Security and data protection for mobile devices, smart devices and new DNS Service extends user protection to an ever growing list of connected devices
With the role of the PC starting to diminish and consumers spending an increasing amount of time accessing the Internet and consuming media through other platforms and devices, consumers need new protections from the ever increasing number of threats. Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced a new line of products and services that dramatically broadens its line of protection beyond the PC.
Today Symantec unveiled Norton Everywhere, a three-part initiative that spans the areas of mobile safety, web safety and trust across any device and embedded services on smart devices.
There are over 10 billion non-PC devices that connect to the Internet today and that number is expected to grow to almost 20 billion by 2014, according to technology research firm IDC. Non PC devices already outnumber PC workstations by 5-to-1.
“We are entering a new era where non-PC devices are exploding in numbers, which means more opportunity for cybercriminals. It’s becoming more and more critical for consumer to be protected beyond their PCs,” said Janice Chaffin, President Consumer Business Unit, Symantec.
Products Announced Today Include:
• Norton Smartphone Security for Android (Beta)
• Norton DNS (Beta)
• Norton Connect (Beta)
Norton Mobile
Norton Smartphone Security for Android will be available in beta in June 2010. The product will enable users to remotely lock or wipe their device via text message in the event of loss or theft. The product will also include antimalware protection and call blocking for unwanted callers.
In addition to Norton Smartphone Security, the company announced Norton Connect Beta, a mobile application that lets iPhone or Android users access files archived on its cloud storage service, Norton Online Backup or Norton 360.
The company also launched m.norton.com – a mobile destination available to all mobile users to access the latest news, videos, and downloads from Norton.
Symantec is also working HTC MobilityNow, a division of device manufacturer HTC Corporation, on software development and testing on the Android platform.
Norton DNS
Norton DNS will provide a safer, more reliable, and faster Internet experience by delivering a variety of basic protection services like anti-phishing, antimalware and anti-spyware via Norton verified web filtering all at the DNS level. With Norton DNS, when users attempt to access a URL, it will first be verified by Norton before the browser can even attempt to reach the Web site.
Symantec will launch Norton DNS Beta as a free service – and keep the service free if the company is able to monetize the service via other means such as keyword targeted advertising on error pages when DNS lookups are unsuccessful, a common method used by Internet Service Providers.
The DNS service, if widely adopted, will also give Symantec another valuable set of data from potentially millions of Internet users and insights into the sites they visit.
Norton DNS will compete with OpenDNS, a similar service currently used by millions of users and organizations around the world.
Norton for Smart Devices
Non PC devices that connect to the Internet such as video game consoles and televisions often have little or no security built into them. Norton for Smart Devices will bring Symantec embedded security and other services into non-PC internet connected media devices.
Through a strategic partnership with Mocana Corporation, in which Symantec is an investor, Norton for Smart Devices will help device manufacturers bring new devices to market faster and more securely. Norton and Mocana solutions will help manufacturers update a device’s firmware, operating system and applications, remotely support a device, and bring secure online storage to a device in order to secure configuration settings, application data and user data. More details on the partnership will be announced soon.
Additional information on Norton Everywhere is available at:
http://www.norton.com/everywhere
Norton Smartphone Security for Android
http://www.symantec.com/norton/smartphone-security-android
Norton Mobile: