Systemax to Deliver Antivirus Protection for All Systemax Business PCs with CA's eTrust Antivirus

Business Wire, March 3, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 2003

Virus/Malware Protection Solution With Dual Scanning Engines Now

Pre-Installed on all New Systemax Business PCs, Including Free

Signature Updates

Systemax (NYSE:SYX), a leading manufacturer and distributor of PCs and related computer products for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced that Computer Associates' (CA) innovative virus protection solution, eTrust Antivirus v7, is now being loaded standard on all Systemax business PCs, including Systemax's award-winning desktops and notebooks.

According to industry analysts, computer viruses cause businesses billions of dollars worth of damage every year, spreading easily to computer systems through e-mail, Web sites and shared files. With more than 50,000 known strains identified today, the chances are high that a user's computer will be "infected" by a virus.

CA's eTrust Antivirus v7 is a powerful, easy-to-own and cost-effective solution for protecting critical systems from a full range of viruses and malicious code. All versions are ICSA Labs-certified, meaning the software has been proven to detect 100% of current, "in-the-wild" viruses. It delivers powerful easy-to-configure features including multiple scanning engine support, automated signature distribution, and realtime detection and automatic cure.

"Antivirus protection is not an option. The threat of computer viruses is a very real one today," says Sean Aryai, Director OEM Marketing, Systemax Inc. "We want to emphasize to our customers that this is not a trial version of the software, nor a subscription-based anti-virus solution. eTrust Antivirus is the type of full featured enterprise antivirus software usually only offered at a significant charge. By providing free lifetime virus definition updates, we offer powerful, continuous antivirus protection that is unmatched in the industry for features and value."

"Deploying CA's eTrust Antivirus free in all our business PCs reflects Systemax's ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of our customers," said Aryai. "This is an integral part of our extensive business support program."

"With new viruses emerging every day, an antivirus program is only as good as its latest signature update," says Ron Moritz, CA senior vice president of security solutions. "With lifetime updates driven by the work of our global antivirus research and response organization, CA's eTrust Antivirus will ensure that Systemax customers are fully protected against the latest Internet threats."

About Systemax

Systemax (www.systemax.com) has developed an integrated system of branded e-commerce Web sites, direct mail catalogs, and relationship marketing to sell PC hardware, related computer products and industrial products to businesses in North America and Europe. With annual sales of more than $1.5 billion, Systemax is a Fortune 1000 company. Product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-looking statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company's performance. These statements are based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company assumes no obligation to update these statements. Actual results may differ materially from results expressed or implied in these statements as the result of risks, uncertainties and other factors including, but not limited to: (a) unanticipated variations in sales volume, (b) economic conditions and exchange rates, (c) actions by competitors, (d) the continuation of key vendor relationships, (e) the ability to maintain satisfactory loan agreements with lenders, (f) risks associated with the delivery of merchandise to customers utilizing common carriers, (g) the operation of the Company's management information systems, and (h) unanticipated legal and administrative proceedings. Please refer to the Forward Looking Statements section contained in Item 7 of the Company's Form 10-K for a more detailed explanation of the inherent limitations in such forward-looking statements.