SYDNEY, Australia. – July 11, 2012– Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced the findings of its June 2012 Symantec Intelligence Report, which shows 36 percent of all targeted attacks (58 per day) during the last six months were directed at businesses with 250 or fewer employees. As reported in the recent ISTR, this figure was 18 percent at the end of December 2011.

During the first half of the year, the total number of daily targeted attacks continued to increase at a minimum rate of 24 percent with an average of 151 targeted attacks being blocked each day during May and June.

Large enterprises consisting of more than 2,500 employees are still receiving the greatest number of attacks, with an average 69 being blocked each day.

“There appears to be a direct correlation between the rise in attacks against smaller businesses and a drop in attacks against larger ones. It almost seems attackers are diverting their resources directly from the one group to the other,” said Paul Wood, cyber security intelligence manager, Symantec.

“It may be that your company is not the primary target, but an attacker may use your organisation as a stepping-stone to attack another company. You do not want your business to be the weakest link in the supply chain. Information is power, and the attackers know this, and successful attacks can result in significant financial advantage for the cyber criminals behind them. Access to intellectual property and strategic intelligence can give them huge advantages in a competitive market,” Wood said.

The Defense industry (a sub category of the Public Sector) has been the targeted industry of choice in the first half of the year, with an average of 7.3 attacks per day.

The Chemical/Pharmaceutical and Manufacturing sector maintain the number two and three spots. These targets have clearly received a smaller percentage of overall attention than in 2011, but the Chemical/Pharmaceutical sector is still hit by 1 in every 5 targeted attacks, while Manufacturing still accounts for almost 10% of all targeted attacks.

“It is important to remember that although on the increase, targeted attacks are still very rare. Targeted attacks use customised malware and refined targeted social engineering to gain unauthorised access to sensitive information. We regard this as the next evolution of social engineering, where victims are researched in advance and specifically targeted,” Wood added.

Other Report Highlights:

Spam: In June, the global ratio of spam in email traffic fell by 1.0 percentage point since May, to 66.8 percent (1 in 1.5 emails). This follows the continuing trend of global spam levels diminishing gradually since the latter part of 2011.

Phishing: In June, the global phishing rate increased by 0.04 percentage points, taking the global average rate to one in 467.6 emails (0.21 percent) that comprised some form of phishing attack.

E-mail-borne Threats: The global ratio of email-borne viruses in email traffic was one in 316.5 emails (0.31 percent) in June, an increase of 0.04 percentage points since May. In June, 27.4 percent of email-borne malware contained links to malicious Web sites, 1.2 percentage points lower than May.

Web-based Malware Threats: In June, Symantec Intelligence identified an average of 2,106 Web sites each day harboring malware and other potentially unwanted programs including spyware and adware; an decrease of 51.7 percent since May.

Endpoint Threats: The most frequently blocked malware for the last month was WS.Trojan.H . WS.Trojan.H is a generic, cloud-based, heuristic detection for files that possess characteristics of an as-yet unclassified threat.

Geographical Trends:

Spam

• As      the global spam rate decreased, Hungary was the most spammed geography in      June, with a spam rate of 74.3 percent.
• In      the US, 66.4 percent of email was spam and 66.5 percent in Canada.
• The      spam level in the UK was 67.2 percent.
• In      the Netherlands, spam accounted for 68.9 percent of email traffic, 66.3      percent in Germany and 66.0 percent in Denmark.
• In      Australia 66.1 percent of email was blocked as spam percent in Australia,      65.9 percent in Hong Kong and 65.8 percent in Singapore, compared with      63.4 percent in Japan.
• Spam      accounted for 66.8 percent of email traffic in South Africa and 71.0      percent in Brazil.

Phishing

• The      Netherlands was the country most targeted in June, with one in 54.4 emails      identified as phishing attacks.
• Phishing      levels for the US reached one in 1,261.5 and one in 332 for Canada.
• In      Germany phishing levels were one in 1,043.7, one in 478.2 in Denmark.
• In      Australia, phishing activity accounted for one in 708.2 emails and one in      1,182.9 in Hong Kong; for Japan it was one in 8,005.7 and one in 2,679 for      Singapore.
• In      Brazil one in 713 emails was blocked as phishing. In South Africa it was 1      in 170.9 emails.

