Norton Launches Safe AI to Help You Use AI Without Giving Up Control

New protection capabilities block unwanted actions and let you decide what AI can see and do

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Norton, a consumer Cyber Safety brand of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), today announced Safe AI, a new set of protections inside Norton 360 that keeps an eye on what AI chat apps like ChatGPT or Claude do on your device. It blocks AI actions you did not intend, lets you decide which personal files AI tools can open, and helps you avoid risky links. Instead of relying on AI tools to recognize every threat, Norton Safe AI provides an additional layer of protection to help people use AI with greater confidence and control.

Why AI assistants create new risks
AI assistants are making it easier than ever to find information and get things done. But that same convenience can invite new risks. A seemingly helpful AI response could contain a dangerous link, an AI tool could be tricked into taking actions that put your personal information in jeopardy, or your personal files could be accessed in ways you never intended.

Research from Gen Threat Labs underscores just how real these risks have become. There has been a 54% increase in malicious content served to Gen users through AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude in the last 90 days. And these risks are weighing on people. According to Gen research, more than two-thirds of people are concerned about privacy, data breaches, or losing control when using an autonomous AI assistant that can act on their behalf.

Safe AI is designed to help address these emerging risks and people's concerns while extending Norton's protection into the AI experiences people are increasingly using every day.

"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."

Multi-layer Protection for the AI Era
Built into Norton 360's advanced scam protection¹, Safe AI introduces three capabilities designed to help make using AI tools safer:

• Protects against unwanted AI actions. As AI tools become more capable of performing tasks, malicious instructions and prompt injections can introduce new security risks. Action Shield helps stop unwanted AI actions and potentially harmful prompt injections before they run.
• Gives people more control over AI file access. As people connect AI tools to their personal files and content, understanding what those tools can access becomes increasingly important. Safe Zone lets you choose which connected files and content AI can access, with options for full, read-only or blocked permissions.
• Spots risky links before you click. AI assistants can surface links that appear useful or trustworthy, even when they lead to unsafe destinations. Safe Links helps identify potentially harmful links shared through ChatGPT and Claude before people open them.

Together, these capabilities help address risks at different points in the AI experience, from the links people encounter to the actions AI tools may take and the information they can access.  

Helping People Live Fearless in an AI-Powered World
As AI reshapes the digital landscape, Gen is working to help people navigate emerging risks with greater confidence. Through its Agent Trust Hub, Gen is advancing the understanding of AI-related threats and the security challenges emerging as AI tools become more capable and autonomous. Combined with the research and expertise of Gen Threat Labs, this intelligence helps inform innovations like Safe AI in Norton 360, translating insights into practical protection for people everywhere. Together, these efforts reflect Gen's broader Fearless commitment: helping people understand what's changing, protect what matters and embrace the possibilities of an AI-powered world without fear.

Safe AI is available in Norton 360 on Windows and Mac. To learn more, visit our Safe AI blog.

About Norton, part of Gen
Norton is a leader in Cyber Safety and empowers millions of individuals and families with award-winning protection for their devices, online privacy, and identity.  Norton is part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted consumer brands that help people protect and take control of their digital and financial lives. As AI reshapes how people discover, decide and transact, Gen is building the security and trust layer to empower people and their agents to navigate digital life more safely. Gen empowers nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries through its products and services that span cybersecurity, online privacy, identity protection and financial wellness. Learn more at Norton.com and GenDigital.com. 

Media Contact
Brittany Posey
Gen
[email protected] 

¹ Safe AI is available on Windows and Mac. Within Safe AI, Safe Zone is available on Windows only; Safe Links currently supports ChatGPT and Claude in browser versions; and Action Shield currently supports Claude, Cursor, OpenClaw, and VS Code.

SOURCE Norton