IBM Selects Symantec as Antivirus Partner for eNetwork Firewall Solutions Pack

Cupertino, Calif --November 11, 1998-- Symantec Corporation (Nasdaq: SYMC), the world leader in utility software for business and personal computing, today announced that IBM has selected Norton AntiVirus as the anti-virus product to be included in the IBM eNetwork Firewall Solution Pack.

The Norton AntiVirus products selected to complement IBM's network security software include: Norton AntiVirus for Windows 95/98, Norton AntiVirus for Windows NT Workstation/Server, and Norton AntiVirus for Internet E-mail Gateways. To become a program partner, Norton AntiVirus passed testing by IBM to determine it is compatible and will coexist with the eNetwork Firewall.

"Symantec has consistently demonstrated its technical leadership in providing powerful and innovative anti-virus solutions to the market," said Gerry Young, eNetwork Firewall Project Office Manager, IBM. "By including Norton AntiVirus in our eNetwork Firewall Solution Pack, we are able to offer our customers the security they need to help ensure that their corporate data is protected from costly and destructive virus invasion."

"The IBM eNetwork Firewall Solution Pack Partner Program makes it easier for corporate customers to build more bullet-proof firewalls," said Enrique Salem, vice president of Symantec's Security and Assistance Business Unit. "Norton AntiVirus plays an important role in this program by adding invaluable virus protection functionality to the IBM eNetwork Firewall."

Strengthening the Firewall
As customers expand their use of the Internet, their network security needs increase. One of the first lines of defense is a firewall to protect the enterprise. However, few firewalls inherently provide the robust functionality required to effectively protect against other things such as viruses, unauthorized applets or executable object access, Trojan horses, internal threats, and more. To meet these needs, IBM introduced the IBM eNetwork Firewall Solution Pack Partner Program, which offers trial IBM and Partner security software to meet varying customer needs. IBM eNetwork Firewall for AIX and NT protects network and business data while enabling e-business activities.

Norton AntiVirus products complement firewall security by providing 100 percent detection of in-the-wild viruses, according to recent tests by Virus Bulletin. A built-in Trojan Horse detection engine guards against online programs that may steal passwords or destroy data. In addition, state-of-the-art technology automatically blocks known destructive Active X and Java applets from entering a user's computer. Suspect files can be quarantined and/or encrypted and e-mailed to the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC) for analysis.

Symantec's participation in the IBM partner program reinforces the ongoing relationship between the two industry leaders. Earlier this year, Symantec and IBM announced a partnership to deliver a single family of anti-virus products that will be marketed under the Norton AntiVirus brand name. In addition, Symantec has licensed IBM's immune system technology and patents and will combine it with its own technology to produce a range of products, including new solutions to support IBM platforms. As part of the agreement, IBM has also assigned its existing anti-virus customer and OEM contracts to Symantec and has recommended Norton AntiVirus to its customers worldwide as the anti-virus solution of choice.

Norton AntiVirus for Windows 95/98, Norton AntiVirus for NT Workstations/Servers, and Norton AntiVirus for Internet Email Gateways are part of Symantec's suite of multi-tier virus protection products designed to protect the enterprise at the desktop, server, groupware servers, Internet, and gateway levels. Symantec's Norton AntiVirus products have received numerous awards since January 1998, including PC Magazine's Editor's Choice in 1998 for Best AntiVirus Utility for the third year in a row, as well as the magazine's 1997 Best AntiVirus Utility award, PC World's Best Buy, and PC Computing's A-List. In addition, for the third time this year, Virus Bulletin awarded a Norton AntiVirus product its coveted 100% Award for detecting all in-the-wild viruses in VB's comprehensive test sets.

About Symantec
Symantec is the world leader in utility software for business and personal computing. Symantec products and solutions help 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. Symantec is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol SYMC. More information on the company and its products can be obtained at www.symantec.com.

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