Symantec-Microsoft Partnership Makes Norton AntiVirus 2000 Free to Small, Mid-Sized Businesses for Limited Time

Fully Functional Trial Software Protects Organizations Against Year 2000-Related Viruses

CUPERTINO, Calif. November 1, 1999 Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced it is partnering with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) to provide a free, fully functional trial version of Norton AntiVirus 2000 to help small and mid-sized businesses prepare for Year 2000-related viruses, hoaxes, and other malicious code. From Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, Norton AntiVirus 2000 can be downloaded from Microsoft's Year 2000 Web site (www.microsoft.com/y2k) as well as from the Symantec Web site (www.symantec.com/nav). Larger organizations can obtain information regarding Symantec's anti-virus enterprise solutions at www.symantec.com/naves. The Symantec-Microsoft partnership is part of Microsoft's program to extend Y2K information to corporations and consumers through its Year 2000 Resource Center.

According to Deborah Willingham, vice president of the Business and Enterprise Division at Microsoft Corporation, "There are certainly malicious hackers who intend to use Y2K as a reason to wreak havoc on vulnerable businesses and consumers. The viruses, worms or hoaxes that are created have the potential to be the single most harmful effect on the Year 2000 challenge. Microsoft takes security and Y2K very seriously, and we are committed to providing the best computing experience for our customers. Partnering with these industry leaders to provide free anti-virus software will provide our customers with an added level of assurance as we approach the year 2000."

"Like Microsoft, Symantec is committed to making computing safer and easier for businesses worldwide," said Steve Cullen, vice president of Symantecs Consumer Products Division. "This partnership enables us to extend the powerful detection and repair capabilities of our next-generation anti-virus software to organizations needing the best protection available to guard against virus threats of today as well as tomorrow."

Norton AntiVirus 2000, the newest version of the worlds leading anti-virus software, provides automatic protection against viruses and other malicious code at all entry points, including e-mail attachments and Internet downloads. Norton AntiVirus 2000 is the only anti-virus software to include security-enhancing, state-of-the-art technologies such as LiveUpdate, NAVEX, Scan and Deliver, Bloodhound, and AutoProtect as well as expert support from the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC).

Additionally, Norton AntiVirus includes LiveAdvisor, a new service built into select Symantec retail software that provides consumers with free, personalized service and support, product tips and tricks, upgrade information and LiveUpdate notifications delivered directly to their desktop via the Internet. Norton AntiVirus is also an integral component of Symantec's award-winning Norton SystemWorks utility suite.

Norton AntiVirus Enterprise Solution provides enterprise-wide virus protection. By combining award-winning Symantec products with expert systems and policy management technologies from IBM and Intel, Norton AntiVirus Enterprise Solution delivers unmatched protection from virus threats. Centralized, scalable management tools enable administrators to set and lock down IT policies from a single console to keep virus protection on DOS, Windows, and NetWare servers and desktops up-to-date and properly configured.

While Jan. 1, 2000 raises the awareness of the potential impact of malicious programs, Symantec recommends that users remain vigilant about protecting their computers every day of the year by keeping their virus definitions updated. For Norton AntiVirus users, downloading virus definitions as well as an updated virus engine is fast and easy using LiveUpdate. Additional features of Norton AntiVirus provide users around-the-clock protection against viruses at all entry points as well as a safe and reliable mechanism for isolating suspicious files and sending them to SARC for analysis and repair.

About Symantec
Symantec is a world leader in Internet security technology and technology solutions that help companies manage and support workforces that use laptop computers and other mobile devices.

The company is a leading provider of software products for the consumer market and is rapidly growing its presence as a provider of solutions to enterprise organizations

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