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Symantec Releases New Norton Security Software

New York – Symantec today
boosted its mobile security offerings with several titles for tablet PCs and
smartphones.

The company also rolled
out Norton Internet Security 2012 and Norton Anti-Virus 2012, along with a new
Cloud-based user interface.

Norton Internet Security
2012 is available today for $69.99 for one year with three licenses. Anti-Virus
2012 is $39.99 for a single year on one computer.

On the mobile front the
company unveiled Norton Tablet Security, its first full-title for the Android
tablet PC space. Tablet Security complements Norton Mobile Security Lite, a free
app for the smartphone market that was previously available.

Con Mallon, Symantec’s mobile
product management director, said the threat against Android tablets is not
high at this time, but that this will change as criminals begin to focus their
attention on this exploding category. In addition, he said Symantec and the
security category in general has to start educating the population that their
mobile devices are not necessarily safe and going forward these will come under
attack.

The focus being placed on
mobile platforms is also part of Symantec’s plan to keep the company and its
products relevant as computing moves from the PC to mobile platforms, Mallon
said. This also includes moving more of the software’s functionality off the
devices and into the Cloud.

Mallon said current
problems are brought onto a tablet via Trojan apps or are sent in an SMS text that
is blocked by Tablet Security.

The exact ship date for
Tablet Security is not available, but it will carry a $39.99 suggested price
tag for a one-year subscription.

Symantec has also made
its Norton Anti-theft Beta software solution available as a free download. This
addresses an even more pressing problem, Mallon said, as many people either
lose or have their portable device stolen.

“About 36 percent of
owners have their device either lost or stolen, and Anti-theft can help located
the device, lock it or wipe the data from it,” he said.

Some of these features
are included in the free Lite version for smartphones, but the software had to
be rewritten for tablets. Since most tablets are only Wi-Fi-enabled, the system
could not use the cellular network to trace the device. Once a device that is
reported lost or stolen, attempts to access the Internet the software will
notify Symantec, and it will be shut down and located. The camera can even be
turned on to take a photo of the illegal user.

There are no immediate
plans to make the Tablet Security function with any other mobile OS, Mallon
said.

Symantec’s other major move for 2012 is expanding its Norton
Everywhere concept. Norton Everywhere uses the Cloud to allow users to manage
their various Norton-protected products remotely, said Jordan Blake, senior
product manager.

Norton Everywhere and its Norton Management component are part of
Norton Internet Security (NIS) 2012.

“Norton Management provides the user with the ability to manage
security from the Cloud and makes it easier to move the software between
computers,” Blake said.

One Norton license can now be shared over the Cloud between
computers anywhere in the world, and if you buy a new computer, the license can
be moved from the old PC to the new one without having to physically install anything,
Blake said.

NIS 2012 also has an improved Norton Insight to block malicious
software, Download Insight to check downloaded content for problems, and SONAR.

Also included is an improved Norton Identity Safe in the Cloud.
This protects personal and financial information by storing it in a secure
location in the Cloud. This application also lets the user set a single
password, making it easier to log into websites.

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