File Recovery Easy for Norton Utilities Users Hit By Worm.ExploreZip

Norton Protected Desktop Automatically Saves Deleted Files in Original Form; Users Simply Click on Icon to Recover

Cupertino, Calif. June 23, 1999 - Symantec Corporation (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced that users of Norton Utilities can easily retrieve files deleted by the Worm.ExploreZip virus by having Norton Protected Recycle Bin enabled on their system. Norton Utilities users simply click on the Norton Protected Recycle Bin and use the UnErase Wizard to recover "lost" files. In addition, because Norton Utilities includes a bootable CD, users with Norton Utilities already installed can run UnErase Wizard from the CD to remove files, thereby obviating the need to reboot systems that have not yet been cleaned of the virus thus preventing further damage.

Norton Utilities is the only trouble shooting utility that provides this type of protection by default. Neither Network Associates' (Nasdaq: NETA) Nuts & Bolts nor Mijenix Corporation's Fix-It Utilities include this capability.

"Norton Protected Recycle Bin is one of the most powerful yet least intrusive utilities in Norton Utilities," said Enrique Salem, vice president of Symantec's Security and Assistance Business Unit. "Highly configurable and effective, Norton Protected Recycle Bin guards users against the potentially devastating effects of many of today's malicious viruses."

Norton Protected Recycle Bin adds extra, configurable data recovery protection to the Windows Recycle Bin to help users recover deleted files that the Recycle Bin does not save. Norton Protected Recycle Bin loads automatically when Windows starts and, when used in conjunction with UnErase Wizard, provides the most complete recovery system for all deleted and overwritten files. The Norton Protected Recycle Bin holds up to 1,500 files, starting with the most recently deleted files, and the length of time these files are protected is configurable. By default, files are permanently deleted seven days after they are moved into the Norton Protected Recycle Bin.

Norton Protected Recycle Bin protects all files unless the user specifies otherwise. In contrast, the Windows Recycle Bin protects only a fraction of the files that actually get deleted from a PC. In fact, the Windows Recycle Bin doesn't catch files deleted from within Windows programs except Explorer and Desktop, files deleted from within MS-DOS, nor files overwritten by new versions.

Norton Protected Recycle Bin keeps track of each deleted file's original name, original location on disk, when the file was deleted, the file type, its size, and by what method or application the file was deleted. For users looking through a large number of files, the deletion time information can be extremely useful.

To ensure that Norton Protected Recycle Bin offers the greatest available protection, it is recommended users disable the Windows Recycle Bin. This is done by right-clicking the Recycle Bin, selecting Properties, and clicking on the Global tab, then selecting "Use one setting for all drives" and "Do not move files to the recycle bin. Remove files immediately when deleted." Normally this would mean that deleted files would be removed the minute they were deleted. With Norton Protected Recycle Bin enabled, however, checking this option allows Norton Protected Recycle Bin to manage these files as well as all those already under its protection. With the old Recycle Bin disabled, Norton Protected Recycle Bin and the Norton UnErase Wizard enables users to use one piece of software to restore deleted files, no matter how they were deleted.

UnErase Wizard locates and recovers files that are protected by Norton Protected Recycle Bin, the Windows Recycle Bin, or Novell's Salvage. UnErase Wizard also recovers overwritten files. Recovering files is as easy as displaying a list of the most recently deleted files or answering questions about the files needing recovery.

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.

About PC Data
PC Data is the leading market intelligence firm for software and hardware point of sale data with coverage of more than 80 percent of the U.S. retail marketplace. The Reston, VA based company has become the industry standard for tracking software and hardware sales through the retail, corporate and distributor channels. PC Data is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.pcdata.com.

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