Norton Your Eyes Only and Norton Secret Stuff Provide Protection Against Malicious ActiveX Controls

CUPERTINO, Calif. -- February 13, 1997 -- Symantec Corporation (Nasdaq: SYMC) makers of the award-winning Norton Your Eyes Only for Windows 95 and new trial software, Norton Secret Stuff today announced that these two solutions can protect users against malicious ActiveX or Java applications such as the recently discovered ActiveX control created by the Chaos Computer Club. The Chaos Computer Club showed off an ActiveX control that is able to take money from one bank account and deposit it into another, without a personal identification number (PIN) which is meant to protect theft.

"This incident illustrates why users are increasingly concerned about Internet security, said Bob Pettit, director , product management, security and assistance business unit. "Internet users need to protect themselves with encryption products such as Norton Your Eyes Only. At a minimum, they should get started with a free trial of Norton Secret Stuff."

This most recent example of rogue ActiveX is downloaded from a web site and scans a user's computer for Intuit's Quicken finance software. If it should find Quicken, it then proceeds to search for banking information where it tricks Quicken into transferring funds from one bank account to another the next time a user logs onto a banking service.

Fortunately, Norton Your Eyes Only (NYEO) and Norton Secret Stuff (NSS) can prevent such illegal transactions from happening by encrypting users' Quicken files. The offending ActiveX file will be rendered useless because it will not be able to recognize the Quicken files it was designed to abuse.

NYEO comes in two versions: one for U.S. and Canadian use and another for international use (due to U.S. export laws). NSS comes in one version that is exportable and is now downloadable for free from www.symantec.com until April 1, 1997.

The press release contains forward-looking statements concerning product development efforts by Symantec. 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. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is obtained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Proxy statement dated July 29, 1996, the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 29, 1996 and the Company's Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending September 27, 1996.

Symantec Corporation develops, markets, and supports a complete line of application and system software products designed to enhance individual and workgroup productivity as well as manage networked computing environments. Platforms supported include IBM personal computers and compatibles, Apple Macintosh computers as well as all major network operating systems. Founded in 1982, the company's global operations span North America, Europe and several fast growing markets throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America. Information on the company and its products can be obtained by calling (800) 441-7234 toll free or (541) 334-6054.

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News Release Index - 1997
Copyright + 1996-1997 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved. Last revised: February 13, 1997