Tech Shout!

McAfee Inc. has launched two new highly enhanced anti-spyware offerings: McAfee AntiSpyware Enterprise, a standalone anti-spyware solution for medium to large businesses, and McAfee Managed VirusScan plus AntiSpyware, an easy-to-use, subscription-based service for small businesses.

The solutions use McAfee’s anti-spyware technology to protect businesses from potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) such as spyware, adware and keyloggers. Both solutions are backed by McAfee AVERT, the company’s anti-virus and vulnerability research organization, and offer comprehensive spyware protection against spyware and PUPs.

McAfee AntiSpyware Enterprise uses proactive On-Access Scanning to identify and eliminate PUPs, such as spyware, adware, dialers, keyloggers, cookies and remote-control programs before they actually install and fully compromise systems. The solution can be used on its own, or integrated with McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 7.1 or 8.0i to provide proactive protection from spyware and other PUPs before they have a chance to spread. It can be easily installed and can be centrally managed under a single console with the highly scalable McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) for the enterprise and McAfee ProtectionPilot, designed for SMBs.

McAfee Managed VirusScan plus AntiSpyware is an online service that provides always-on, automatic virus and spyware protection for small businesses. Using the same proactive On-Access Scanning found in McAfee AntiSpyware Enterprise, McAfee Managed VirusScan plus AntiSpyware immediately detects and blocks unwanted spyware and threats to protect users from compromised data or loss of network bandwidth. With a single installation and automatic updates for the integrated anti-virus and anti-spyware solution, the online service provides current levels of protection, with 24 by 7 continuous accesses to the Web-based management and reporting portal to help IT administrators keep their businesses at its peak.

“During the past several years, we have seen the problem of spyware rise from the level of “nuisance” to “major security concern” for our small to large business customers,” said Steve Crutchfield, director of Product Marketing at McAfee Inc. Crutchfield went on,”McAfee AntiSpyware Enterprise and Managed VirusScan plus AntiSpyware add an essential layer of protection to help our business customers free up important company resources and eliminate costs associated with helpdesk calls and clean up of malicious threats. Both of the solutions are designed for easy installation and deployment, and set a best-practices security policy for companies of any size.”

The new anti-spyware offerings also provide solution providers with a power-packed offering to help their existing as well as prospects, who need a higher level protection from PUPs, said McAfee. With McAfee Managed VirusScan plus AntiSpyware, they can offer their customers and new customers a 30-day free trial for up to five systems with email technical support. McAfee AntiSpyware Enterprise provides easy up-sell and cross-sell opportunities through integration with McAfee VirusScan Enterprise. Solution providers also have the novel chance to sell this solution to new customers who want protection from PUPs.

McAfee Managed VirusScan plus AntiSpyware will be on hand this week. Current subscribers of McAfee Managed VirusScan will receive the AntiSpyware upgrade for the remaining term of their subscription license. The McAfee AntiSpyware Enterprise standalone version will be available worldwide in early December from McAfee through McAfee SecurityAlliance partners.