Symantec Norton Source Code Hack Class Action Lawsuit

A class action lawsuit filed Monday claims Symantec Corp. hid from consumers a 2006 data breach in which hackers stole source code for certain versions of its Norton antivirus software, resulting in customers over paying for a product that didn’t deliver its advertised promise of protection.

Lead plaintiff Kathleen Haskins alleges in the class action lawsuit that Symantec suspected in 2006 its network had been breached and its source code stolen, but didn’t disclose the breach or theft to customers – or take any proactive measure to protect the security and functionality of the software it sold – until hackers revealed the breach in early 2012.

“Rather, Symantec continued marketing, advertising, selling, leasing and/or licensing the compromised Symantec products to plaintiff and class members as if nothing had happened, leading them to believe the compromised Symantec products were secure and completely functional as advertised,” the class action lawsuit says.

As a result, customers unknowingly placed their personally identifiable information at risk for theft and misuse and paid more for the computer and data security software than it was worth.

The class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of a proposed class of all U.S. persons or entities that purchased, leased and/or licensed pcAnywhere, Norton SystemWorks (Norton Utilities and Norton GoBack), Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition and/or Norton Internet Security Software containing all or a portion of the 2006 version of the source codes for such products.

Haskins is seeking actual damages, punitive damages, restitution, injunctive relief and more for alleged breach of contract, breach of warranty, and various state consumer and business laws.

The Symantec Norton Source Code Hack Class Action Lawsuit case is Kathleen Haskins, et al. v. Symantec Corp., Case No. 13-cv-01834, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Haskins is represented by Timothy G. Blood, Thomas J. O’Reardon II and Paula M. Roach of Blood Hurst & O’Reardon LLP, Ben Barnow of Barnow and Associates PC and Richard L. Coffman of The Coffman Law Firm.

UPDATE 1: A federal judge has struck down this proposed class action lawsuit twice. Plaintiffs were granted a third chance to submit a revised complaint on Dec. 2, 2013.

UPDATE 2: After a third unsuccessful attempt to amend the plaintiffs’ claims, the Symantec Norton Antivirus class action lawsuit was dismissed on June 2, 2014.