Symantec 'online' antivirus service

Along with the popularity of broadband and consumers becoming more accustomed to buying software online, instead of buying an application-installed disc as before, computer programs can be sold as services. .

This comment was made by David Sykes, vice president of Pacific region of Symantec last night, in a round table discussion in Sydney. According to Sykes, this fact has taken place in some countries like Korea, where the broadband network is the most developed in the world. Symantec has authorized ISPs in the country to sell its branded antivirus applications.

More specifically, ISPs buy product licenses and provide services directly to consumers: They undertake virus scanning, risk identification, etc. that Norton System Works normally does . All of these services are distributed via network cables.

Even according to Sykes, it is not possible to exclude the possibility that many organizations (such as online banks) will replace Symantec with virus and spyware scanning functions, to help customers feel secure that they are not "hit". before logging in to your account. Customers access an Internet banking website and this site has a terminal application, which allows users to scan users' computers.

Suppose you have a Sobig worm (or any other worm), a window will pop out with the content: "Do you want to fix this bug or buy a security solution?". To pay, consumers can use a credit card or insert it into a mobile bill. For their part, banks can decide to block access of customers who have infected computers too dangerous.

In the past, Symantec officials have admitted that customers complain a lot because applications such as Norton Antivirus and Norton Internet Security consume too much space and performance. Symantec has promised to respond to customer feedback with smaller and faster product packages.

By breaking up application packages and providing it as an online service like this, Sykes hopes the problem will be solved.

Thien Y