Symantec launches new security initiatives

Subbalakshmi B. M

Bangalore: Symantec India has got aggressive in its anti-piracy campaign.
Having established a 'Brand Protection Task Force', Symantec is working
aggressively to track down and investigate reported incidents of pirated and
counterfeit Symantec software and shut down the operations to raise awareness
among the public about the existence of said software and the dangers associated
with the use of such software, besides developing various technological
solutions to inhibit the pirated and counterfeit production of Symantec
products.

Giving details of the anti-piracy drive, Annette Martis National Sales
Manager, Consumer Products and Solutions, Symantec India said, "As we continue
to battle software piracy and counterfeit software, we have successfully blended
technology innovation in our new Norton 2008 products to prevent piracy. These
products come with a special security packaging that has a hologram on it which
cannot be copied. In order to ensure that our partners buy genuine software and
sell the same to customer, we have put the hologram and logo on all our
merchandise. Details about the logo and hologram are available in all local
languages so partners know what exactly to look for."

"We have also begun the 'Norton Champs' program for our partners
whereby resellers buy from our registered sub-distributors across the country
and stand to win rewards based on the points gained per buy. This would ensure
that they buy genuine software from registered distributors only," she added
while indicating that more end-user campaigns would be underway from next month
onwards to increase awareness on the need to buy and use genuine software.

"In addition to that, partners would be provided with support at the click
of a button whereby they would have direct access to the Symantec team via live
chat, email as well as toll free numbers in order for them to clarify any doubts
on the software they buy and sell," Martis said.

Partner and customer education apart, Symantec is also looking to appoint two
more sub-distributors one in Punjab and another in UP in the next quarter in
addition to the two existing ones in Indore and Jaipur, Martis indicated.

As for future trends in security, she felt that the human factor is a very
critical one in the security space and people have to realize the importance and
need for using genuine products and must rise above cost factors for large-scale
benefit. "Today internet users in India stand at about 30 million home users.
These people need to be educated and only then would the trends change toward
more number of people opting for genuine software products. We would do our bit
to ensure that," she said.