McAfee Announces Desktop Security Suite; First to Address Network Desktop Security Requirements Behind the Firewall; Integrates Transparent Network Traffic Encryption, File Encryption, Secure Email, Desktop Firewall, Backup and Anti-Virus.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 1997--In a press conference held at Internet World, McAfee (NASDAQ:MCAF) today announced Desktop Security Suite, the industry's first enterprise desktop security suite to provide complete security behind corporate firewalls. The suite, which carries a street price of only $99.00, integrates modules for transparent network traffic encryption, file encryption, secure email, desktop firewall, backup and anti-virus.

"Although firewalls provide a hard security shell around the perimeter of a network, the inside network is often wide open for attacks," said Tom Clare, director of security product management at McAfee. "Recent security surveys show that inside attacks from employees and contractors are a bigger threat than external attacks from hackers. McAfee's new Desktop Security Suite provides a new line of defense behind firewalls protecting a network from both internal and external threats."

Desktop Security Suite Features Five Essential Data Protection Modules

McAfee's Desktop Security Suite is composed of five essential data protection modules, each featuring important enhancements over their standalone predecessors. Working in concert, the modules protect all network traffic, files, backdoors and data from viruses and hacker break-ins.

The suite includes NetCrypto 2.0, a new version of McAfee's award-winning software which provides transparent encryption of all network data communications; PCCrypto 2.0, a new version of McAfee's desktop file encryption software; Sign 'N Seal, the industry's first authenticated digital certificate management technology for email and attachments; VirusScan 3.0, the recently introduced major enhancement to McAfee's best-selling desktop anti-virus software; PC Firewall 2.0, the industry's first desktop firewall solution for inbound and outbound access control; and QuickBackup, McAfee's Internet-enabled desktop backup software.

NetCrypto 2.0 Transparently Encrypts Network Data Communications

According to Fortune Magazine, which recently published an in-depth feature on computer security in its February 3 issue, "One of the smartest things a company can do to ward off hackers is to scramble the traffic that flows through its networks." Data scrambling is accomplished using encryption software.

McAfee's new NetCrypto 2.0 protects network traffic by transparently encrypting and decrypting all data communications as they pass from one desktop computer to another. By encrypting network data traffic, customers can protect themselves against hackers who break into networks and use freely available software tools called "sniffers" to intercept proprietary user IDs, passwords, file transfers and database queries.

NetCrypto 2.0's new enhancements are designed to maximize network security and simplify network security management. The product features a new management console which allows network security administrators to centrally assign desktop security policies to different groups of users.

For enhanced security, NetCrypto encrypts every data transmission session with its own separate, random key. NetCrypto's random keys are generated using elliptical curve technology, which leverages the mathematical unpredictability inherent in elliptical curves to generate random numbers which provide the basis for each new encryption key. McAfee complements its elliptical curve technology with Diffie-Hellman key exchange technology. By generating unique encryption keys for each transmission, and by using Diffie-Hellman to automate key exchange, NetCrypto relieves customers from having to deploy expensive key servers.

PCCrypto Now Features Trustee Key

While NetCrypto automatically encrypts data as it passes between one NetCrypto user and another, PCCrypto allows customers to create self extracting encrypted files which can be sent to anyone. PCCrypto features an easy to use Windows interface and supports 40-bit, 56-bit, and 160-bit encryption strengths.

PCCrypto 2.0 now supports trustee keys, which allows security administrators to recover data when encryption passwords are lost or forgotten. PCCrypto's trustee key technology works by automatically encrypting the user's pass-phrase in an encrypted header file which is attached to the original encrypted file. Only the administrator's private key can unlock the header file.

PCCrypto also features a new add-on module called Sign 'N Seal, which allows PCCrypto users to exchange encrypted information using public key/private key technology to send secure emails and file attachments. To support the use of Sign 'N Seal, McAfee has launched IDCentral, a free Internet-based certificate authority.

To send someone an encrypted email or file attachment, senders first access IDCentral to download the recipient's public encryption key. Once downloaded, a recipient's public encryption key can be easily stored within PCCrypto's Wallet function. Once a file is encrypted, it can be transmitted to the recipient, who then opens the file using their own private key.

PC FireWall Locks Down Back Doors

One of the biggest threats to a company's network is known as a "back door." Back doors are open modem connections which completely bypass a network's firewall. Back doors are vulnerable to hacker weapons such as war dialers, which are automated software programs that call random phone numbers and record instances of phone lines which are answered by modems. Once open modem lines have been identified, hackers can worm their way into a company's network.

PC Firewall 2.0 protects desktop computers from war dialers and other internal and external security threats. Using PC Firewall's simple radio button configuration management console, administrators can easily apply a broad range of filtering rules to protect the desktop. Administrators can allow or disallow different kinds of incoming users or traffic based on protocol type, destination, IP address, and port configurations.

Administrators can also use PC Firewall to control parameters for outbound network access.

As an additional security feature, PCFirewall offers administrators the ability to deny cookie files. Cookies are files which are automatically pushed down to the desktop from web sites through a user's browser. The files are used to monitor and track web activity.

QuickBackup Protects Integrity of Data

For enhanced data integrity, Desktop Security Suite includes McAfee's QuickBackup software. QuickBackup allows customers to back up their data to tape drives, Iomega Jaz and Zip drives, re-writeable CDs and the Internet.

The software includes Direct Tape Access technology licensed from Seagate which allows customers to access tape drives just like hard drives.

VirusScan Protects Desktops and Servers from Viruses

Computer viruses are one of the most common and costly security threats to any network. To combat viruses, Desktop Security Suite includes VirusScan, the world's best-selling anti-virus software. VirusScan 3.0, which was just announced on March 3, uses McAfee's new Hunter virus detection engine. The Hunter engine employs a combination of sophisticated virus analysis technologies to detect all types of viruses, including Microsoft Word, Mail and Excel macros; boot sector infectors; file infectors; polymorphic viruses; multi-partite viruses; encrypted viruses and new viruses written in Microsoft Visual Basic.

Pricing and Availability

Desktop Security Suite begins shipping this week. The software carries a suggested retail price of $129.00 and an estimated street price of $99.00.

Founded in 1989, McAfee is a leading worldwide vendor of Network Security and Management products for enterprise networks. The Company is also a leader in Internet and Web-based electronic software distribution. McAfee is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and can be reached by phone at [phone] or by fax at [phone]. McAfee's Web address is http://www.mcafee.com .

CONTACT: Dovetail Public Relations 

Mark Coker/Jim Azevedo, 408/395-3600

or

McAfee

Tom Clare, 408/653-3118