Some features of Symantec's Norton Confidential include the ability to detect and remove malware, which Symantic refers to as "crimeware," such as keylogging programs that can steal credit card numbers, login names and passwords. During a secure purchase made with a credit card, Confidential will block any program that is trying to access the keyboard and monitor display.
Other features include an electronic wallet that can store credit card and online purchase information in an encrypted file, which will allow consumers to auto-fill transaction forms and keep their data in a secure place on their PC. It will also store a safe list of SSL certificates used by a few e-commerce sites and high-traffic banks. This means Confidential will not only alert users to sites that are unsecured, but it will be able to confirm that the site they are visiting is genuine, thereby helping combat pharming sites.
Not only will Confidential be able to eliminate the malware that it has been programmed to recognize, but it will also be able to recognize other malware using new behavioral technology from WholeSecurity, which Symantec obtained last year.
"[WholeSecurity software] is a complement to Symantec's antivirus software, and it's also the first Symantec product to work with other antivirus products from other vendors," Symantec product manager Olivia Schmelzle said.
Norton Confidential is set to beta test in July and go on sale in October.
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