesn't save the login information for your Norton password manager. See: Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history Common Myths about Private Browsing
In Private Browsing mode all cookies are session that are purged automatically when you close Firefox or end the PB session otherwise, so you lose special 'remember me' cookies that a website can use to remember you and log you in automatically. You will have to stop using PB mode if the Norton Password Manager relies on cookies.
On my old computer, I had somehow set up Firefox so that it made me sign in to the Norton Password Manager each time I started the browser, but didn't make me sign in to my Norton account before I could even get to the PW manager sign in page. I thought that I was using permanent private browsing on the old computer and somehow had used the exceptions area to keep the login info for the account, even if not for the PW manager, but maybe that isn't true; I don't have the old computer any longer to check.
Rather than trying to figure out what I had done in the past, it is probably better to ask, "what should I do to keep the best of private browsing while allowing cookies for trusted sites?"
OK, now I do not need the above question answered. I tried Norton support again and this time got someone who seemed to understand the problem. Basically, Norton recently decided to add a layer of security to the password manager and now requires the user to sign in twice, according to her. Sort of two-factor authentication. My changing computers probably was just coincidental and I would have started to see the problem on the old computer had I kept it. Nothing to do with cookies, if she is correct. I am posting this here in case anyone else had the same experience. However, if anyone knows that the Norton support person was wrong about it, please comment.