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Symantec Releases Anti-spyware Beta

Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition is being designed to provide real-time detection and automatic removal of spyware from users’ computers and prevent new spyware risks from impactingthe PC in the future. This new spyware functionality will be seamlessly integrated into Norton Internet Security, Symantec’s award-winning Internet security solution, which provides essentialprotection from viruses, hackers, and privacy risks.

Users can download the free public beta version of Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition from www.symantec.com/spyware. Plans call for Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition to be available for purchase by retail and OEM customers in the second quarter of the year.

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Unlike most standalone antispyware products that can’t fully detect spyware and adware in real time, Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition identifies spyware at the point of entry, leveraging Symantec’s highly effective mechanisms already in use to block viruses today. On-demand scanning options will include full system scans and scheduled scans as well as Norton QuickScan. Symantec’s Automatic LiveUpdate technology will deliver protection updates for new security risks on a regular basis. Norton QuickScan will begin scanning by default immediately upon receipt of the latest protection updates to detect active spyware without requiring user intervention.

In addition, Norton Personal Firewall, a component of Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition, will provide on-communication scanning by monitoring the data leaving a user’s computer. This real-time, network-level, behavior-based detection helps protect privacy by preventing personal information from being transmitted without the user’s knowledge. This additional layer of security automatically blocks spyware and other malicious applications from establishing outbound connections to the Internet.

Once a high-risk program is identified, Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition will employ sophisticated new removal and repair technology to ensure that the spyware and other malicious code are automatically and safely removed, returning the system to a clean state. All repairs will be backed up using Symantec’s Quarantine technology. This gives the user the opportunity to safely undo any changes they have made to their system.

In addition to spyware protection, Symantec’s Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition will continue to include the firewall, intrusion prevention, privacy protection, virus protection, spam filtering, and content filtering features

Pricing and Availability

Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition is scheduled to be available from OEM computer manufacturers and for purchase at various retail locations and online retailers in the second quarter of the year. The estimated retail price will be US$79.95.

Ian Bell
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