Symantec logs on to Mobile security

SAN FRANCISCO,US: Highlighting the growing importance of non-PC devices connected to the Internet, Symantec Corp. (SYMC) has unveiled a new family of products targeted primarily at mobile devices.

The new line, dubbed Norton Everywhere, includes products covering three broad areas: home-network security, mobile phone security, and device security. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company unveiled the products, set for release next month, at its annual analyst day conference in New York.

Dave Cole, senior director of consumer products at Symantec, described this initiative as the culmination of work started last August. He noted that the familiar Norton security products on the PC are directly related to Symantec's enterprise-level products - the new initiative has no such connection.

"We saw all the new stuff popping up, funky new devices just using the Internet as a utility, digital picture frames, Blu-ray devices that you hope will get updates online, and so on," said Cole. "We asked, what would a winner look like in this market? We have to make a big statement, enter the market quickly, and adjust quickly."

Norton Connect (currently named "Norton Tiki") already gives iPhone and Android users access to files backed up using Norton Online Backup or Norton 360. The company will refresh this product and "make it more fabulous," releasing a beta in June. Also that month, Symantec will release a beta version of Norton for Android with features like scanning for bogus apps, remote wipe and lock, and caller blocking.

"Mobile security done right won't be little yellow boxes," said Cole. "Mobile might even be a free feature in an app market".

Also in June Norton DNS Live will add Web safety by optionally blocking access to problem sites at the DNS level and will also speed Web access.

"We're not yet ready to release results, but informal initial tests show it has a good impact on speed by accelerating DNS response," said Cole. Changing DNS server settings is tough for the average user, so Symantec will provide apps to make it "dead easy." Site blocking at the DNS level means Norton can block malicious sites for any device - it also potentially extends the parental control offered in OnlineFamily.Norton to connected devices like game consoles.

The third element of the Norton Everywhere initiative is smart device security. Symantec partnered with Mocana, specialists in smart device security. Mocana's existing platform works with 35 operating systems and 70 different CPUs. This partnership potentially lets Symantec become the security provider for any of those smart devices, with added benefits like using its existing LiveUpdate technology to update device firmware. The first such smart device service will be available this summer.

Cole concluded saying that "in the future we'll be taking a different and bold approach to security. If new threat types appear we'll be in play already. Some of our efforts may appeal, some may be huge, some may flop... We won't just be reactive, sitting around waiting for malware to appear."