Symantec central products hacked

According to Reuters Symantec now admits that hackers have broken into the corporate network and stolen the source code for a number of key programs. Previously, Symantec denied that its network had been hacked with some severe consequences, but the security giant, now admits that its network was hacked in 2006, with the theft of several flagship products as a result.

Two weeks ago, said Symantec spokesman Cris Paden that hackers had only managed to get hold of the source to the two old programs. The intrusion is in accordance with the foregoing matters have been Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0 and Symantec Antivirus 10.2, two security products that are between five and six years old. Around the same time Symantec said that the theft was not serious.

Now Symantec reveals that the source code to a far wider and more central programs has been stolen, including Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition, Norton Internet Security, Norton Utilities, Norton Go Back and PC Anywhere. Both Norton Internet Security and Norton Utilities is one of Symantec’s most important consumer products.

The hacker Yama Tough, part of the group Lords of Dharmaraja, the previous release of information about the source was accessed through a server that is handled by the Indian authorities. Yama Tough threatened to drop more than a gigabyte of source code for including Norton Antivirus, but about which version that was intended. But the group has backed down and announced on Twitter that they did not intend to release the code to the public. On Monday, said Yama Tough that he had access to PC Anywhere. Symantec has confirmed Yama Toughs claims by telling Reuters that users of PC Anywhere are at increased risk as a result of hacking activities.