Symantec Readies One-Stop Shop

Symantec(SYMC Quote) announced Tuesday that it will offer a new "all in one" application to thwart malicious viruses, spyware and identity theft on Tuesday, and analysts see the move as a good one for the company -- and for consumers who pay little mind to securing their home computers.

Code-named Genesis, the product is billed as a service rather than as stand-alone software, and will be released this fall.

"It will deliver a comprehensive, all-in-one service to keep your PC secure," says Tom Powledge, director of product management for the company. "It's designed for users who want us to take on and solve the security problem for them with minimal user intervention."

Powledge says Genesis is Symantec's answer to the changing security landscape. In the past, he says, unscrupulous programmers focused on releasing worms and viruses to get notoriety in the hacker community. But now, the stakes are higher, with organized groups focusing on stealing personal information, like credit card numbers, or whole identities, for financial gain.

Symantec's move from selling software to services represents a growing trend throughout the industry -- meaning that if a user has a valid subscription, they will get any security upgrades on an ongoing basis. Genesis is the company's first product to be delivered as a service from the "get go," Powledge says.

(The company will continue to offer Norton AntiVirus and other products for those who prefer the stand-alone options.)

Genesis combines four components, including the system security provided by Norton AntiVirus products and "transaction security," which offers protection from keystroke loggers, spyware applications and phishing, among other malicious tools of online fraud. In addition, it protects digital photos and music and offers customer support through chat, email or phone.

Pricing has yet to be announced, Powledge says.