SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ McAfee, Inc. (NYSE: MFE), the leader in Intrusion Prevention and Security Risk Management, today announces the beginning of McAfee® Stop Spyware Week, a global initiative that is designed to raise awareness of the threats posed by spyware and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) to consumers, small businesses and the enterprise market.
In a study conducted by the National Cyber Security Alliance, 53 percent of respondents said they had spyware on their computers, but when checked 80 percent of computers were infected with spyware. Separate research by the Ponemon Institute found that 42 percent of computer users infected with spyware had no idea how it landed on their computer.
In addition to raising awareness of spyware and PUPs, the initiative will educate people about the threats of PUPs and provide tips for avoiding potential infections. Anyone who is unsure whether their computer is infected with PUPs should visit www.mcafee.com/stopspyware to download a free trial to one of McAfee’s anti-spyware software programs.
Consumers have the opportunity to download a copy of McAfee AntiSpyware 2006 at https://download.mcafee.com/us/eval/evaluate2.asp which offers a 30-day free trial. McAfee AntiSpyware 2006 detects and removes identified PUPs, such as spyware, Trojans, dialers or other programs that jeopardize privacy, identity and reduce computer performance.
Small business users visiting the site will be able to download a free trial of McAfee VirusScan Plus AntiSpyware, which scans their system for unwanted programs and then deletes any that are found. Beginning December 7, enterprise customers will have the opportunity to download a free trial of the stand alone version of McAfee AntiSpyware Enterprise Edition.
While the dangers of viruses, Trojans and spam are all fairly well known, spyware remains a confusing concept for many computer users. Spyware is designed to monitor computer usage and the browsing habits of a user. This includes, but is not limited to, monitoring keystrokes, tracking Internet history and uploading confidential information. In many cases, PUPs are downloaded to a computer without the user’s knowledge simply as a result of visiting a Web site or installing free software.
During the past year, the number of PUP threats has grown dramatically, and it now ranks as one of the biggest IT security threats. According to analyst IDC’s 2005 Enterprise Security Survey, spyware is now considered to be the second-greatest threat to enterprise network security. IDC believes more than three-quarters of all corporate machines are infected with various forms of spyware.
«The vast majority of people will be unaware that PUPs exists on their computers,» said Steve Crutchfield, director of product marketing, McAfee, Inc. «With this initiative, we hope to educate consumers and small businesses that this is a serious threat, which they must take action against. If people are not sure if their computers are infected with unwanted programs, they can download one of our free trials to find out.»
Spyware is also a contributor to the growing threat of identity theft. By tracking people’s movements online and monitoring keystrokes it is possible to steal passwords for online banking services for example. Criminals can use spyware to assume people’s online identities to commit fraud.
«Identity theft is a crime that has terrible consequences for victims,» said Owen Roberts, head of Identity Protection Plan at the CPP Group PLC. «Spyware is a menace that has limited public awareness and understanding, but has the potential to cause extreme identity theft. Consumers shouldn’t stop using the Internet, but should use anti-spyware software to keep their computers and identities safe.»
On December 1, at 11:00 am EST, McAfee will host a live one hour webcast with IDC titled, «Reducing the Business Risks Associated with Spyware and Other Unwanted Programs.» As part of this presentation, small to large businesses will learn about the business risks associated with spyware and other PUPs that often times find themselves on end users’ systems and cause an increase in security risk, loss of confidential/private information and a decrease in end user productivity. Attendees will also learn how these programs work and the best practices that prevent these programs from infecting their enterprise. To register for this event, please visit
https://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=17750&s=1&k=6566EBC4615136E8EE296D1EDDD96A08
McAfee is a member of the Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC), a U.S.-based alliance of technology companies and public interest groups which is dedicated to building a consensus about definitions and best practices in the debate surrounding spyware and other potentially unwanted technologies, and offers anti-spyware products for consumers, small businesses and the enterprise market.
For more information on the McAfee Stop Spyware Week, please visit
www.mcafee.com/stopspyware.
About McAfee, Inc.
McAfee, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California and the global leader in Intrusion Prevention and Security Risk Management, delivers proactive and proven solutions that secure systems and networks around the world. With its unmatched security expertise and commitment to innovation, McAfee empowers how users, businesses, the public sector, and service providers with the ability to block attacks, prevent disruptions, and continuously track and improve their security.
www.mcafee.com.
NOTE: McAfee is a registered trademark or trademark of McAfee, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries. McAfee Red in connection with security is distinctive of McAfee brand products. All other registered and unregistered trademarks herein are the sole property of their respective owners.
SOURCE McAfee, Inc.
