19 June, 1998 -- Symantec has announced Norton AntiVirus (NAV) for Macintosh 5.0, incorporating the top-selling Macintosh anti-virus software into the Norton family of products. Previously known as Symantec AntiVirus for Macintosh (SAM), Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh is the most comprehensive virus protection available for Macintosh users.

Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh incorporates Symantec's exclusive Bloodhound-Macro heuristic technology for detection and repair of new and unknown macro viruses, and expands the SafeZone beyond the desktop to the entire drive.

Fast Facts

• NAV for Macintosh has many new features:
• LiveUpdate automatically provides the latest virus definitions via the Internet or modem;
• Auto Repair can repair damaged files instantly;
• the bootable compact disk allows users to start their computer if the hard drive fails;
• Universal SafeZone allows users to download files in isolation to see if they are clean prior to use.
• NAV for Macintosh contains total protection against macro viruses.
• NAV for Macintosh is now PowerPC native, which means that Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect scans files for viruses faster than ever.
• The Symantec AntiVirus Research Centre has posted a detection and removal solution for the first known Macintosh worm.

"Symantec AntiVirus for Macintosh has continued to be a very strong performer in Australia and New Zealand," said David Banes, Regional Manager Asia Pacific, Symantec AntiVirus Research Centre. "With the addition of LiveUpdate, Auto Repair and Symantec's Bloodhound heuristic technology, we will continue to provide our Macintosh customers the best protection on the market with Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh."

Automatic virus definition updates over the Internet
It is crucial for users to keep virus definitions up-to-date or risk rendering their computers vulnerable to the hundreds of new macro viruses that surface every month. Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh's new LiveUpdate feature updates users with the latest virus definitions via the Internet or via modem and can be scheduled in advance to run automatically. LiveUpdate will then continue to unobtrusively update virus definitions in order to ensure that the user's workstation remains completely protected against the latest threats.

Unparalleled protection against macro viruses
Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh 5.0 provides users with complete detection and repair of viruses which pose the most significant threat to users. In addition, Norton AntiVirus 5.0 users receive cutting-edge protection against the rapidly growing number of unknown macro viruses through Symantec's revolutionary Bloodhound-Macro technology. While most anti-virus scanners are only able to identify viruses that have been pre-analysed by virus researchers, the Bloodhound system uses heuristic technology to analyse programs, detect unknown or new macro viruses and enable the user to repair the infected file immediately.

Automatic file repair
Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh also features Auto Repair that allows users to repair a file containing a virus instantly, without opening the Norton AntiVirus application. Auto Repair notifies the user when a virus or suspicious virus-like activity is detected. With Auto Repair, Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh provides users the ability to dispose of viruses quickly and automatically.

Bootable compact disk for emergencies
Like Symantec's Norton Utilities for Macintosh, Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh comes on a bootable CD that allows users to start their computer if the hard drive fails. In an emergency, users can insert the Norton AntiVirus CD and restart the computer while holding down the "C" key. This will return the computer to a stable environment from which users can run Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh to locate virus problems and repair damaged files. The bootable CD also allows users to install Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh quickly and safely.

Faster scans in PowerPC native environment
Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh is now PowerPC native, which means that Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect (formerly SAM Intercept) scans files for viruses faster than ever. In addition, Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh is HFS+ compatible, so users can scan hard drives and disks that are using the standard HFS file system or the new HFS+ extended file system format.

Universal SafeZone for expanded flexibility
The Universal SafeZone in Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh gives instant, automatic protection from most viruses. It acts as a "virtual clean-room" so copied or downloaded files can be scanned in isolation and declared "clean" before being used. The Universal SafeZone allows users to designate the entire drive as the SafeZone, not just the desktop, or a single folder or folders at a time. With Universal SafeZone file scanning, users find out effortlessly, on download, whether the file contains a virus.

Symantec offers detection and elimination of first known Macintosh worm
Symantec has also announced that the Symantec AntiVirus Software Research Centre (SARC) has posted a comprehensive detection and removal solution for the first known Macintosh worm named Autostart 9805. Protection from the worm, that exploits security flaws in the system for hacking purposes, is available from the Symantec web site.

Pricing and availability
Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh has an estimated retail price of $99. Current SAM users can upgrade for $55.

Minimum system requirements
Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh requires a Macintosh 68040 or higher or Power Macintosh with System 7.5, 8MB RAM and 10MB free disk space. Users will also need an Internet connection or modem to use LiveUpdate.

Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC)
Symantec's Norton AntiVirus product line is backed by the worldwide support of the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC). SARC comprises a dedicated team of virus experts who provide swift responses to local and global computer threats, actively researching and developing technologies to eliminate such threats, and educating the public on safe computing practices.

As new computer viruses appear, SARC develops identification and detection of these viruses, and provides either a repair or delete operation, thus keeping users protected against the latest virus threats. These virus definition updates are available to users of Norton AntiVirus, and are easily obtained by using the LiveUpdate or Intelligent Updater. LiveUpdate provides one-button, automatic access to the latest virus definition updates for registered users.

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; pcANYWHERE, WinFax and ACT! product lines that cater to remote user productivity; and the Cafe product lines in Internet development tools.

Note to Editors
Symantec Corporation helps make computer users productive and keep their systems safe and reliable anywhere, anytime. 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, Symantec maintains corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California with regional offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Malaysia, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. Traded on Nasdaq under the symbol SYMC, Symantec is ranked in the top ten international software vendors and employs more than 2000 people worldwide. Information on the company and its products can be obtained at the Symantec Asia-Pacific Press Centre on the World Wide Web at http://www.symantec.com/region/au_nz/PressCenter/index.html