Symantec Announces Norton Confidential Online Edition

Symantec Corp. (NASDAQ: SYMC) today announced Norton Confidential Online Edition, a unique online transaction security solution that allows financial institutions to help their customers bank online with confidence. The solution is based in part on the technology in Symantec's recently announced Norton Confidential product and is being delivered via new bank-to-consumer and retailer-to-consumer distribution channels.

Norton Confidential Online Edition helps banks and other organizations strengthen the security that links them to their customers and increases customer confidence in online transactions. For the first time, financial institutions and e-commerce sites will be able to extend protection from phishing, pharming, and crimeware to their customers' computers. Norton Confidential Online Edition authenticates the bank's Web site at every log-in so customers know they're on a legitimate site; it also alerts customers if they've arrived at a phishing site. Transaction security protects customers when they enter passwords, make purchases, or bank online. Norton Confidential Online Edition will block keylogging, screencapture, and password-stealing programs, also known as crimeware, and protects users from phishing attacks.

In July of this year, TD Canada Trust launched an earlier version of Norton Confidential Online Edition called Norton Confidence Online, which has resulted in more than 100,000 downloads of the tool since its launch.

"Our priority is to ensure our customers and their confidential information are protected when banking online," said Jeff van Duynhoven, vice president, Electronic Banking, TD Canada Trust. "Symantec's service adds a valuable layer of protection for our customers by helping to identify and block phishing Web sites."

"Our vision for Security 2.0 is all about building confidence and trust online for consumers, and that's crucial when it comes to financial transactions," said Enrique Salem, group president, Consumer Business Unit, Symantec Corp. "As we move into the next generation of security solutions, we'll see new business and delivery models where we'll partner with businesses who will then deliver security to the end consumer."

Recent studies show that fear of identity theft has stopped 53 percent of Internet users from giving personal information to Web sites and 14 percent from paying their bills online.(1) In addition, Symantec's latest Internet Security Threat Report shows that nine of the top 10 phished brands were in the financial services sector.(2) As a result, financial institutions are demanding ways to provide security and confidence to their customers.

Through the release of Norton Confidential Online Edition service, as well as through Symantec's strategic alliance with VeriSign (announced separately today), financial institutions will be able to incorporate multiple layers of protection benefiting both the consumer and the bank. Consumers will be protected against the threat of online fraud, strengthening their confidence in online transactions, and banks will be able to enhance the security and authenticity of their communication with customers.

Norton Confidential Online Edition is a lightweight, easy-to-deploy solution that financial institutions and online retailers can offer their customers directly from their Web sites. In addition to being quick to download, the application is simple to use. It provides clear visual warnings and proactively protects consumers from online fraud. For example, if banking customers click on a link from within a phishing e-mail, a red warning banner will appear to inform them that the site is fraudulent, and they will be blocked from accessing the phishing page.

Availability

Symantec expects version 2.0 of Norton Confidential Online Edition to be available in 2007. The initial focus will be on English-speaking markets, with additional language versions expected to roll out later in the year. Final pricing will be available at the time of shipment. Customers will also have access to educational information and will have the option to upgrade to more complete Symantec security solutions.

Norton Confidential, which is now available directly to consumers, offers an even greater breadth of protection, with the crimeware and phishing protection going beyond the financial institutions' brand to other brands or Web sites. In addition, Norton Confidential provides tools to completely remove threats such as keystroke loggers from end users' systems. The solution is available for both Windows and Macintosh operating systems.

About Symantec

Symantec is the world leader in providing solutions to help individuals and enterprises assure the security, availability, and integrity of their information. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has operations in 40 countries. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at http://www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States.

Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

(1) Gartner and Cyber Security Industry Alliance, June 2005

(2) Symantec Internet Security Threat Report, September 2006

CONTACT:

Cecilia Daclan Symantec Corporation +1 (310) 449 4381 cecilia_daclan@symantec.com

Sherri Walkenhorst Connect Public Relations +1 (801) 373 7888 sherriw@connectpr.com

SOURCE:  Symantec

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