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Symantec and the Family Online Safety Institute Join Forces to Make the Online World Safer for Kids and Their Families
Symantec Internet Safety Advocate Marian Merritt Joins FOSI Board of Directors


Symantec Corp. (NASDAQ: SYMC), makers of
Norton security software, announced today that they are joining the Family
Online Safety Institute (FOSI) and will have Marian Merritt, Symantec's
Internet Safety Advocate, serve on the FOSI Board of Directors. FOSI is an
international non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and
promoting best practices, tools and methods for online safety. As an
active corporate supporter of FOSI, Symantec will participate in the
organization's Second Annual Family Online Safety Institute Conference and
Exhibition, taking place in Washington, D.C. in December, with Merritt
scheduled to speak.
"We are pleased to welcome Marian on behalf of Symantec. Her experience as
a nationally recognized advocate for family Internet safety will be a great
addition to the FOSI Board of Directors," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI.
"Symantec is committed to helping educate and deliver resources to families
and educators to raise awareness of Internet safety and will be a valuable
contributor in FOSI's mission to make the online world a safer place for
kids and families."
"Today, more than ever, we see a real urgency to get the message out to the
community about the dangers and issues kids face on the Internet," said
Marian Merritt, Symantec Internet Safety Advocate. "As an industry leader,
Symantec has put considerable resources behind the development of
innovative tools and materials to help families enjoy the Internet safely
and securely. As a member of the FOSI Board of Directors, we'll be able to
help advance FOSI's efforts for a safer and more secure Internet for our
families."
Symantec's Internet Safety Advocate
Merritt is a nationally recognized representative for Symantec's ongoing
efforts surrounding Internet safety. Merritt has more than 11 years of
experience in the Internet security industry, and as a mother of three
children who are active online, she offers both real world experience and
technical expertise in the area of online safety.
She recently participated in the National Governors Association and the
National Institute of Justice's Executive Policy Forum on Cyber and
Electronic Crime in September at Arlington, Va., where she briefed
governors on the challenges and solutions for cyber crimes and youth.
Throughout the year, Merritt has presented Internet safety workshops for
Parent-Teacher Organizations and Associations at schools around the United
States as part of Symantec's drive to deliver educational materials and
resources directly to parents and educators.
Last year, Symantec partnered with Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson, whose
personal platform was Internet safety for children, to launch the company's
nationwide Internet safety initiative. With Nelson, Merritt traveled
across the country to speak with city, state and national officials to
raise the profile for online safety.
New Internet Safety Resources for Families
As part of outreach efforts to educate parents, school teachers and
caregivers about Internet safety topics, including cyber bullying, Symantec
offers free resources and educational materials:
Norton Family Resources Web site -- Merritt serves as editor-in-chief
of this family-focused Web site (www.norton.com/familyresources) where she
offers tips, resources and information on a broad array of Internet
security topics.
Marian Merritt's "The Talk" -- In an effort to address the challenge
that many parents have in discussing Internet safety with their kids,
Merritt offers "The Talk." Merritt's version of "The Talk" arms parents
with the tools, including detailed tips and instructions, on how to engage
their kids in a conversation on their Internet activities and encourage
safe and responsible Internet use. "The Talk" can be downloaded for free at
the Norton Family Resources Web site.
Norton Family Online Safety Guide -- This free educational workbook is
packed with tips for keeping children safe on the Internet categorized by
age or topic. Merritt authored the guide, which received a 2008 iParenting
Media Award in the Best Book category. Families and educators can download
the free guide by visiting the Norton Family Resources Web site.
About Norton from Symantec
Symantec's Norton products protect consumers from traditional threats with
antivirus,
anti-spam and spyware protection, as well as bots, drive-by downloads and
identity theft -- while also being light on system resources. The company
also provides services such as online backup and PC tuneup, and is a
trusted source for family online safety.
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 FOSI
The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) works to make the online world
safe for kids and their families by identifying and promoting best
practices, tools and methods that also respect free speech. FOSI's members
include: AOL, AT&T, Blue Coat, BT Retail, Cisco, Comcast, Computing
Technology Industry Association, Crisp Thinking, France Telecom/Orange,
Google, GSMA, Loopt, Microsoft, Mpower Media, MySpace, Ning, Privo,
Rulespace, Sentinel, Symantec, Telefónica, Telmex, The Wireless Foundation,
and Verizon. FOSI hosts an annual international conference to bring
together Internet safety advocates from a variety of sectors, including
global corporations, government, non-profits, academia and the media, to
discuss the current pulse of online safety and emerging solutions that will
enhance it. For more information, please visit www.fosi.org.
The FOSI Annual
Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. on December 11, 2008 at the
Knight Conference Center at the Newseum.
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