E-mail-borne Threats

• The      Netherlands was the geography with the highest ratio of malicious email      activity in June, with one in 48.6 emails identified as malicious.
• In      the UK, one in 209.9 emails was identified as malicious, compared with      South Africa, where one in 414.1 emails was blocked as malicious.
• The      virus rate for email-borne malware in the US was one in 570.2 and one in      271.3 in Canada.
• In      Germany virus activity reached one in 385.4 and one in 438.4 in Denmark.
• In      Australia, one in 598.3 emails was malicious. For Japan the rate was one      in 2,372.8, compared with one in 862.7 in Singapore.
• In      Brazil, one in 403.8 emails contained malicious content.

Vertical Trends:

• The      Automotive sector was again the most spammed industry sector in June, with      a spam rate of 69.7 percent; the spam rate for the Education sector was      68.2 percent.
• The      spam rate for the Chemical & Pharmaceutical sector was 66.8 percent,      compared with 66.4 percent for IT Services, 66.0 percent for Retail, 67.2      percent for Public Sector and 66.2 percent for Finance.
• The      Public Sector remained the most targeted by phishing activity in June,      with one in 113.9 emails comprising a phishing attack.
• Phishing      levels for the Chemical & Pharmaceutical sector reached one in 1,201.2      and one in 986.8 for the IT Services sector, one in 835.3 for Retail, one      in 330.6 for Education, one in 247.5 for Finance, and one in 2,114.3 for      the Automotive industry.
• With      one in 89.8 emails being blocked as malicious, the Public Sector remained      the most targeted industry in June.
• The      virus rate for the Chemical & Pharmaceutical sector reached one in      402.1 and one in 502.1 for the IT Services sector; one in 522.0 for      Retail, one in 219.8 for Education and one in 204.2 for Finance.

Market Trends:

• The      spam rate for small to medium-sized businesses (1-250) was 66.4 percent,      compared with 66.9 percent for large enterprises (2500+).
• Phishing      attacks targeting small to medium-sized businesses accounted for one in      401.6 emails, compared with one in 402.9 for large enterprises.
• Malicious      email-borne attacks destined for small to medium-sized businesses      accounted for one in 360.8 emails, compared with one in 269.0 for large      enterprises.

The June Symantec Intelligence Report provides greater detail on all of the trends and figures noted above, as well as more detailed geographical and vertical trends.

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About Symantec Intelligence Report 
The Symantec Intelligence report provides the latest analysis of cyber security threats, trends and insights from the Symantec Intelligence team concerning malware, spam, and other potentially harmful business risks. The data used to compile the analysis for this combined report includes data from May and June 2012.

About Symantec
Symantec protects the world’s information, and is the global leader in security, backup and availability solutions. Our innovative products and services protect people and information in any environment – from the smallest mobile device, to the enterprise data center, to cloud-based systems. Our industry-leading expertise in protecting data, identities and interactions gives our customers confidence in a connected world. More information is available at www.symantec.com or by connecting with Symantec at: go.symantec.com/socialmedia.

As promised, we’ve taken steps to quarantine confirmed cheaters in Max Payne 3 Multiplayer. Starting today, anyone we’ve found using hacked saves, modded games, or other exploits has officially been cordoned off in a dedicated cheater pool, confined to wallow with other unscrupulous reprobates.

Loss of contact information the greatest fear followed by expense; one in ten would forgo a $10,000 lottery win rather than lose their mobile phone 

Sydney, AUST – 11 July, 2012 – As technology evolves, so does the way we interact with others around us. Our mobile phones are a means of fulfilling our on-the-go, Internet-dependant lifestyles. Today, Norton released a survey that sheds light on Australians’ mobile phone usage habits, the importance of their personal information, and their level of understanding when it comes to mobile security.

