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News Release
Symantec's New Norton Personal Firewall 2003 Provides Unparalleled Defense Against Hackers and Privacy Threats
Comprehensive Firewall Adds Powerful Intrusion Detection to Provide Multiple Layers of Protection
CUPERTINO, Calif. - September 16, 2002 - Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), the world leader in Internet security, today announced Norton Personal Firewall 2003, the only product in this category to provide a full firewall, comprehensive privacy protection, ad blocking and a complete intrusion detection system in one product. Available for purchase in late-September, Norton Personal Firewall automatically controls inbound and outbound Internet connections, examines the content of Internet traffic for attacks and prevents confidential information from being sent through e-mail, Instant Messaging services and Microsoft Office attachments.
"As Internet users face more frequent, sophisticated threats from hacking and privacy violations, incomplete security solutions become increasingly ineffective," said Steve Cullen, senior vice president, Consumer and Client Product Delivery at Symantec. "With the release of Norton Personal Firewall 2003, Symantec is pleased to offer home users the most comprehensive and easy-to-use firewall available for protection of both inbound and outbound Internet activity."
Norton Personal Firewall 2003 combines the exceptional usability, intelligent features and powerful technologies for which Symantec products are known, giving users a reliable tool that makes safe Internet access both convenient and simple. With advanced intrusion detection functionality, Norton Personal Firewall 2003 surpasses the security capabilities of competing firewall products by examining the actual content of Internet traffic to identify malicious attacks. This feature enables Norton Personal Firewall to automatically detect and respond to high-risk threats such as the Nimda and Code Red worms. Norton Intrusion Detection adds an additional layer of security by automatically blocking malicious attacks that a firewall alone cannot stop. Norton Personal Firewall also enables users to discover the source of attempted intrusions by tracing the attacker and displaying the location on a world map. Its Security Monitor feature enables users to easily control security activities from a single location while assuring them that Internet traffic is actively being filtered.
To ensure the most up-to-date protection, Norton Personal Firewall 2003 includes automatic LiveUpdate, which automatically updates firewall rules and intrusion detection signatures when the user is online, downloading updates in the background to minimize interruptions. Norton Personal Firewall 2003 includes one year of firewall rules and intrusion detection update services.
The Privacy Control component in Norton Personal Firewall 2003 not only blocks cookies and active content, but it also prevents personal information such as credit card numbers or phone numbers from being sent to unsecured Web sites without the user's knowledge. In addition, it blocks confidential information from being sent without the users knowledge through standard POP3 e-mail clients, Microsoft Office e-mail attachments and Instant Messaging services such as MSN Messenger, Windows Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger.
Norton Personal Firewall 2003 features firewall technology that monitors both inbound and outbound Internet connections while making the user's PC invisible to other Internet users. Its Program Control component guards against Trojan horses or other malicious programs that attempt to access the Internet without the user's knowledge. Common Internet programs are scanned as they attempt to access the Internet and are compared to a database of common applications to determine whether or not they are safe; then Norton Personal Firewall automatically sets up firewall rules for optimal protection. Password protection, in turn, protects customized firewall settings from being changed or turned off by a Trojan horse virus, and One-Button Disconnect allows users to easily and quickly stop or resume Internet traffic.
To ensure additional convenience, Norton Personal Firewall 2003 features enhanced ad blocking capabilities that keep banner ads, pop-up windows, pop-under windows and other distractions off the screen, thereby speeding Internet connections while helping to maximize user productivity. The Security Assistant, new Alert Assistant and Home Network Assistant streamline setup, ease response, and facilitate addition to a home network, respectively. In addition, to further simplify use, Norton Personal Firewall 2003 introduces Network Notification, which advises users when their computer is joining a wireless or local cable network.
Pricing and Availability
Norton Personal Firewall 2003 is available now for preorder at www.symantecstore.com for an estimated retail price of US$49.95. Current users of Norton Personal Firewall and competitive firewall products may upgrade to Norton Personal Firewall 2003 for US$29.95. Customers can purchase Norton Personal Firewall 2003 from various retail locations beginning in late-September, as well as from Symantec's online store at www.symantecstore.com and other online retailers.
About Symantec
Symantec, the world leader in Internet security technology, provides a broad range of content and network security software and appliance solutions to enterprises, individuals and service providers. The company is a leading provider of client, gateway and server security solutions for virus protection, firewall and virtual private network, vulnerability management, intrusion detection, Internet content and e-mail filtering and remote management technologies as well as security services to enterprises and service providers around the world. Symantec's Norton brand of consumer security products is a leader in worldwide retail sales and industry awards. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has worldwide operations in 38 countries. For more information, please visit www.symantec.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please view the Symantec Press Center at http://www.symantec.com/PressCenter/ on Symantec's Web site. All prices noted are in US dollars and are valid only in the United States.
Symantec and the Symantec logo are trademarks or registered trademarks, in the United States and certain other countries, of Symantec Corporation. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT:
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including anticipated activities and results that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied by this press release. Such risk factors include, among others: the sustainability of recent growth rates, particularly in consumer products; the anticipation of the growth of certain market segments, particularly enterprise security; the positioning of Symantec's products in those segments; the competitive environment in the software industry; general market conditions, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, changes to operating systems and product strategy by vendors of operating systems; acquisition risks, including the risks that Symantec will not successfully integrate the Riptech and Recourse businesses, technology and/or personnel; and whether Symantec can successfully develop new products and the degree to which these gain market acceptance. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Risk Factors sections of the Company's previously filed Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2002 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002. Symantec assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release except as otherwise required by law.
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