"Norton SystemWorks the Best Utilities Suite Available," Says Windows Magazine

TORONTO - February 19, 1999 -- Symantec Corporation (Nasdaq: SYMC), the world leader in utility software for business and personal computing, today announced that Norton SystemWorks was named to Windows Magazine's respected WinList of recommended products. Norton SystemWorks bested Network Associates' (Nasdaq: NETA) McAfee Office in a head-to-head comparison published in the March 1999 issue of the magazine.

"We placed Norton SystemWorks on the WinList because it worked more consistently, showed more stability in our tests, and offered better crash protection than McAfee Office," wrote reviewer Warren Ernst. "Every month, Windows Magazine editors test, evaluate, and compare hundreds of hardware and software products," said Russell Glitman, editor-in-chief. "Only the best rise to the exclusive WinList . . . Windows Magazine editors selected Norton SystemWorks as the best in its class."

Earlier this year, Norton SystemWorks earned superior reviews over McAfee Office in detailed product comparisons by Home Office Computing and Small Business Computing & Communications. In addition, in late 1998, Norton SystemWorks swept McAfee Office in independent testing conducted by Ziff-Davis Testing and Analysis Group. PC Data findings indicate that Norton SystemWorks is already the market-leading utility suite and is outselling the competition 3 to 1. PC Data also reports that Norton SystemWorks is the fourth best-selling Windows business software.

"We are very pleased that the industry's most reputable information sources continue to recognise Norton SystemWorks as the best utility suite available," said Enrique Salem, vice president of Symantec's Security and Assistance Business Unit. "Achieving a place on Windows Magazine's renowned WinList supports Norton SystemWorks' claim as the smartest way to keep a computer working."

Calling Norton SystemWorks "extremely well integrated," reviewer Warren Ernst lauded the usefulness of the utilities in the suite and singled out CrashGuard 4.0 for its features. "On troublesome systems, CrashGuard 4.0 offers more useful features than . . . anything in McAfee Office's arsenal," he wrote. "For example, CrashGuard's new VitalSave feature offers the ability to automatically save open documents in Microsoft's and Corel's Office programs. If your Web browser crashes or freezes while you're viewing a Web page, CrashGuard can restart the browser and load the last-visited URL. And if you're not sure if one of your running programs has crashed, FreezeCheck will determine if a program needs unfreezing."

Ernst also pointed to Norton CleanSweep as a rich component of Norton SystemWorks. "Norton CleanSweep 4.5 boasts complete integration and a faster and more thorough cleaning routine. For example, Norton Utilities will activate CleanSweep if it determines you need more free space on your hard disk . . . We found CleanSweep offered more cleaning options [than McAfee Office's UnInstaller]," he wrote. About Norton SystemWorks Norton SystemWorks includes five powerful Symantec utilities-Norton AntiVirus, Norton Utilities, Norton CleanSweep, Norton CrashGuard, and a six-month subscription to Norton Web Services-in one convenient package.

Norton SystemWorks was designed specifically to provide consumers a comprehensive, completely integrated solution to keep their computers working. Much more than a bundle, Norton SystemWorks gives users everything they need in one box-one install, one product update centre, one manual, one support line, and one emergency disk set-all with a single, easy-to-use interface. Each product in the Norton SystemWorks suite is part of the Norton family of products designed and developed to work together. These products were then integrated using Symantec's integration technologies, thereby eliminating the problems associated with bundled offerings.

About Symantec in Canada:
With 250 employees, Symantec's Canadian operations are headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver. For information on Symantec products or current promotions, contact the Canadian office at (416) 441-3676 or access Symantec's Canadian Web Site. Symantec is an active member of the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft (CAAST).

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.

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, Calif., 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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