Symantec will offer anytime support on Y2K issues

P>BANGALORE: Symantec Asia Pacific will be staffed throughout the forthcoming new year and new year's eve, to provide support to organizations with Y2K related issues. According to a company release, Symantec Millennium Action Response Team (SMART) will provide organizations access to expertise from the Symantec AntiVirus Research Centre (SARC) and assistance through Symantec's customer support system.

Over the Christmas and millennium period, SARC will research new virus threats, particularly monitoring any viruses designed to take advantage of the Y2K transition period. Symantec claims that, in India on December 31 and January 1, Symantec's support engineers and technical support analysts will be available round-the-clock and will offer support to customers that will ensure a smooth transition into the new millennium. "While the Y2K bug has nothing to do with viruses themselves, there is every chance that virus writers will try to take advantage of the significance of the 2000 date by creating viruses that make reference to the new millennium," said SARC Asia Pacific regional manager David Banes. "In order to be prepared for this, SARC will analyze the virus samples over the new year period, quickly provide virus information and definition updates to protect customers against all known threats," he added.

SARC has identified a few common key elements typical of malicious programs that are known to pose Y2K threats. Elements identified include - a message displayed about Y2K issues, system clock resetting to simulate a Y2K problem and program or data modification to simulate Y2K problem. To educate and assist customers in dealing with the transition, the SARC web site is regularly updated with information relating to Symantec's Y2K compliant software, as well as answers to frequently asked questions regarding Y2K preparedness.