Symantec, Yahoo team up on security

Symantec and Yahoo plan to announce on Tuesday a partnership designed to improve online security for consumers.

The arrangement between the two companies will include "some new security offerings," according to an e-mail sent to reporters by Yahoo public-relations representatives on Monday. Yahoo and Symantec officials declined further comment.

News of the new tie-up comes shortly after Yahoo rival AOL started testing a new security offering, dubbed Total Care, which it created largely in partnership with Symantec foe McAfee.

Yahoo and Symantec have a history of working together on products such as antivirus scanning for Yahoo's Web-based e-mail service. However, users of the AT&T Yahoo Internet access service are currently offered security software in partnership with CA.

Symantec has many partnerships to get its products onto consumer PCs. These include a deal with Google to bundle a trial version of Symantec's Norton AntiVirus 2005 Special Edition with Google Pack and an arrangement with Adobe Systems to advertise Norton alongside Adobe Acrobat Reader downloads.