MCAFEE EXTENDS LEADERSHIP POSITION IN MULTI-PLATFORM ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE; Announces Five New Products for Windows 95, Windows NT and Boot Virus Protection

Business Wire, Nov 29, 1995

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 1995--McAfee (NASDAQ: MCAF) extended its leadership position in multi-platform anti-virus software today with the introduction of five new anti-virus software products. The new releases provide advanced virus protection for DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, and Windows NT desktops, as well as Novell and Windows NT network servers.

McAfee will further extend platform support in December when it launches its first anti-virus software package for the Macintosh.

Highlights of today's announcement include a new virtual device driver (VxD) that strengthens the on-access virus scanning capabilities of McAfee's VirusScan for Windows 95; the industry's first real-time virus scanning kernal driver for Windows NT; several virus detection and enterprise management enhancements to the company's NetShield anti-virus software for NetWare; and a new product called BootShield offering a boot virus immune system. According to IDC, McAfee is the leading anti-virus software vendor with a worldwide unit market share of 68% for PC desktops.

"McAfee is committed to offering the most comprehensive virus detection and technical support services available," said Scott Gordon, anti-virus product line manager at McAfee. "In order to better serve our growing roster of enterprise site license and retail clients, we've significantly expanded the depth and breadth of our multi-platform anti-virus product line. Our broad range of sophisticated solutions will enable us to enhance our position as the world's premier single-source anti-virus provider."

New VxD - VirusScan for Windows 95 Version 2.0

While most vendors are still in the process of releasing their first version of virus protection for Windows 95, McAfee is ready to deliver a significantly more powerful second release. VirusScan for Windows 95 version 2.0 (VirusScan) will ship with a newly designed 32-bit VxD providing enhanced on-access scanning capabilities. Embedded within Windows 95 during installation, VirusScan's proprietary real-time scanning engine will automatically identify viruses in memory as well as when executable files are run, copied, created, renamed, when disks are inserted, or when the system is shut-down.

The intuitive VirusScan property page, which is immediately accessible from the Windows 95 task bar, allows users to configure automatic scanning options, define actions to take on detection, and receive comprehensive user-configurable reporting details. The product also provides new virus detection capabilities for macro viruses and an enhanced user interface.

VirusScan is the only shipping anti-virus solution to fully support the Windows 95 explorer interface.

Industry's First Windows NT Anti-Virus Kernal Driver

Current Windows NT anti-virus programs scan files either immediately or at scheduled intervals. Unfortunately, this level of protection still leaves considerable exposure to virus execution between scanning periods. The most important feature associated with anti-virus software is the ability to automatically scan files as they are executed. McAfee is the first vendor to offer this real-time scanning capability in the Windows NT platform.

VirusScan for Windows NT 2.0 and NetShield for Windows NT 1.0 will offer the ability to automatically scan during a file read - thus detecting viruses before they are executed. Both Windows NT solutions offer true 32-bit support; NTFS support; McAfee's award-winning scanning engine; a Windows interface; immediate and scheduled scanning of diskettes, drives and files; pre-defined actions to take on detection; and console notification and logging of incidents within the product's activity log and within the Windows NT service event log.

Boot Virus Immunity

According to National Computer Security Association (NCSA) research, 70% of reported virus incidents are boot virus related. Since boot viruses execute before anti-virus software is activated, many boot viruses elude traditional anti-virus software. Furthermore, removing such boot viruses typically requires extensive end-user effort and knowledge. McAfee's new BootShield, a companion solution for its flagship VirusScan product, provides comprehensive real-time boot virus protection and has been tested by the NCSA. BootShield masks the computer's boot image and identifies changes associated with boot viruses. Once such changes are identified, BootShield conveniently enables users to remove the virus with one keystroke. BootShield, which can be installed on DOS, Windows, Windows 95 and Windows NT systems, includes BootLock monitoring technology; Scan for the detection of boot viruses prior to BootLock activation; and ImagStor - McAfee's image backup utility for optional disaster recovery.

Server Advancements Enhance Manageability and Detection

Since as many as 100 new viruses are introduced each month, McAfee regularly updates and upgrades its anti-virus solutions for both the client and server.

In order to simplify the management task of maintaining current enterprise update protection, McAfee's NetShield for NetWare version 2.3 now includes a new module called SiteExpress Litex.