Symantec on Thursday announced Norton Zone, a new consumer-focused secure file sharing service designed to enable users to safely access, sync and share photos, videos and documents from any Windows, Mac, Android or iOS device.
As part of the service, all files are scanned for viruses and malware before being shared.
The company is running a free, limited public beta program that is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Key features in the current beta include:
• Always have the latest files on-hand – As soon as a file or folder is added or changed in Norton Zone, all users granted access will automatically see that change on all of their devices, so everyone always has the most up-to-date version at hand. The free beta version of Norton Zone also keeps track of all versions of the same file for a span of 90 days.
• Easily and securely share files and folders – Individuals can share photos, videos and other information uploaded to Norton Zone by emailing a link, without ever worrying about size limitations. They can also provide other Norton Zone users with shared access to files and entire folders.
• Post photos and videos to Facebook – Users can post Norton Zone links to photos and videos on Facebook, and can disable the link anytime. Users can also control how long or how many times a file can be accessed via link sharing.
• Backup – Information stored in Norton Zone is automatically backed up and replicated in a secured cloud, providing additional protection for important files, even from natural disasters.
Symantec also said that the service uses high-level, industrial-grade encryption to protect files during transfer and while stored in data centers.
The full-featured version of Norton Zone is scheduled to be available in the U.S. in 2013.