GEN DIGITAL INC - GEN STOCK NEWS

Norton, a Gen™ brand, has launched Norton Small Business Premium, a comprehensive cybersecurity solution designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The service includes 24/7 Business Tech Support, Financial Monitoring, Social Media Monitoring, and Device Security features. According to company data, 56% of small business owners report cybersecurity threats impacting their business.

The solution offers real-time antivirus protection, secure VPN, password manager, cloud backup, and performance enhancements. Available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices, plans start at $299.99/year for 6, 10, or 20-device coverage.

Gen highlights women in tech during Cybersecurity Awareness Month through an interview with Tiffany Walker, head of product design. Walker shares her journey from print to digital design, discussing challenges faced as a woman in the male-dominated tech industry. She emphasizes three key skills for success: expertise in craft, ability to deliver quickly, and empathy. The article highlights the importance of mentorship and adapting communication styles while maintaining effectiveness. Walker expresses optimism about the growing presence of women in tech, noting how diverse perspectives enhance project outcomes and solutions.

Norton, part of Gen, is launching a product donation program to support domestic violence survivors by providing 5,000 free product licenses of Norton 360 Deluxe and Norton Secure VPN. The initiative, distributed through the Safe Shelter Collaborative and TechSoup, aims to protect survivors from technological and financial abuse. Eligible organizations can request up to 100 licenses per product. The program partners with the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) and includes a $100,000 annual grant (2022-2024) to support NNEDV's Safety Net technology abuse response and Economic Justice programs.

Gen celebrates Cybersecurity Awareness Month by highlighting initiatives with partners Czechitas, Women4Cyber, and nasscom foundation to promote women in tech and cybersecurity education. The campaign focuses on four key protection strategies: using strong passwords with password managers, enabling multi-factor authentication, recognizing phishing attempts, and keeping software updated. The company emphasizes its commitment to diversifying the cybersecurity workforce through partnerships that provide training and mentoring programs for women across Europe and India.

Gen's Q3/2024 Threat Report reveals alarming cybersecurity trends, including a 614% increase in 'Scam-Yourself Attacks' where users are tricked into installing malware. Data stealing malware activity rose 39%, with Lumma Stealer increasing by 1154%. Ransomware threats doubled in risk ratio, while mobile threats escalated with spyware growing 166% and banking malware up 60%. The report identifies various attack methods including fake tutorials, ClickFix scams, FakeCaptcha, and fake updates. Norton Genie data shows smishing attempts (16.5%), lottery scams (12%), and package delivery scams (9.6%) as prevalent threats.

Gen and Save the Children have successfully trained over 10,000 students, parents, and educators in India on cyber safety skills between March 2023 and April 2024. The initiative, implemented through Gen's Norton brand, reached 8,300 children, 1,210 parents, 635 SMC members, and 275 teachers across 40 schools in Pune and Thiruvallur. The program achieved an 81% increase in participants' cyber safety knowledge. Additional awareness campaigns through digital and on-ground activations reached nearly 207,000 people indirectly, while social media engagement touched approximately 263,000 people. The initiative addresses rising cybercrime concerns in India, where child cybercrime increased by 32% in one year.

Gen has partnered with HBCU Heroes throughout 2024 to mentor students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The collaboration includes a $20,000 donation and direct mentorship from Gen team members to HBCU students from institutions including Tennessee State University, Johnson C. Smith University, and North Carolina A&T State University.

The program focuses on developing professional skills through quarterly virtual meetups, covering topics like resume building, interviewing, and LinkedIn networking. The initiative, which concluded its inaugural cohort on October 22, received positive feedback from both mentors and students, highlighting the importance of representation and professional guidance in corporate settings.

Gen Digital (NASDAQ: GEN) reported strong Q2 FY2025 results with revenue reaching $974 million, up 3% year-over-year. The company's operating income surged 1,727% to $402 million, with operating margin expanding 39 points to 41.3%. Q2 bookings grew 4% to $964 million, while diluted EPS increased 13% to $0.26. The company raised its FY2025 guidance, now expecting revenue between $3,905-$3,930 million and EPS of $2.18-$2.23. Gen also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share, payable on December 11, 2024.

Norton's 2024 Cyber Safety Insights Report reveals that 48% of U.S. consumers were targeted by scams while holiday shopping online, with 53% worried about Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams. The report shows 60% of Americans plan to do most holiday shopping online, while cybersecurity concerns are rising year-over-year: 71% worry about personal data compromise (+8%), 59% fear third-party retailer scams (+9%), and 59% are concerned about AI shopping scams (+11%). During last year's holiday season, malvertising attacks increased by 53% and adware by 227%. Despite risks, 37% of Americans have purchased holiday gifts through social media ads, primarily on Facebook (60%), Instagram (48%), and TikTok (40%).