AOL to offer free antivirus protection

AOL to offer free antivirus protection

malebolgia on 28 October 2004 - 04:38 · 9 comments & 1294 views

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America Online on Wednesday said it will bundle McAfee antivirus software for free into its proprietary service and no longer charge a subscription for it.

AOL will offer the software, McAfee VirusScan Online, as part of AOL 9.0 Security Edition, debuting in November. AOL said the McAfee product can scan for and remove harmful viruses delivered via peer-to-peer software, Web downloads, CD-ROMs and media files, to name a few. Up until now, AOL charged $2.95 a month for the service as part of the online giant's attempt to boost add-on subscriptions.

After witnessing a mass exodus of its premium dial-up subscribers for more than two years, AOL is trying to keep customers by offering perks. The company is trying to sell a "bring your own access" version for $14.95 a month for subscribers who plan to switch to a broadband connection from their phone or cable company. The full dial-up service costs $23.90 per month.

News source: C|Net News.com

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#1 bangbang023 on 28 Oct 2004 - 05:10

Competition is a beautiful thing. It's nice to see them make the AV protection free and standard.

#2 PimpinWithAaron on 28 Oct 2004 - 05:31

at least aol does somethin right

#3 Hawkeye on 28 Oct 2004 - 05:38

I'm going to say this before it happens here. Please keep all trolling and any ignorant hate remarks toward AOL to yourself. It isn't necessary here, and you are wasting your own time. If you say something about AOL, please try to justify it. It makes you look much more mature and intelligent that way.

Now, onto the story at hand. I think this is great news for AOL subscribers. McAfee is considered one of the better companies in terms of good anti-virus protection, and this being available for free to AOL subscribers is definitely a plus. This is an awesome upcoming "exclusive feature".

#4 MtDewCodeRedFreak on 28 Oct 2004 - 05:48

I use AOL, and it's a good service. Right now, I'm using the Norton Internet Security 2005 that includes NAV. Gotta love it though.

When that 9.0 Security Edition goes gold, I'll install it on my family's computer, seeing as they really needed the AV software.

#5 Colin-uk on 28 Oct 2004 - 05:50

so AOL are going to pay the subscription fees?
because AVG is soon to be payware...

#6 allfive6 on 28 Oct 2004 - 05:57

msn 9 been likes for a awhile plus you get mlb games

#7 pctuk on 28 Oct 2004 - 07:47

Good job AOL. I use AOL broadband because it suits my needs best - to have extra content is a nice bonus

#8 cork1958 on 28 Oct 2004 - 10:59

So that's where the $2.95 charge came from on my sisters bill. She just recently started seeing it and called me up to ask what it was about. I just e-mailed her this article telling her if she can keep this crappy AV off the system to do it. She has Kaspersky Personal Pro, which is way better.

#9 jono3000 on 28 Oct 2004 - 18:21

Here in the UK AOL have provided McAfee Personal Firewall for free, but no anti-virus yet.

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