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                              Symantec Corporation
                ------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


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                            [On Symantec Letterhead]


                                                              September 27, 2000

    [Name and Address of Stockholder
      appear here]

    Dear [Stockholder]:

        As you know, in connection with our annual meeting of stockholders, we
    have requested that our stockholders approve an amendment to our 1996 Equity
    Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). After discussion with some of our stockholders,
    we learned that many of those stockholders would prefer that we commit not
    to reprice options granted to our employees without first obtaining
    stockholder approval.

        Based on that information, we have determined that if we are able to
    obtain approval of the outstanding proposal to increase the number of shares
    available under the Plan, we will not reprice options issued under any of
    the corporation's existing stock option plans by lowering the option
    exercise price of a previously granted award, by canceling outstanding
    options and issuing replacements, or by otherwise replacing existing options
    with substitute options with lower exercise prices, unless we first receive
    the approval of the company's stockholders. If we are able to obtain
    approval of the outstanding proposal to increase the number of shares
    available under the Plan, the Plan will be amended at our next Board of
    Directors meeting to reflect this commitment.

        We believe that the level of dilution reflected by our current practices
    and the requested increase in shares available under the Plan are
    appropriate in the highly competitive business environment for our company.
    Symantec recently collected information related to how much dilution
    comparable companies incur in connection with their employee equity
    compensation programs. Our principle sources of information were iQuantic
    and Mercer; iQuantic and Mercer are well-known, independent professional
    research organizations. The information provided by them indicates that
    software and other high technology companies in general have a greater level
    of dilution from employee equity plans than Symantec. We also have anecdotal
    evidence that our current level of equity grants has resulted in the loss of
    key employees, and in a greater difficulty in hiring new employees into key
    positions.

        While we do not wish to increase dilution of non-employee stockholders,
    we believe that the future success of the company depends on our ability to
    attract and retain key employees. We also believe that our proposal to
    increase the number of shares available under the Plan is critical to our
    ability to attract and retain those key employees.

    Sincerely,

        /s/ Art Courville

    Art Courville
    Vice President and General Counsel