Symantec Corporation, the leading anti-virus and utilities software company, has launched Norton AntiVirus 2000, the latest version of its anti-virus software. This software provides automatic protection against viruses and other malicious software, including email attachments and internet downloads.

Joy Ghosh, country manager, Symantec India, says, "Virus attacks have multiplied considerably with increasing use of email and Internet." Good for Symantec.

Norton AntiVirus 2000 has powerful features that protect the users'' machines even while users are on the Internet. It has a new feature that automatically scans incoming e-mail attachments from POP based applications like Microsoft Outlook, Eudora Pro, Netscape Messenger, and so on. It also has the capability to automatically eliminate viruses in multiple-level compressed files.

The software automatically blocks destructive ActiveX code and Java applets and has a detection engine that guards users against such benign-looking malicious programs. Users can also send suspicious looking files over the Internet to the Symantec AntiVirus Research Centre for analysis and updation on viruses.

The Norton AntiVirus 2000 features a new graphical user interface for virus alerts and shutdowns. Besides it is compatible with Windows 98 and Windows 2000. Another feature introduced is the Live Advisor, which provides users personalised support via the Internet, besides alerts, tips and tricks, and upgrade information.

Norton AntiVirus 2000 includes a heuristics scanner named Bloodhound, which detects new and unknown viruses, and AutoProtect, which scans all files that are being run, created, copied or downloaded.

System requirements: Intel 486 or higher or 100per cent compatible, Windows 95/ 98, 16 MB RAM (32 MB recommended), 45 MB disk space and CD ROM drive. For Windows NT/ 2000 Intel CPU (or 100 per cent compatible), 16 MB RAM for Win NT(32 MB recommended), 32 MB RAM for Windows 2000 (64 MB recommended) 50 MB disk space and CD ROM drive.

The software is available for an estimated retail price of Rs. 3,115 and at an introductory offer of Rs. 2,650 along with till 30 November 1999. Contact: Ambarish Deshpande at Godrej Pacific Technology Ltd, Mumbai, on fax 517 0415 for further details.