Ever since my mom downloaded Norton on my laptop things have been terrible. First thing after it downloaded after night, 4 programs appeared, My PC Backup, Sync Folder, Advanced-System Protector, and CUT THE ROPE. And ever since it downloaded stupid ads have popped up every time I go to a new page. Like 3 advertisements pop-up on screen when I get on to vizzed, again when I go to the board, again when I check this forum, again as I start typing this thread. The same thing happened to my moms old laptop, which eventually got filled with so many programs and ads it slowed to a near halt, and when I told her she did something wrong she DENIED EVERYTHING saying all those programs come from Norton and it's all safe. She just abuses the fact she's my parent everytime to make me look like the idiot, she almost didn't let me get on the laptop today JUST for accusing her. AND SHE BLAMES ME FOR DOWNLOADING STEAM! So can someone please tell me what the heck she did wrong so I can fix this?

Norton asks you to download a whole bunch of spammery during installation. That what's causing all of this, likely. She likely clicked the download checker on all of those, resulting in a mountain of ads and lag.

Well I told her that, and I uninstalled the extra programs, but when i told her this stuff she just IGNORED ME. I was explaining she downloaded all that extra stuff and all she did was say not to talk to her like that and I'm just blaming everything on her. I tell her I'm not mad at her and she just NAGS LIKE ALWAYS how she's tired, not in the mood for this, and she hangs up.

I doubt it was Norton, paid software doesent tend to have 3rd party software included in it.
Most free apps do though, thats how they make your money. It gets pretty annoying, they make a default check if you agree to terms and conditions box, and most people just click next without reading it. But if you look at the small print, that was permission to install extra software.
Equally, the adverts could quite possibly be due to a virus.
If you look in control panel you can see the dates and times things were installed so its not hard to link the cause to the results.

And this is why being a grown up and having your own computer is awesome.

There is usually an option to download more programs before you download a virus scanner. Norton stinks though. There are other virus scanners that are way better. Older parents in general are not willing to admit their mistakes especially if it's with stuff that they are not familiar and/or comfortable using. Plus they can be also very oblivious to programs from computers and technological terms.

this used to happen to me on some things i downloaded on my old computer, it always kept bringing up cut the rope and at one point, a megaman 7 sprite of mm with the title "game505" or something like that. i have no idea what it was about.