Symantec fights Microsoft threat with Norton 360

Stan Beer
Thursday, 01 June 2006 20:52

Business IT - Security

Anti-virus leader Symantec Corp, under threat from Microsoft's entry its territory, has launched a counter-attack with the announcement of a new consumer PC security service to be branded Norton 360.

The security service will include online identity theft protection, backup and PC tune-up capabilities. Norton 360, previously codenamed Genesis, is part of Symantec's broader vision for the next generation of online security, coined Security 2.0. While Microsoft is claiming that its new Windows Live OneCare product will provide all the protection that its Windows XP and Vista users are likely to need, at least some security industry observers believe that Symantec is way ahead of Microsoft in security technology.

Charles Sharland, CEO of UK-based security vendor Appsense believes that Microsoft, despite its huge advantage of owning the desktop will be no threat to Symantec. "I think Symantec are well ahead of Microsoft in security technology. It's their area of speciality while Microsoft have got so many other things to worry about," said Sharland. "The threats are becoming more increasingly sophisticated these days so you need to have someone prottecting you who is constantly keeping ahead of the game."

Norton 360 will be delivered as an all-in-one service, with automatically installed updates. The service will provide data protection through automated online back-up and online transaction security, where new tools will help protect consumers from phishing scams and crimeware.

"Online threats are sophisticated and rapidly changing. We're committed to staying ahead of those threats and keeping consumers safe," said Enrique Salem, senior vice president, consumer products and solutions, Symantec Corp. "Today's consumers want a simple solution that keeps them safe online, without having to decipher technical jargon or keep track of back-ups. They just want assurance that their information and activities are safe. That's what Norton 360 will do."

Norton 360 is expected to launch by the end of the year, with the specific launch timing to be determined based on customer feedback during the beta program. The service will launch with worldwide availability in multiple languages and countries. It will provide security protection for both the Windows XP and the upcoming Windows Vista operating system when it is available, according to Symantec.

The last part in the Symantec statement is quite interesting, given that Symantec is currently trying halt the release of Vista in a lawsuit.