Symantec Offers Four Times the Protection with Fully-Tested, Weekly Virus Definition Updates

Cupertino, Calif --May 4, 1998-- Symantec Corporation (Nasdaq: SYMC), the worldwide leader in utilities and anti-virus software, announced today that the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC) is now offering users of Norton AntiVirus (NAV) four times the protection with new weekly virus definition updates. Users will be able to access the fully-tested virus definitions every Thursday evening by downloading the Intelligent Updater directly from the Web site (www.symantec.com) or by using Symantec's exclusive automatic LiveUpdate feature.

"Improving the already excellent level of service we offer our customers – from the individual user to our large corporate customers – has been a long-term initiative for SARC," said Enrique Salem, vice president of Symantec's Security and Assistance Business Unit. "We have developed premier automation tools that allow us to create a solid, stable and fully-tested implementation of weekly definitions and to provide our customers with the most up-to-date and reliable protection available on the market today."

With more than 10-15 new viruses every day, it is critical for users to keep their anti-virus software up-to-date so they can stay protected. In addition, with the increase in the macro virus threat, virus infections are 20 times more likely to occur than just two years ago. According to the April 1997 Virus Study by the International Computer Security Association (ICSA), corporate IS managers reported an average of 33 virus encounters per 1,000 computers per month last year. That is up from just one virus encounter in 1995.

By increasing the frequency of the virus definition updates from monthly to weekly, SARC is now integrating the detection and repair solution for all submissions as soon as they are evaluated into a weekly download. What customers previously had to wait a month to get will now be available every week. SARC uses an automated process to evaluate each submission and prepare a detection and repair solution. The automation tools also test the solution. If it passes all tests, the solution is integrated into the next set of virus definition updates. The entire process takes less than five minutes to complete for each submission, allowing for hundreds of new virus definitions every week if necessary.

Availability
Norton AntiVirus users can download the new files immediately and every Thursday evening hereafter. For customers who purchased NAV after April 6, the virus definition updates are free for the first year. After the first year, customers can buy a subscription to the virus definitions for only US$3.95 per year. Those customers who purchased NAV before April 6 will continue to receive all virus definitions for free for the life of the product. All product updates will still be free for the life of the product for all NAV users.

Symantec AntiVirus Research Center SARC is the industry's largest dedicated team of virus experts. With offices located in the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Netherlands, the sun never sets on SARC. The center's mission is to provide swift, global responses to computer virus threats, proactively research and develop technologies that eliminate such threats, and educate the public on safe computing practices. As new computer viruses appear, SARC develops identification and detection for these viruses, and provides either a repair or delete operation, thus keeping users protected against the latest virus threats

About Symantec
Symantec Corporation helps make users productive and keep their computers safe and reliable anywhere and anytime. Symantec offers a broad range of solutions and is acclaimed as a leader in both customer satisfaction and product brand recognition. The company is focused on addressing customer needs in three main application areas: the Norton product line of anti-virus and PC-assistance products; the pcANYWHERE, WinFax and ACT! product lines that cater to remote user productivity; and the Cafe product lines in Internet development tools.

Founded in 1982, the company's global operations span North America, Europe, Japan and several fast growing markets throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America. Traded on Nasdaq under the symbol SYMC, Symantec Corporation is based in Cupertino, California and employs more than 2,000 people. Information on the company and its products can be obtained by calling (800) 441-7234 toll free, (541) 334-6054 or accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.symantec.com.

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