It will be made available in India this month through the company's exclusive distribution tie-up with Godrej Pacific Technology which markets its products in the country. Symantec also has a research and development alliance with Tata Consultancy Services where it has invested $1 million in the first phase of the project.

By using Striker32, Net users can protect against most of the known sophisticated viruses, including all 17 variants of the W32.Bolzano virus, which is considered the largest family of Windows viruses. The latest variants of W32.Bolzano have eluded detection by traditional anti-virus technology because the variants mutate and bury themselves deep within Windows executable files, hiding all signs of infection.

In contrast, most traditional computer viruses attach theirprogramming instructions to a few, well-known areas of executable files, making isolation and detection easy, according to Symantec security and assistance business unit vice-president Enrique Salem.

"Because Striker32 has the capability to detect viruses regardless of where the virus inserts itself or how it conceals its programming instructions, users are assured of having the most advanced defence against this growing threat," he said.

Norton AntiVirus users can update their software to include Striker32, using the LiveUpdate feature which automatically detects an internet connection or modem, then connects to a Symantec server to download and install the latest virus definitions and software updates.

In this case, LiveUpdate interacts with Symantec's core anti-virus programme to make the Striker32 modification quickly and easily.

Striker32 is being included in all Norton anti-virus kits and works by setting up a virtual Pentium-based Windows `clean room' in which a suspect Windows programme isallowed to run.

By analysing each programme as it works, Striker32 is able to determine whether the programme is infected. Uninfected files are processed quickly, which minimises the impact of scanning on system performance.

Once identified by Striker32, an infected file is safely isolated using Norton AntiVirus' Quarantine feature. From there, the scan and deliver feature of Norton AntiVirus enables users to send the file over the internet to the Symantec AntiVirus Research Centre (SARC) for analysis and repair.

Scan and deliver includes automated macro virus analysis and repair technology that enables virus cures to be created and delivered faster than the malicious code can spread.

"Striker32 makes it possible for our researchers to analyse complex viruses such as the W32.Bolzano virus and produce cures in minutes, rather than days required by traditional anti-virus technology," claimed Salem.

Symantec, which has received approval to set up its liaison office in India, recently appointed JoyGhosh as the country manager to head Indian operations. The liaison office, which will manage and coordinate all sales and marketing activities in the country, is to be set up in Mumbai later this month.