Brightmail Retains Hill & Knowlton to Shape the Anti-Spam Debate; Leader in Anti-Spam Software Enlists Agency Expertise in Technology and Public Policy Communications.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2003

Brightmail, the anti-spam market leader, has turned to communications leader Hill & Knowlton to help focus and refine its position in the increasingly dynamic environment around spam. Hill & Knowlton will serve as Brightmail's agency of record for the company's U.S. communications program.

While Brightmail's customer base continues to grow in response to the spam problem's near-epidemic proportions -- Brightmail's own statistics have spam accounting for 56% of all email sent over the Internet as of November 2003 -- increased competition and recent anti-spam legislation have introduced new messaging challenges for Brightmail's business. Hill & Knowlton will draw on its expertise in the fields of technology communications and public policy to help shape Brightmail's leadership role in the anti-spam debate.

"The fight against spam has evolved into an intense debate, from the halls of Congress to the pages of newspapers to the inbox of every email user," said Francois Lavaste, vice president of Marketing for Brightmail. "We wanted an agency with the insight and ability to confirm Brightmail's leadership position to all of these audiences and the creativity necessary to differentiate Brightmail in what is becoming a very crowded market."

"Brightmail is a focused leader in the anti-spam market, but this is a debate that is moving outside market boundaries," said Kevin Elliott, manager, Hill & Knowlton San Francisco. "We're looking forward to bringing our experience and expertise to the task to help Brightmail shape the discussion with customers, media and policy makers alike."

To implement a communications program that addresses all of these fronts, Brightmail will engage a team of media and industry analyst relations experts from Hill & Knowlton San Francisco's technology practice, as well as specialists in Washington, DC and Sacramento, CA, to communicate with federal and state policy makers.

About Hill & Knowlton, Inc.

Hill & Knowlton, Inc. (http://www.hillandknowlton.com) is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is based in New York, with 69 offices in 37 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP Group plc (Nasdaq:WPPGY), one of the world's largest communications services groups.

About Brightmail

Brightmail, the anti-spam market leader, delivers anti-spam technology that makes messaging environments secure and manageable. For over five years, Brightmail software has protected the email networks of businesses, government agencies, and service providers with superior accuracy and effectiveness blocking unsolicited bulk email, or "spam". The award-winning Brightmail(R) Anti-Spam(TM) software protects over 1,500 of the world's leading enterprises, including Avaya, eBay, Bechtel, Booz Allen Hamilton, Cypress Semiconductors, Deutsche Bank, Lucent Technologies, Microsoft and Terra Lycos. Brightmail also provides spam protection for the leading Internet service providers, including AT&T WorldNet, EarthLink, MSN, TelstraClear and Verizon Online. Brightmail now protects more than 300 million service provider customers, and 5 million enterprise email users worldwide. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Brightmail is a private, profitable company backed by world-class investors and partners. For more information, visit www.brightmail.com.