Yahoo and Symantec to launch Internet security service

Yahoo and Symantec aren't exactly the most natural of partners. The former is one of the few success stories of the original dotcom bubble, a web portal and search engine that makes its money through online advertising. The latter makes most of its money from selling subscriptions to antivirus software for PCs.

Nevertheless, the two have decided to partner up for a new marketing venture. Symantec will offer its existing product, the Norton Internet Security Suite, as a 30-day trial download from Yahoo. The product will be branded "Norton Internet Security provided by Yahoo!" and will be available through the Yahoo web site as well as through the Yahoo Toolbar for Internet Explorer. A 12-month subscription to the software will cost US$49.99, a US$20 discount over the regular price. Norton Internet Security 2006 currently features a software firewall, antispyware and antivirus utilities, and parental web controls.

Okay, so that's the marketing angle, but what is the benefit for both companies to enter into such a partnership? Yahoo, like most Internet companies, is anxious about real and perceived concerns over the safety of Internet commerce. The rise of spyware, spam, botnets, and phishing attacks reduce confidence in the Internet as a viable platform for financial transactions. By promoting Symantec's products, Yahoo is essentially saying that they are aware of the problem and are offering a possible solution.

As for Symantec, the firm is finding itself under increasing pressure from both freeware antivirus solutions and bundled Microsoft applications such as the improved firewall in Windows XP SP2 (which is improved still further in Vista) and the free Windows Defender (formerly Microsoft AntiSpyware). Hitching a ride on the Yahoo bandwagon will help Symantec gain exposure and potentially increase sales.