New Symantec AntiVirus 2001 for Palm OS Secures Handheld Devices

Symantec Delivers Market-Leading Anti-Virus Protection to the Palm Platform

TORONTO, Ont. - Mar. 27, 2001 - Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced Symantec AntiVirus 2001 for Palm OS, a new version of the world's premier anti-virus software specially adapted for handheld devices. Available to order online from Symantec web site (www.symantec.ca), Symantec AntiVirus 2001 for Palm OS safeguards critical data on the Palm Operating System against potential attacks by viruses and other malicious code. Symantec AntiVirus for Palm OS is also included in the new Norton AntiVirus 2001 Professional Edition, the leading virus protection solution for small businesses and professionals.

"Handheld and wireless devices represent a productivity-enhancing tool that an increasing number of business professionals and consumers are embracing," said Steve Cullen, senior vice president of Symantec's Consumer Products Division. "To address the parallel rise in security risks associated with these devices, Symantec has expanded its market-leading anti-virus solutions to protect this growing population of handheld users. With Symantec AntiVirus 2001 for Palm OS, customers can have the most effective protection against security threats, including viruses, Trojan horses, and other malicious code."

As evidenced by the recent discovery of Palm.Liberty.A, the first known Trojan horse for the Palm OS, handheld devices are increasingly at risk of attack by malicious code. With the ability to synchronize handhelds to both desktop PCs and network servers, over wireless as well as wireline connections, mobile users use their Palm devices to interact with their customer database and other enterprise applications anytime, anywhere.

Symantec AntiVirus 2001 for Palm OS scans for and detects viruses in Palm devices, providing real time protection and on-demand scans to protect data on the handheld device even between synchronizations. Symantec's exclusive Auto-Protect feature runs unobtrusively, protecting customers from viruses before they can infect their device. Symantec AntiVirus 2001 for Palm OS provides protection when the user opens an application, beams files, navigates the Internet or synchronizes data with a PC. Symantec has the only solution that provides automatic LiveUpdate downloads of the latest definitions to the PC when it connects to the Internet. They are then transferred automatically to the hand-held device during the next HotSync. Symantec AntiVirus 2001 for Palm OS scans Palm applications locally on the Palm device, providing end-point protection against viruses. The scanning engine of this solution works in real time - and as an on-demand scanner - that examines all applications in the Palm and checks for the presence of a virus. Upon detection, it prompts the user to remove the virus.

Symantec AntiVirus 2001 for Palm OS features easy installation on the PC, and all files needed on a Palm OS device are installed automatically next time the user synchronizes. Symantec's anti-virus technology uses an optimized "micro-engine" for the Palm OS platform which requires approximately 50KB of space on the Palm OS compatible device.

Pricing and Availability
Symantec AntiVirus for Palm OS is available for immediate download from http://ca.symantecstore.com for an estimated retail price of CDN$59.95. Current users of Norton AntiVirus may purchase Symantec AntiVirus 2001 for Palm OS for CDN$44.95 after a $15 mail-in rebate.

About Symantec
Symantec, a world leader in Internet security technology, provides a broad range of content and network security solutions to individuals and enterprises. The company is a leading provider of virus protection, vulnerability assessment, intrusion prevention, Internet content and e-mail filtering, remote management technologies and security services to enterprises around the world. Symantec's Norton brand of consumer security products leads the market in worldwide retail sales and industry awards. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has worldwide operations in 36 countries. For more information, please visit our web site at www.symantec.com.

Symantec's Canadian operations are headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver. For more information on Symantec products or current promotions, contact the Canadian office at (416) 441-3676 or access Symantec's Canadian Web site at www.symantec.ca. Symantec is an active member of the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft (CAAST).

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please view the Symantec Press Center at http://www.symantec.com/PressCenter/ on Symantec's Web site. All prices noted are in US dollars and are valid only in the United States.

Symantec is a U.S. registered trademark of Symantec Corporation. Palm OS and HotSync are registered trademarks and Palm is a trademark of Palm, Inc. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.