AOL launches premium antivirus service
America Online Inc. (AOL) is teaming up with Network Associates Inc. to offer antivirus and firewall protection to AOL subscribers as part of a new premium subscription service.
Network Associates' McAfee VirusScan Online service is now available to AOL subscribers using the Microsoft Corp. Windows operating system and running AOL 7.0 or higher, according to a statement released by the two companies.
For US$2.95 a month, AOL subscribers will receive a copy of the McAfee desktop antivirus software to install on their computer and regular antivirus definition and software updates. The McAfee software will be integrated with a user's AOL account so that upgrades and new virus definitions are retrieved whenever an AOL user logs on, the companies said.
In addition, users will be able to take advantage of the features of the antivirus software to scan hard drives, CD-ROMs and DVDs, or individual files. Users will be able to delete or disinfect corrupted files or quarantine suspicious files, and are not limited to using the McAfee antivirus features for content they view or download using AOL, according to Network Associates and AOL.
AOL Broadband users who subscribe to the new service will receive the McAfee Personal Firewall Express software in addition to the antivirus protection at no extra charge, the companies said.
The new antivirus service is part of a larger effort by AOL to hook its subscribers with new services while stomping out nuisances such as pop-up advertisements, spam e-mail and viruses that degrade users' online experience.
In February the Dulles, Virginia, company announced a premium music download service, MusicNet, as well as a stepped-up campaign to fight spam. The company's recently released AOL 8.0 PLUS software also included e-mail attachment scanning services also using McAfee's VirusScan technology.
AOL is offering the new premium virus protection program to existing subscribers at no cost for a one-month trial.
Customers can sign up for the new service online using AOL. The McAfee software can be downloaded and installed following signup and does not require a separate purchase.
IDG News Service
Symantec Backup Exec 12 and Backup Exec System Recovery 8 deliver industry leading Windows data protection and system recovery. Download this whitepaper to find out the top reasons to upgrade and how to get continuous data protection and complete system recovery.
Data and system loss — from a hard drive failure, malicious attack, natural disaster, or simple human error — can happen anytime. Don’t leave your business vulnerable. Make sure you have a secure recovery strategy in place. Symantec's latest backup and system recovery technology can efficiently restore critical applications, individual emails and documents and even restore your entire system in minutes in the event of a loss.
Businesses face a growing challenge to ensure that the IT environment is properly protected. Backup Exec 12 integrates with other applications in the Symantec family of products, to complement your current data protection strategy, keep your data securely backed up and make it recoverable when you need it most.
Crimeware: Understanding New Attacks and Defenses
By Markus Jakobsson, Zulfikar Ramzan
Published Apr 6, 2008 by Addison-Wesley Professional. Part of the Symantec Press series.
Enter now! | Official rules | Sample chapter
Securing VoIP Networks: Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Countermeasures
By Peter Thermos, Ari Takanen
Published Aug 1, 2007 by Addison-Wesley Professional.
Enter now! | Official rules | Sample chapter
