From Fashion to Food, the Best Gift Cards Are Surprisingly Thoughtful

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

For many, the new year is a time to take stock of one's health and well-being, whether it's a gym membership or kicking old habits. It's also a great time to take stock of one's digital health and well-being. Whether you've been putting off that cybersecurity checkup, or you've never done one, Norton has convenient tools for brushing up on your internet security.

Navigating online security can be tricky, but fortunately, it doesn't take much to make your online presence much more secure. From password managers to VPNs, here are several key ways to improve your online security heading into 2025.

One tool to improve your online security, particularly when using public WiFi is a VPN. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, creates a secure, encrypted connection when you're online. It also disguises your IP address, protecting your online privacy by reducing online tracking. A VPN is a great tool for frequent travelers, allowing them to access their favorite content on the go, even if it's blocked in their current region.

Norton offers several VPN plans; there's VPN Standard, VPN Plus, and VPN Ultimate. The Plus plan adds online security features, while VPN Ultimate is ideal for families. Norton VPN Plus includes coverage for up to five devices, plus protection from viruses, malware, and hacking so you can browse more safely.

Keeping track of dozens of sign-ins is difficult, which is why it's so common for people to use the same password across a multitude of accounts -- often, it's something like "password" or "secret." And no, adding a "1" or "!" to a weak password won't make it strong, which is why it's better to get a password manager. A password manager lets you use one secure password to sign in. Once you set it up, the password manager saves all of your logins.

Norton Password Manager is free, and it's included with Norton VPN Plus and Norton VPN Ultimate plans. Norton Password Manager lets you generate random, hard-to-guess passwords and saves them to your vault, and you can access them from your phone or computer using your master password.

Antivirus software scans your computer, tablet, and mobile devices for threats like malware and viruses. As an industry leader, Norton backs its antivirus with its 100% Virus Protection Promise, meaning if your device does get infected, Norton will remove the virus from your device and refund you if they're unable to. It's available on smartphones, too, for secure browsing on the go. Norton also scans the dark web and notifies you if your personal information is found. If you have kids, Norton VPN Ultimate can be used to limit screen time and block inappropriate content.

Norton antivirus software is included in its VPN Plus and VPN Ultimate packages. Plus, Norton gives users up to 54% off on their first year when they sign up for an annual plan.