Symantec announced the availability of Norton Confidential, the world’s first comprehensive online transaction security solution.

Norton Confidential provides consumers with an unprecedented, dual level of protection against the most dangerous tools in an attacker’s toolkit: fraudulent phishing Web sites and eavesdropping crimeware. To further strengthen consumers’ confidence when conducting transactions online, Norton Confidential increases protection when consumers are most at risk—at the very moment they begin sharing their sensitive, confidential personal information like passwords and account numbers. Most importantly, Norton Confidential takes the guesswork out of security with clear visual indicators that let consumers know if it’s safe to conduct business online.

According to an October 2005 Symantec commissioned Harris Interactive study, 71 percent of consumers say they are “uncomfortable” providing personal information online and 53 percent report being “very concerned” about online identity theft. Symantec’s most recent Internet Security Threat Report found that during the period of January – June 2006, 30 of the top 50 malicious code samples exposed a user’s confidential information.

Norton Confidential is the only transaction security product to protect against both phishing and crimeware with a single solution. Not only are consumers blocked or warned from visiting phishing Web sites, but the anti-crimeware protection in Norton Confidential focuses on blocking keystroke logging and screen capture attempts from eavesdropping software at the very point of an online transaction.

“A comprehensive transaction security solution that addresses online fraud at both the phishing and crimeware level is what today’s connected consumer needs,” said Jonathan Singer, analyst, Yankee Group. “Computer users are less trusting of the Internet and the transactions they conduct online. A product like Norton Confidential addresses a growing market need and helps strengthen and secure consumer trust online.”

“Home computer users are under attack by cybercriminals who are looking to gain financially by defrauding consumers—a sobering reality that led Symantec to create Norton Confidential,” said Enrique Salem, group president, Consumer Business Unit, Symantec Corp. “Norton Confidential helps protect consumers from cybercriminals and hackers, and it also gives consumers peace-of-mind and confidence when shopping online, banking online or conducting other sensitive transactions on the Internet.”

Norton Confidential provides consumers with comprehensive online transaction security that safeguards against online identity theft and fraud; blocks known and unknown attacks designed to steal passwords, account numbers and other personal information; authenticates high-profile banking and shopping Web sites; and, minimizes risks associated with online transactions.

Norton Confidential is scheduled to be available for purchase in October 2006. The suggested retail price of Norton Confidential is US$49.99 (includes one-year service subscription to use the product and receive Symantec’s protection updates via LiveUpdate and new product functionality as available).