New McAfee NetShield 2.2 and VirusScan 2.2 Anti-Virus Solutions Achieve Over 97% Detection Rate; New Functionality Extends Enterprise Protection.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 1995--McAfee (NASDAQ:MCAF) today introduced NetShield 2.2 for NetWare and VirusScan 2.2 for DOS, Windows and OS/2. The new releases provide faster scanning performance, improved ease-of-use, stronger manageability, and maximum virus detection. New features include better integration between the applications, Novell NetWare 4.1 support, enhanced notification options, a new Windows console, administrator access controls, and increased scanning and detection performance.

"The three overriding customer virus concerns are detection, removal and support," said Scott Gordon, McAfee's Anti-Virus Product Manager. "According to IDC, VirusScan holds a 67% marketshare for desktop anti-virus software. As the best-selling vendor, our large worldwide installed base enables us to discover and eradicate new virus threats before they become widespread. Combined with our pioneering expertise in virus research, McAfee customers can be assured of a swift and decisive response to their virus infections. In order to provide our customers the finest virus protection and enterprise manageability, we plan to extend the platform support of our award-winning solutions to include Windows NT and Windows 95."

Improved Enterprise Manageability and Control

McAfee makes it easier for administrators to manage and maintain current anti-virus protection across the enterprise. NetShield 2.2 and VirusScan 2.2 now share a common virus scanning engine and library, enabling network managers to employ only one set of monthly updated files. A new NetShield Windows console delivers point and click convenience to streamline administrator tasks. Utilizing Novell's NetWare Directory Services (NDS) in NetWare 4.1, network administrators can easily view and configure multiple NetShield servers. NetShield's cross-server updating feature also takes advantage of NDS to automatically synchronize virus signature updates.

NetShield has expanded its virus alerting options to provide users immediate notification of new and suspected network virus infections. The notification options, which include pager, console, network broadcast, and Global Message Handling Services (GMHS), allow administrators to quickly respond to virus threats. The support for GMHS enables NetShield to broadcast alerts through popular e-mail programs such as Lotus Development's cc:Mail.

NetShield features a new management module that allows network administrators to create hierarchical password and access privilege rights for individual LAN administrators within enterprise environments. This module was created in response to demands by McAfee customers within distributed, multi-server networks who required more in-depth administrator access controls. The unique feature further enhances NetShield's safeguards and better enforces corporate security.

Scanning Performance and Virus Detection Improved

The new VirusScan engine allows NetShield to perform scans up to 500% faster than previously possible. This makes daily virus prevention tasks less intrusive on server resources and end users, and was accomplished by incorporating new technology that executes more efficient scans while reducing server CPU utilization. The new scanning algorithms also ensure highly accurate virus identification. NetShield and VirusScan use a combination of byte string scanning, wildcard scanning, emulation, heuristic analysis, filtering and checksumming techniques.

Static anti-virus products are inadequate against the more than one hundred new viruses introduced each month. McAfee engineers and virus researchers bolster the detection capabilities of NetShield and VirusScan monthly, providing McAfee customers the electronic equivalent of an immune system booster shot from their enterprise network defenses.

In March, Patricia Hoffman's Virus Information Summary Listing (VSUM(1)) reported that both best-selling McAfee products scored virus detection rates exceeding 97%, higher than any other products in their class. Presently, McAfee identifies over 5,000 known and unknown viruses, including: Boot sector; file; encrypted; polymorphic; mutation engine; stealth; multi-partite; and parasitic viruses. Monthly updates, unlimited live telephone support, and emergency virus response services are provided free to McAfee subscribers for two years.

Integrates with BrightWorks Network Management Suite

NetShield 2.2 now integrates directly into the administration console of McAfee's award-winning BrightWorks 2.0 network management suite for NetWare LANs. BrightWorks, which features help desk, asset management, license metering, software distribution and network monitoring modules, provides network administrators a completely integrated network management environment.

VirusScan for Windows 95 in Development

McAfee builds client-driven products and strives to provide the most advanced virus detection and removal technology to a broad range to PC-based platforms. Throughout the year, McAfee will introduce new anti-virus products and updates, as well as further integration between NetShield and VirusScan. In the third quarter, McAfee will introduce VirusScan for Windows 95. VirusScan for Windows 95 is a native application that will integrate and take advantage of the Windows 95 operating system. Current McAfee VirusScan subscribers who intend to migrate to Windows 95 will receive a pro-rated credit of up to 80% of their purchase price for the new product.

Pricing, Support, and Availability

McAfee backs its products with the industry's most comprehensive upgrade and support policies. Under McAfee's unique software licensing model, customers receive two years of free upgrades and unlimited live telephone support. This level of comprehensive product maintenance and support costs 50% less than anti-virus solutions from competing vendors, who often charge extra for product upgrades and support.

NetShield is priced based on the number of network nodes. Two year subscription fee pricing for NetShield 2.2 ranges from $18.00 per node for a 25 node network to $6.12 per node for 2,500 nodes. VirusScan pricing ranges from $65 for a single user to $12.40 per node for 2,500 users. Current NetShield and VirusScan subscribers can update to the new versions at no cost.

VirusScan 2.2 is now shipping through retail and electronic channels. NetShield 2.2 will begin shipping on June 1. Electronically distributed versions are identical to shrink wrap versions, and contain no time-bombs or encryption.

Founded in 1989, McAfee is a leading vendor of Network Security & Management products for the PC LAN market. Its product line is comprised of award-winning client/server applications including anti-virus, asset management, metering, electronic software distribution, Windows Desktop Management, print management, help desk and remote control software products. The company's products are distributed electronically through its own World Wide Web server (www.mcafee.com), Internet (mcafee.com), its HomeBase on-line service (408-988-4004), CompuServe (GO MCAFEE), America Online (MCAFEE), through computer resellers, and through a unique worldwide network of 152 authorized agents in 60 countries who provide local sales and technical support. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara and maintains a sales and product development office in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. -0-

Note to Editors: For .PCX screen shots of NetShield 2.2 or VirusScan 2.2, please contact Mark Coker at 408-395-3600.

Note (1): Patricia Hoffman's VSUM service is widely recognized for the rigorous and independent testing it performs on third party anti-virus applications each month. The results of these tests are published electronically in the VSUM report, which also contains a hypertext database of all know viruses. The report is distributed as shareware and can be downloaded at 408/244-0813.

CONTACT: Dovetail Public Relations 

Mark Coker, 408/395-3600

or

McAfee

Scott Gordon, 408/653-3026