Rising AI risks prompt new safeguards
Norton has rolled out Safe AI inside Norton 360 to monitor AI chat tools such as ChatGPT and Claude. The update blocks actions users did not authorise, lets them set file-access rules and flags risky links before they are opened. Gen Threat Labs data shows a 54% rise in malicious content delivered through these chatbots in the past 90 days. More than two-thirds of people say they worry about privacy, data breaches or losing control when using autonomous AI assistants.
Three layers of protection
- Action Shield stops unwanted AI actions and prompt-injection attempts before they run.
- Safe Zone lets users choose full, read-only or blocked access for connected files (Windows only).
- Safe Links scans links shared by ChatGPT and Claude in browsers and warns about unsafe destinations.
These tools sit within Norton 360's existing scam protection and are now live on Windows and Mac.
Why the controls matter
"Most of the AI tools people are using today should really come with a warning label that safety isn't included. The tools were designed around how to get the job done and not necessarily how to get the job done right, or even safely, despite the best intentions," said Dagim Girma, GM for Norton. "That's where we come in. People shouldn't have to become AI security experts to benefit from AI tools. With Safe AI, we're helping people stay in control of their information and embrace the possibilities of AI with greater confidence."
The move reflects wider industry efforts to manage autonomous AI threats. If you are also weighing up privacy tools, our VPN services page compares options that add another layer of protection when browsing.
