Symantec plans to launch the Symantec Internet Threat Meter, a free service meant to inform consumers about the state of Net security. Available on the Symantec Web site, the new threat meter will provide information on the current risk level associated with specific online activities: e-mail, Web surfing, instant messaging and file-sharing. The rating is based on triggers related to malicious software, phishing and online fraud, vulnerabilities, online attacks and spam, Cole said.