New product protects OS/2 customers from CIH virus

SINGAPORE -- August 25, 1998 -- Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) and IBM (NYSE: IBM) have underlined their commitment to OS/2* platform users with the launch of an upgraded antivirus product which protects customers against the CIH virus.

Symantec has built on IBM's existing antivirus technology and expertise as the OS/2 platform vendor by creating a new scanning engine and developing a full technical support program which includes fully-tested virus definitions and future engine updates from the Symantec Antivirus Research Center (SARC).

Earlier this year Symantec announced an alliance with IBM to jointly develop and deliver a single family of antivirus products, including new products to support IBM platforms, and license IBM's immune system technology. As part of the agreement, IBM also assigned its antivirus customer base and OEM contracts to Symantec.

"Later this year we plan to launch a new product for OS/2 customers to upgrade to which will combine Symantec's best-of-breed antivirus expertise with IBM's expertise as the OS/2 platform vendor," Enrique Salem, vice president of Symantec's Security and Assistance Business Unit. "We will be launching other new products to support OS/2 in the near future."

Phyllis Byrne, vice president, IBM distributed systems services at IBM added: "Since we announced our alliance with Symantec in May, both parties have focused on serving customers' needs. Symantec's development of IBM's OS/2 antivirus technology demonstrates the close cooperation between our two companies and our commitment to OS/2 customers, many of whom are in the banking and insurance industries where the best antivirus solution is critical to running their business."

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.

About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping business innovate. IBM Software offers the widest range of applications, middleware and operating systems for all types of computing platforms, allowing customers to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. The fastest way to get more information about IBM Software is through the IBM Software home page at http://www.software.ibm.com. Additional resources for the news media may be found at http://www.ibm.com/Press.

* Indicates a trademark or registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

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 Cafe product lines in Internet development tools.

Note to Editors
Founded in 1982, Symantec maintains corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California with regional offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Korea, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne -- Australia and New Zealand. Traded on Nasdaq under the symbol SYMC, Symantec is ranked in the top ten international software vendors and employs more than 2000 people worldwide. Information on the company and regional activities can be accessed from the Symantec Asia Pacific Regional Media Centre Online at www.symantec.com/region/reg_ap/PressCenter/sp.