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

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

CUPERTINO, Calif. - Nov. 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 organisations 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 Centre. 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 world-wide," said Steve Cullen, vice president of Symantec's Consumer Products Division. "This partnership enables us to extend the powerful detection and repair capabilities of our next-generation anti-virus software to organisations needing the best protection available to guard against virus threats of today as well as tomorrow."

Norton AntiVirus 2000, the newest version of the world's 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 Centre (SARC).

Additionally, Norton AntiVirus includes LiveAdvisor, a new service built into select Symantec retail software that provides consumers with free, personalised 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. Centralised, 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.

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.