Norton Antivirus for Firewalls 1.5 Eliminates Internet Viruses on IBM, CVP Firewalls Before They Enter Corporate Network

Superior Detection/Repair Technology Ensures Unsurpassed Scanning and Virus Removal

Toronto, Ont., - October 20, 1999 - Symantec Canada today announced Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls 1.5, the only anti-virus solution with native support for the IBM firewall. Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls 1.5 utilises Symantec's award-winning anti-virus engine to eliminate the threat of Internet viruses on IBM and CVP-compliant firewalls before they enter the corporate network. Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls 1.5 supports Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000.

"By developing Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls in close consultation with leading firewall vendors such as IBM, Symantec is providing organisations an effective deterrent to Internet-based viruses," said Enrique Salem, vice president of Symantec's Security and Assistance Business Unit. "Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls is built upon proven technologies that are widely recognised for their superior virus detection and repair rates as well as for their unparalleled speed and ease at stopping malicious code at the corporate firewall."

"Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls is a critical component of IBM's SecureWay FirstSecure solution, the first fully integrated security solution for e-business," said Gerry Young, Secureway Boundary Server Market Manager at IBM. "Symantec's Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls complements SecureWay FirstSecure's comprehensive framework of e-business security solutions by reinforcing the corporate firewall with next-generation anti-virus technology." Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls 1.5 provides unsurpassed scanning and virus removal, scanning HTTP, FTP and SMTP traffic. The superior scanning technology also scans within compressed files such as ZIP, self-extracting ZIP, and MIME-encoded files. Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls 1.5 detects and removes the most lethal polymorphic viruses using Striker32 technology, Symantec's state-of-the-art virus detection and repair technology for complex 32-bit Windows-based viruses. To minimise its impact on network performance, Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls 1.5 scans only suspicious traffic for viruses. Administrators can manage traffic load by adding multiple Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls servers to compatible firewalls, one for each Internet protocol. To simplify set-up, all configuration is handled at the server and can be accomplished remotely through an HTML-based graphical user interface, eliminating the need for "per-client" configuration.

To ensure that firewalls are protected against even the most recent viruses, administrators can use LiveUpdate to quickly download the latest virus definitions from the Symantec web site without interrupting network activities. Updates can be scheduled or performed on demand.

Norton AntiVirus for Firewalls 1.5 also includes a modular engine called NAVEX that allows Symantec to ship fundamental changes and updates to the virus scanning technology with every virus definition update. With LiveUpdate and NAVEX, corporations have the quickest and most cost-effective tool for guarding their networks against viruses and other malicious code.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT:
This press release contains forward-looking statements. There are certain important factors that could cause Symantec's future development efforts to differ materially from those anticipated by some of the statements made above. Among these are the anticipation of the growth of certain market segments, the positioning of Symantec's products in those segments, the competitive environment in the software industry, dependence on other products, changes to operating systems and product strategy by vendors of operating systems, and the importance of new Symantec products. Additional information concerning those and other factors is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 2, 1999.

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.

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please view the Symantec Press Centre on Symantec's web site. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.