3.15.2006 ET

(CSRwire) CUPERTINO, Calif. - Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced that it has signed the United Nations Global Compact, reinforcing the company's commitment to socially responsible business practices on a worldwide basis.

The U.N. Global Compact has been signed by more than 2,500 companies around the world and embraces 10 principles covering human rights, fair labor, the environment, and anti-corruption. The Compact, established in July 2000, seeks to promote responsible corporate citizenship by providing a framework for businesses to follow in response to the challenges of globalization.

"Globalization and the need for transparency have brought issues of corporate social responsibility to the forefront of business strategy," said John W. Thompson, chairman and chief executive officer of Symantec. "By signing the Compact, we recognize and endorse the business value of operating in an ethical, environmental, and socially responsible manner."

"We applaud Symantec's leadership in joining our worldwide initiative," said Georg Kell, executive head of the U.N. Global Compact. "In an increasingly interconnected world, corporate responsibility is no longer an option - it is a strategic imperative. The rapid up-take of the Global Compact by U.S. companies, including Silicon Valley-area firms, reflects this new reality."

Symantec signed the Compact at the Corporate Social Responsibility Forum, which was presented by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and CanyonSnow Consulting and hosted by Symantec at its Mountain View campus. More information about the Compact can be found at www.unglobalcompact.org.

The signing ceremony also formally launched Symantec's own Corporate Social Responsibility program, tasked with evaluating and implementing policies and programs focused on responsible business processes. Focus areas include employee, customer, and business relationships; maintaining ethical business and manufacturing practices; initiatives to raise cyber security awareness at the community level; and programs ensuring the protection of customers' private information. More information about the program can be found at http://www.symantec.com/about/profile/responsibility.

About Symantec
Symantec is the world leader in providing solutions to help individuals and enterprises assure the security, availability, and integrity of their information. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has operations in more than 40 countries. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

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