According to Symantec, the software will detect when a Web site or malicious program is trying to swipe a user name or password. This phenomenon, called phishing, is a rising form of Internet crime.
A phishing attack usually involves a link sent by e-mail or instant message that leads to a Web page constructed to appear legitimate. Once the user reaches the phony site, the Web page often asks for sensitive data such as the user's bank account or Social Security number or other information that can be used for an identity theft scheme or other online fraud.

Security and software vendors are developing many products designed to thwart phishing attacks. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, a consortium of companies and researchers, has recorded a record 20,109 unique phishing attacks in May.

Norton Confidential will scan Web sites visited by a user for fraudulent or suspicious activity and compare the Web site against lists of fraudulent ones. Norton Confidential will also generate warnings for pages that function like known fraudulent sites.

Confidential can also scan computers for Trojan horse programs. These are applications that purport to be harmless but have malicious functions, such as recording keystrokes or downloading other bad programs.

Confidential will verify sites' authenticity using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology, Symantec said. Hackers have found a variety of ways to fake a site with SSL; their methods include manipulating graphics or exploiting Web browser flaws. The software is capable of encrypting stored passwords and prompting when credentials are sent to unknown or unauthorized sites, Symantec said.

In October, Symantec will offer a version for Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh operating system that is similar to the one for Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP OS. Pricing will be released later, the company said.