Security Focus: MSN Premium to get security addon's

REDMOND, Wash., and SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Jan. 8, 2004 -- The MSN® network of Internet services, the world's No. 1 online destination, and Network Associates Inc., the leading provider of intrusion prevention solutions, today announced the broad availability of McAfee® Security's anti-virus and personal firewall services as part of MSN Premium subscription service for broadband users in the United States. MSN Premium subscribers receive McAfee VirusScan®* and McAfee Personal Firewall Plus* desktop-protection services as part of their subscription to MSN Premium. In addition, MSN Plus and MSN Dial-Up Internet Access subscribers will be able to access trial versions of the services and purchase them through the MSN site.

"MSN Premium was built on the feedback of more than 25,000 customers, who told us online safety is their first concern," said Richard Bray, vice president for MSN at Microsoft Corp. "By delivering top anti-virus and firewall capabilities available from an industry leader, MSN Premium offers comprehensive safety solutions at a tremendous value." McAfee VirusScan is a completely automatic anti-virus software service that helps protect a consumer's PC, files and e-mail address book from known high-risk viruses, worms and Trojan horses. McAfee Personal Firewall Plus helps prevent potential hackers and other Internet threats from entering and infecting users' PCs by acting as a protective barrier between the PC and the Internet.

These premium services provide users with desktop solutions that go beyond server-level e-mail protection to help guard against PC infection from instant messaging, peer-to-peer file sharing, Web-site downloads and more. Both services are offered to MSN Premium customers as part of their subscription. "Broadband users, who face additional online security risks because of their always-on connection, need extra protection that is easy to use against online security threats such as viruses and hacker attacks," said Bill Kerrigan, senior vice president with the McAfee Security group at Network Associates. "The Network Associates industry-leading McAfee Security Services provide comprehensive online protection that complements the MSN Web service offering."

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