New version provides new features and improved crash interception rates to protect computer users and their vital data from crashes

TORONTO, December 2, 1998 -- Symantec Corporation (Nasdaq: SYMC), the world leader in utility software for business and personal computing, today announced Norton CrashGuard 4.0, the industry's most powerful crash protection software. Version 4.0 includes several enhancements that allow users to instantly save data and time whenever a crash, freeze or hang occurs.

Norton CrashGuard 4.0 offers the industry's highest level of crash recovery and data recovery. It provides an improved success rate in intercepting the crashes users face most often: application or browser crashes, application hangs, blue screens and system crashes, while protecting against data loss and assisting users in recovering from crashes that do occur.

"We developed Norton CrashGuard 4.0 as part of Symantec's commitment to providing consumers the tools that make computing safer and make data loss a problem of the past," said Enrique Salem, vice president of Symantec's Security and Assistance Business Unit.

Data Recovery
Version 4.0 expands Norton CrashGuard's level of crash protection by intercepting more application crashes on all Windows platforms (95/98 NT), without the risk of false alarms. Users can then save data in an open application or quit applications as necessary to continue working. Even when a user terminates a crashed application, CrashGuard allows the user to re-open the application quickly.

With new VitalSave, as soon as users are faced with the prospects of a crash, they can immediately choose to save their unsaved work in the application in which they are working. The VitalSave feature is designed to save data in over 100 of the world's most popular software applications, including Microsoft Office, Corel and Quicken.

The software also monitors users' saved documents and protects them from being overwritten by files which may be corrupted by the crash, additionally reducing the potential for lost data. If a program tries to modify any existing files, Norton CrashGuard 4.0 immediately duplicates those files and stores them safely in a backup folder.

Enhanced Ease of Use
Studies have shown that one of the most difficult and frustrating elements of recovering from a crash can be understanding what has happened and knowing what to do next. With a new user interface and two new features, Crash Assistant and Crash Advisor, users will find it easier than ever to understand what's gone wrong with their computer systems and what options they have for correcting the problem.

Crash Assistant safely walks users through the process of recovering from a crash and monitors the status of active programs, offering several options for countering the effects of a crash. Users can elect to save data with VitalSave, "Revive" an application to keep on working in the crashed application or quit the crashed application to perform tasks in another open application. Crash Assistant also notifies the user when data has been saved and features Crash Advisor, which provides specific suggestions on how to proceed with a crash occurs.

Version 4.0 also introduces Quick Reload, ,a feature that enables Internet users to restart a crashed browser and quickly return to the last URL visited on the Internet. If uses are in a frame when their browser crashes, they can return to the URL of the page containing the frame. Quick Reload makes it easy to get back to a specific Internet destination after a browser crashes.

Pricing and Availability
Norton CrashGuard v4.0 is for Windows 95/98 and NT and is priced at (CDN)$49.95. Norton CrashGuard Deluxe owners can upgrade for (CDN)$31.95.

About Symantec in Canada:
With 250 employees, Symantec’s Canadian operations are headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montréal, Ottawa and Vancouver. For information on Symantec products or current promotions, contact the Canadian office at (416) 441-3676 or access the World Wide Web

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 Café 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.

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Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. All prices noted are in US dollars.