March 19, 2008 09:00 ET

iKeepSafe and Symantec Host Norton Connected & Protected Kids' Assembly to Honor Utah First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman

iKeepSafe Initiates Implementation of Internet Safety Program in Salt Lake City Schools

SALT LAKE CITY, UT--(Marketwire - March 19, 2008) - Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC), makers of Norton security software, and the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, a national non-profit organization committed to Internet safety, today honored Utah First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman with the Internet Keep Safe Award for her efforts towards keeping Salt Lake City's children safe online. Also in attendance was honored guest, Representative Bradley Daw, of District 60, Orem, Utah. Symantec has an established presence in Utah with more than 500 employees in its Orem and Lindon offices.

Symantec Internet Safety Advocate Marian Merritt presented the award to Huntsman at a "Norton Connected & Protected Kids' Assembly" attended by more than 100 students, parents and teachers of Hawthorne Elementary. Additionally, iKeepSafe introduced the "Faux Paw the Techno Cat®" Internet safety program for rollout in Salt Lake City schools.

As First Lady, Huntsman is the founder and chair of the nonprofit organization Power in You. This organization is dedicated to highlighting the emotional aspect of life challenges and at-risk behavior in order to help teens make positive choices and have healthy attitudes on the road to adulthood and beyond. Among other issues covered, cyberbullying is a major concern for Huntsman. Her goal is to help kids understand they are not alone and have the power within to handle whatever challenges they may face.

"Mary Kaye Huntsman's efforts, along with the school's programs, are critical to keeping children safe online," said Marian Merritt, Internet Safety Advocate with Symantec. "Symantec is thrilled to partner with iKeepSafe to support the efforts of these organizations."

The Faux Paw Internet safety curriculum was sponsored by Symantec and created in partnership with Penn State's Dept. of Education and a global team of educators. Consisting of children's books and animated DVDs, the program was created specifically for elementary school children and follows the adventures of Faux Paw the Techno Cat, a curious, Web-surfing cat who teaches kids how to keep safe online. Online tutorials for teachers and parents covering topics such as social networking, cyberbullying and general tips about how to keep kids safe online are also available as part of the curriculum from iKeepSafe and Symantec. The Faux Paw Internet safety program will roll out in Salt Lake City schools later this year. The Utah Medical Alliance and partner organizations are assisting the initiative by sharing the iKeepSafe message in schools and with parents.

"Utah is the most connected state in the nation. It is important that every elementary student learn how to keep safe while online," said Jacalyn Leavitt, former first lady of Utah and iKeepSafe founder. "We are grateful to the generosity of 1-800-CONTACTS and Utah Families Foundation, allowing each 1st through 5th grade classroom in the state to receive a book from the 'Faux Paw the Techno Cat Series,' which includes an animated cartoon and free learning resources. The Safe & Drug Free Schools Program has also partnered with us to distribute these resources and strengthen this effort to protect children."

Parents can visit the Norton Family Resources Web site (www.norton.com/familyresources) for additional information on Internet safety and see when the Norton Connected and Protected Mobile Tour will come to their town.

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help businesses and consumers secure and manage their information. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has operations in more than 40 countries. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

About the Internet Keep Safe Coalition (www.iKeepSafe.org)

The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is a broad partnership of governors and/or first spouses, attorneys general, public health and educational professionals, law enforcement and industry leaders working together for the health and safety of youth online. The coalition partners include the FBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Reading is Fundamental, and Communities in Schools. (For a complete list of partners, visit iKeepSafe.org.) The coalition provides parent tutorials and age-appropriate educational resources, including the Faux Paw the Techno Cat ®Internet safety series of books and animated films for children. iKeepSafe uses these unique partnerships to disseminate the safety resources to families worldwide, including pilot programs launching this year in China, India and Australia.