Symantec CEO Comments on Internet Security Market and Opportunities

CUPERTINO, Calif. - Dec. 27, 2000 - On the heels of a recent Network Associates announcement, Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today issued the following statement to its investors and customers:

"We have never been more confident in our future," said John W. Thompson, chairman, president and CEO of Symantec. "Symantec continues to gain momentum in the enterprise security business. Industry leaders such as Oracle, Cobalt, Yahoo and Earthlink have recently chosen Symantec's security technology. Global leaders in industries ranging from automotive, telecommunications and financial services are showing increasing confidence in our products and our company. In addition, our recently completed merger with AXENT Technologies makes Symantec the largest Internet security company in the world."

"Symantec's revenue recognition policy continues to reflect end-user demand and is well aligned with recognition requirements as outlined by generally accepted accounting practices," continued Thompson. "Symantec enjoys strong relationships with our channel partners helping them to build successful businesses around our products and technologies."

"Our consumer business remains strong. According to the latest PC Data figures, seven of the top 20 best selling business software comes from Symantec including Symantec's Norton AntiVirus 2001 which ranked number one," Thompson said.

Thompson concluded, "The problems of one company's execution are not indicative of the entire industry segment. We believe the Internet security opportunity represents tremendous potential for long-term growth. We are excited about our future and the possibilities it will bring for our customers and our shareholders."

About Symantec
Symantec, a world leader in Internet security technology, provides a broad range of content and network security solutions to individuals and enterprises. The company is a leading provider of virus protection, vulnerability assessment, intrusion prevention, Internet content and e-mail filtering, remote management technologies and security services to enterprises around the world. Symantec's Norton brand of consumer security products leads the market in worldwide retail sales and industry awards. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has worldwide operations in 36 countries.

Symantec's Canadian operations are headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver. For more information on Symantec products or current promotions, contact the Canadian office at (416) 441-3676 or access Symantec's Canadian Web site at www.symantec.ca www.symantec.ca. Symantec is an active member of the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft (CAAST).

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please view the Symantec Press Center at http://www.symantec.com/PressCenter/ on Symantec's Web site.

Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

AXENT, AXENT Technologies, the AXENT logo, Enterprise Security Manager, trust level management, and Lifecycle Security are trademarks or registered trademarks, in the United States and certain other countries, of AXENT Technologies, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Symantec is a registered trademark of Symantec Corporation.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied by this press release. Such risk factors include, among others: the risk that the Symantec and AXENT businesses will not be integrated successfully; the costs related to the merger; the difficulty of developing and marketing products that compete effectively with others and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Symantec's business generally. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Risk Factors sections of the Company's previously filed Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2000 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 29, 2000.