Mobile phone – a necessity in our lives

Australians are no longer using their mobile phones just to stay connected, but also to fulfill necessary daily tasks and engage in leisurely activities that enhance their lifestyle.  The survey uncovered that 80 percent of the online population in Australia possesses at least one mobile phone. While 92 per cent of respondents access the Internet via their computers, over half (53 percent) use their phones to access the Internet, highlighting that Australians like to stay connected on the go. The top online mobile phone activities include social networking (47 percent), reading the news (36 percent) and mobile banking and payments (30 percent). These activities are closely followed by online messaging (19 percent), online shopping (16 percent); and location-based tasks, including navigation (13 percent).

Need for greater awareness of mobile security

While 51 percent Australians acknowledge mobile threats are real, almost half of the mobile users in Australia do not use passwords to protect their phones (42 percent), a very simple action that can help to protect personal information in the event of loss or theft of the device. Additionally, 33 percent are not aware if they can remotely track their phone using GPS navigation software. These findings somewhat reflect the lack of mobile security knowledge among Australian mobile users. 

Australians value contact information the most

One in four connected Australian have had their mobile phone lost or stolen, with 44 percent having losing it. For the victims, nearly three quarters (71 percent) mentioned losing their contact information was the worst part of the experience, and 55 percent felt the expense incurred was also a high concern. To resolve the situation, over half of Australians had paid an average of AU$377.

In fact, 44 percent of Australians would have paid a ransom averaging AU$215 in order to resolve their lost or stolen phone issue, and one in ten would forgo a $10,000 lottery win rather than lose their mobile phone. This further reinforces the high dependency Australians have on their phones and the value they place on their personal information. It is promising to know that 41 percent of connected Australians believe that security software would have helped in their mobile data recovery.

“Australia is a very tech savvy nation that is hugely mobile and connected. Consumers have a good understanding of online threats that can affect them on their computers,  but mobile security threats are something they need to start being aware of,” said David Freer, Vice President of Norton for Asia Pacific & Japan. “With greater connectivity to the Internet through mobile devices, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting this platform. With so much valuable and personal information residing on our mobile devices, mobile users need to have the right security measures in place – both a reliable mobile security solution and personal diligence to back up important information. ”

Staying Protected With Norton Mobile Security

Norton Mobile Security for Android devices addresses some of today’s most common mobile issues, including device loss and data protection. Norton Mobile Security has anti-theft, anti-malware, locate and remote wipe features. Norton Mobile Security Lite is available for free on the Google Play Store. For users seeking additional protection, there is the option to upgrade to the full featured Norton Mobile Security for a 2 year subscription for AU$29.95.

World Series of Poker Presented by EA Available Now in the App Store 

Sydney, Australia – July 11, 2012 – Poker players, prepare for some serious action. EA Mobile™, a division of Electronic Arts, Inc. (Nasdaq: EA) and the world’s leading mobile games publisher, along with Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. (CIE), one of the largest online, mobile and social gaming company focused on casino-style entertainment, today announced the launch of World Series of Poker® Presented by EA. The new, true-to-life, play-for-fun poker app brings one of the most trusted names in poker to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices worldwide.

With features and functions pulled straight from live action, World Series of Poker deals fans the thrill of playing in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament, all from their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.  The app is designed to appeal to novices and pro players alike with the challenge of going after virtual bracelets and rings, VIP rooms and Pro status levels that can only be earned with skill.

“EA and Caesars have teamed up to bring the most authentic poker game to the App Store,” said Bernard Kim, Senior Vice President of Social and Mobile Publishing at EA.  “We’ve taken the adrenaline rush of playing at the table and combined it with stats to help you anticipate your opponents’ moves for a truly fun and competitive game that fans can play anytime.  No other app captures the true poker experience like World Series of Poker.”

