Symantec announced on Monday the release of a new backup software, the Norton Save & Restore which targets home users. Symantec said it developed the software because more home users are creating and storing increasing amounts of digital content, such as photos and music. In order to protect the content against malware and hardware and software outages, consumers who may have never previously considered backing up their computers are now considering technology options.

The product includes predefined backups of common folders and file types. Users can choose how backups take place whether prearranged ahead of time, on-demand, or event-driven as well as being able to encrypt and password-protect their backup files.

Consumers also have the option to use Symantec's Norton Ghost disk imaging software to create an exact image of their entire hard drive without having to reboot their computers. The estimated retail price for Norton Save & Restore is $69.99. The software can be preordered from http://www.symantecstore.com/ and, in late March, will also be available in retail stores.