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Symantec's Commitment to Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online

Posted on: Friday, 14 December 2007, 00:00 CST

Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) is committed to keeping kids safe and secure on the Internet, which is why we launched the Norton Family Online Safety Initiative. Our goal is to educate as many parents and teachers as possible about how they can protect kids while they are on the Internet. We're also reaching out directly to kids.

NORTON CONNECTED & PROTECTED MOBILE TOUR

 --  Reaching Out to Parents, Teachers     and Kids Throughout North     America: Throughout 2007, we     crisscrossed the continent with     iKeepSafe, a non-profit committed     to Internet safety, exploring the     role the Internet and other     technologies play in children's     personal, school and family     lives. --  Key Experts Share Their     Knowledge: Symantec's Internet     Safety Advocate Marian Merritt     and partners from iKeepSafe,     including former Utah First Lady     Jacalyn Leavitt, met with     students, teachers and parents as     part of a grassroots effort to     increase awareness of Internet     safety. --  Topics that Matter Most: We     discussed hot topics like     cyber-bullying, cyber-predators     and risks associated with social     networking. --  Norton's Classroom on Wheels:     Helping us drive home the message     of Internet safety was an     interactive classroom on wheels -     literally an 18-wheeler! -     stocked with information and     advice on how to keep safe and     secure when using the latest     technologies. 

NEVADA FIRST LADY DAWN GIBBONS ISSUES AN "INTERNET SAFETY CHALLENGE"

We closed out our 2007 program today with a special event at the Crestwood-Edison Elementary School in Las Vegas with Nevada First Lady Dawn Gibbons, who announced an "Internet Safety Challenge." This challenge encourages Nevada's computer and technology teachers to integrate Internet safety education programming in elementary school curriculum. During this event, we honored Gibbons, a coalition member, with the Internet Keep Safe Award for her efforts towards keeping kids safe online. Symantec also awarded a $5,000 grant to the Clark County Medical Society Alliance (CCMSA), a strong supporter of Internet safety, to help teachers embrace this challenge and roll out the "Faux Paw the Techno Cat(TM)" Internet safety program in the Clark County School District, the fifth largest school district in the nation.

"FAUX PAW THE TECHNO CAT" INTERNET SAFETY CURRICULUM

 --  What is It?: The Faux Paw program was created specifically for     elementary school children and follows the adventures of Faux Paw the     Techno Cat, a curious Web-surfing cat who teaches kids how to keep safe     online.  The program consists of children's books and animated DVDs, as     well as online tutorials for students, parents and educators. --  Who's Behind It?: Symantec sponsored the creation of the Faux Paw     program, which was developed by Penn State Dept. of Education, D.A.R.E. and     iKeepSafe. --  Where Do I Get More Info?: To learn more about Faux Paw and watch     video tutorials, visit www.iKeepSafe.org.      

QUOTES:

Marian Merritt, Symantec Internet Safety Advocate

"We need to bridge the gap between adults, many of whom have little or no familiarity with the Internet, and their cyber-savvy children, many of whom were reaching for the computer mouse at the same time they were reaching for their sippy cups. By talking with students, teachers and parents about issues of Internet safety, we hope to encourage open, honest dialogue about the threats and benefits of the Internet."

Vicki Cichon, CCMSA Internet Safety Program Chair

"The Clark County Medical Society Alliances believes online safety for Nevada's children is a serious issue and one the members of the Alliance can assist in addressing. We are especially excited about the opportunity to expand the Faux Paw program into schools, as it provides a valuable resource for teachers and gives our members the opportunity for hands-on work within the community."

RELEVANT LINKS

 --  For information on how to keep your family safe online, visit the     Norton Family Resource Center at http://www.norton.com/familyresource --  To learn more about the efforts of the iKeepSafe Coalition, visit     http://www.ikeepsafe.org --  More about the Clark County Medical Society Alliance and the     organization's commitment to Internet safety is available at     www.ccmsa-lv.org      

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in infrastructure software, enabling businesses and consumers to have confidence in a connected world. The company helps customers protect their infrastructure, information and interactions by delivering software and services that address risks to security, availability, compliance and performance. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has operations in more than 40 countries. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

More on the Internet Keep Safe Coalition www.iKeepSafe.org

The Internet Keep Safe Coalition group works to give parents and educators the information and tools that empower them to teach children the safe and healthy use of technology and the Internet. Governors, first spouses and attorneys general formed this Coalition in partnership with a growing list of crime prevention and law enforcement agencies, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Internet Keep Safe Coalition resources for parents and educators include the Faux Paw(TM) Internet Safety Series (children's books and animated films), Community Action Tools (presentations for parents and students), and educational curriculum and resources for teachers. To preview the Faux Paw film, go to iKeepSafe.org.

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 Contact:  Cecilia Daclan Symantec Corp. +1 (424) 750-7575 Cecilia_daclan@symantec.com  Jessica Fries CarryOn Communication for Symantec +1 (323) 988-4645 jessicaf@carryonpr.com

SOURCE: Symantec

Source: MARKET WIRE

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