Mumbai: Network Associates, Inc. the leading provider of intrusion prevention solutions, has announced the availability of McAfee® LinuxShield, providing comprehensive anti-virus protection for Linux-based platforms. With McAfee LinuxShield, enterprise users can proactively protect file servers running Red Hat and SuSE from viruses, worms and other malicious code threats.

Linux, which is a free Unix-type operating system, is fast becoming the development platform of choice for government, healthcare and education, as well as large enterprises that are installing it on selected servers. While the operating system is primarily being adopted as a server platform, use on end node systems are growing. In addition, windows viruses can pass through Linux servers infecting attached workstations. With multiple avenues for attackers to compromise a network through the discovery and exploitation of vulnerable systems, proactive anti-virus defence is essential to protecting Linux users connecting to the corporate network.

"Most new viruses, worms, and blended threats are targeted at Microsoft operating systems, but invade the enterprise via a series of non-Microsoft platforms such as routers, firewalls, and Linux platforms," said Eric Hemmendinger, research director for security and privacy at Aberdeen Group. "McAfee LinuxShield helps IT decision-makers prevent the Linux platforms from being exploited as network entry points for Microsoft-targeted viruses, worms, and blended threats."

"Many Linux viruses don''t require user interaction, unlike most Windows attacks that depend on the user to run an attached file in order to infect the computer-making it of paramount importance to ensure that servers are up to date with the latest anti-virus protection," said Raj Dhingra, vice president of corporate and product marketing at Network Associates, Inc. "McAfee LinuxShield provides heuristic and generic detection, and includes an architecture that can scan all file system types. In addition, McAfee LinuxShield records all scanning information, aiding enterprise users in troubleshooting."

Based on the award winning McAfee scan engine, McAfee LinuxShield offers unique, always on protection from threats to stop both Linux and Windows viruses before they infect the user''s system. Key features include:

• Unique On-Access Scanning-McAfee LinuxShield offers a Linux-based on-access scanner, constantly monitoring systems for new attacks.
• Automated Updates that Occur Seamlessly-McAfee AutoUpdate ensures updates are provided automatically and rapidly via FTP, providing up-to-date protection against the latest threats. In addition, updates happen seamlessly, without the need for a server restart.
• Increased Performance-McAfee LinuxShield utilizes superior technology and architecture for increased performance, including kernel scanning cache, to ensure that processing power is not wasted.
• Heuristic and Generic Detection-McAfee LinuxShield identifies new viruses before a patch is available, based on virus type activity.
• Detailed Online Help-McAfee LinuxShield users can access online support quickly and easily with detailed help.

McAfee LinuxShield is managed by McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator® (ePO(tm)), the first and only truly scalable system security management tool for managing and enforcing anti-virus protection and policies. McAfee ePO gives IT administrators the visibility they need to evaluate their protection''s effectiveness, enforce protection, and customize reports to fit their specific needs. Administrators can manage policies and deploy protection while generating detailed graphical reports.

McAfee LinuxShield is now available from Network Associates® and its channel partners in the United States. For more information on availability and pricing, please visit www.mcafeesecurity.com or call 888-VIRUS-NO.

McAfee anti-virus security products are a part of Network Associates McAfee Systems Protection Solutions family of products, which protect systems from security breaches, virus attacks and blended threats by providing comprehensive system and network protection. In addition to industry leading anti-virus, encryption, desktop firewall, intrusion detection, viral vulnerability assessment and online managed services, all McAfee Security products are backed by the world-leading anti-virus research organization, McAfee® AVERT(tm) (Anti-Virus and Vulnerability Emergency Response Team). McAfee AVERT is the team responsible for providing cures for major outbreaks like Mydoom, Netsky, Bagle, Blaster, Nachi and Lovsan. For more information, McAfee experts can be reached at 888-VIRUS-NO, and on the Internet at http://www.mcafeesecurity.com.