• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, December 13, 2007

Get Internet security protection and automatically enter a sweepstakes to win $3,600. The promotion offered by Internet service provider EarthLink launched Wednesday to kick off an agreement to sell Symantec's Norton 360 security software to its more than 5 million subscribers.

It runs through Feb. 11, sending a clear message that EarthLink aims to protect consumers against hackers, identity theft, malware, phishing, spyware, viruses, worms, and more. For example, if a Norton 360 subscriber clicked on a link in an e-mail that directed him to a phishing site, the software would identify the site as fraudulent.

EarthLink already provides protection for free, but subscribers can get added protection by having the $6.95-per-month fee for Norton 360 added to their EarthLink bills. The product also is available through retail stores. The 12-month subscription costs between $40 and $80.

"There's no purchase necessary to enter the promotion," says Jerry Grasso, EarthLink spokesman, who describes the service as an offering through EarthLink's loyalty program, available to both dial-up and broadband subscribers. "We'll market the service to subscribers by sending e-mail blasts on the new products and services, and let them know it's available if they call into the service center."

The promotion launched during the holidays as more consumers go online to make purchases at Bloomingdale's, Best Buy, Wal-Mart and other retail stores. Symantec Norton 360 aims to protect consumers with many services, such as backup and restore features.

Subscribers can choose to back up their content from a range of storage devices, such as internal drives, CD/DVD drives, USB drives, mapped network drives or external hard drives. Online backup capabilities will not be offered through the EarthLink monthly subscription, but are available.

The software also comes with PC Tuneup. The feature identifies and removes unnecessary clutter like Windows Temp files, Internet Temp files and Internet History files. It also analyzes and defragments hard disks for faster and more efficient operation.

Symantec Director of Marketing Pamela Jackson says the company has run campaigns for Norton 360, which launched earlier this year, on radio, bus and taxi cab posters, online banners, as well as in consumer print magazines, such as Newsweek, Real Simple, Sport Illustrated and Time.

Ads also ran in the airline industry's Sky Mall magazine.

EarthLink will award one winner the $3,600 grand prize. Consumers in the United States and the District of Columbia are eligible to enter the sweepstakes.