Norton Confidential adds Safari support

Symantec noted on Monday that its recently introduced Norton Confidential security software now works with Apple’s Safari Web browser.

“Users need only run LiveUpdate and they will receive the new functionality immediately (they will get a message confirming that they now have Safari compatibility). Once the update is installed, if Safari is open, they just need to quit and re-launch Safari. No restart is needed,” said a spokesman for Symantec.

Symantec claims that Norton Confidential helps Mac users stay safe from phishing and identity theft by securing the Web sites you’re connected to. A software plug-in that works with your Web browser displays a green indicator and the words “Site Verified” when it’s established that the Web site you’re looking at is the same one it should be — helpful if you doubt the veracity of an e-mail you receive asking you to input financial information or passwords on a Web site of a source you might trust, such as a bank or online merchant you’ve done business with before.

When the service launched last month, it shipped only with a plug-in that worked with the Firefox Web browser; now Safari is supported as well.

Norton Confidential also keeps information like your Social Security Number, credit card accounts and other sensitive data off limits unless you specifically tell it to share such details. Symantec also claims that Norton Confidental can fill in the gaps between Apple’s own Mac OS X security updates by offering stop-gap measures until the right fix is ready.