World Series of Poker is packed with features that give fans the ability to:

• Enjoy multiple game modes including two different styles of poker with Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker.
• Play with friends and people around the world at any time via Facebook with anonymous login options coming soon.
• Participate in tournaments to collect virtual WSOP rings and bracelets just like the pros.
• Become a VIP player to track and analyse over 25 statistics including the frequency of raises and the percentage of folds pre-flop.
• Chat in real time with other players and send virtual gifts like energy drinks, sunglasses or even pets like pandas and cobras to friends in-game.
• Earn Pro status to play in exclusive high-stakes tables with other gamers that play like the pros. Higher bets mean a better return on investment for the hardcore player.
• Purchase additional chip stacks and gold in game in addition to winning at tables and through tournaments

“We are excited to partner with EA and bring a fun and authentic poker experience to your phone or tablet,” said CIE Chief Financial Officer Craig Abrahams. “The WSOP defines the ultimate poker experience and now EA is helping bring the virtual Vegas experience to our customers across multiple mobile devices worldwide.”

EA and CIE, the interactive arm of Caesars Entertainment Corporation joined forces on game design and concept to develop World Series of Poker to appeal to both the casual and experienced gaming and poker enthusiast. World Series of Poker is now available for free worldwide on the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch on the iTunes App Store and coming this month to Google Play. For more information on the game, please visit www.WSOPMobile.com or www.facebook.com/WorldSeriesOfPokerbyEA. To view the launch trailer for World Series of Poker please visit this link.

Melbourne Australia – 11 July 2012, Ubisoft have released another awesome trailer for the upcoming Expendables 2 Video Game based on the movies. Check it out!

Medal of Honor Warfighter – Fire Team Mutliplayer Gameplayer Trailer. . Check out the reveal of our new Multiplayer Map Tungawan Jungle. Watch the awesome Multiplayer action that takes place in a coastal Philippine Jungle.

Perth, Western Australia — July 11, 2012 — GameRanger, the PC online gaming service, today announced that three million users have signed up and created multiplayer profiles to play their games online with friends.

The GameRanger service now supports over 600 multiplayer games with its fast, easy to use interface. Unlike other services, GameRanger solves router and firewall network problems automatically, making it simple to play online with friends. GameRanger now has over 9 million multiplayer games played each month.

GameRanger has provided a new home for many orphaned games such as Race Driver: GRID, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, and The Lord of the

Rings: Battle for Middle-earth series. GameRanger also became a popular, robust replacement for the problematic built-in multiplayer services for Borderlands and Demigod.

“This incredible milestone demonstrates how significant this service is to PC gamers, since the phenomenal growth is almost entirely from word-of-mouth,” said Scott Kevill, president of GameRanger Technologies.

GameRanger runs on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 and is available as a free download from http://www.GameRanger.com

India Wadsworth is The Warlords Daughter in The Dark knight Rises!

Sydney, Australia – NAMCO BANDAI Games announced that NARUTO Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is coming to Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system in spring 2013. The title will be the first Naruto game for home consoles to offer visuals in glorious 3D for ultimate Ninja immersion.

NARUTO Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 will feature the most extensive character roster of any game so far in the series, letting fans engage with a huge number of their favourite personalities from the NARUTO universe, be they friend or foe.  In story mode, players will be thrown into a series of thrilling adventures set in the village of Konoha, while the game’s electrifying fights will be punctuated with massive scale boss battles, including a fearsome confrontation with the gargantuan Nine-Tails.

“Even though there are of course many, many fans in Japan, the Naruto games are also incredibly popular with European gamers, so we’re honoured and very pleased to be debuting the title at Japan Expo” said Olivier Comte, Senior VP Marketing, Sales & Publishing at NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe. “Every one of CyberConnect2’s Naruto titles is fantastic and we can’t wait for fans to see this one.”

“After I tried my hardest to finish the Paris Marathon in April but just couldn’t make it, I feel like I owe something back to this amazing city,” said Hiroshi Matsuyama, President of CyberConnect2. “So I’m very excited to be presenting the first ever hands-on of our newest Naruto game at Japan Expo today. It’s the perfect way to say thank you to the people of Paris and Europe for all their support!”

For more information about Japan Expo, visit http://www.japan-expo.com/en/.

For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe and its entire line up of games, please visit http://namcobandaigames.eu/.