Harvey Norman gets exclusive Australian deal for Symantec's high-security home router

Symantec has brought its connected home wi-fi router, Norton Core, to Australia through an exclusive partnership with Harvey Norman.

Norton Core has built-in security that protects connected devices powered by Norton Security, allowing users to check which devices may be compromising a network’s security, among other features.

Australia is the first country outside of the United States to get access to the router, which is currently available for pre-order and comes bundled with Norton Core is a free one-year subscription to Norton Core Security Plus.

Norton Core Security Plus 6 includes protection for up to 10 PCs, Macs, Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, plus unlimited IoT devices.

The router retails for $399 and start shipping on 29 July. The device boasts a WAN port, two USB 3.0 ports, three LAN ports, four Gigbit Ethernet ports and comes with 1GB installed RAM.

“Individual device security is no longer enough for today’s connected home. Identity and personal data are hot properties for cyber criminals, and we know hackers are exploiting even the humblest connected devices within the home to access personal and financial information,” Symantec executive vice president for consumer digital safety Fran Rosch said.

“We’re proud to bring Norton Core’s capabilities to Australia, offering more consumers peace of mind that their privacy and personal information is protected by multiple layers of security while streaming their favorite content, playing online games or downloading files.”

Aside from checking the health of and security of a home network, Norton Core also has parental controls, secure guest access and bandwidth optimisation.

“Norton Core is spearheading the launch of an entirely new category which aims to protect the connected home and small business. In order to do this well, there’s an element of investment required to build awareness about what Norton Core does and why it’s integral to providing peace of mind to Australians when it comes to their home security," Norton Pacific Territory manager told CRN.

"In Harvey Norman we have a solid partner with a proven track record of building new categories and we’re confident their best-in-class customer service will offer complete peace of mind when it comes to protecting their home and IoT devices. Post phase 1 launch of Norton Core, we will look to expand to our other retail partners.”

Updated 2:47pm 23 May to include commentary from Norton Australia.