LAS VEGAS, Nov. 18, 2003 — Today at COMDEX Las Vegas 2003, Microsoft Corp. announced continuing industry support for its Protect Your PC campaign, demonstrated by a new anti-virus and firewall offering from Computer Associates International Inc. (CA). Starting today, CA will offer its e Trust EZ Armor consumer anti-virus and firewall desktop security suite, including free updates and signatures for a year. The special CA offer includes one year of personal firewall and antivirus protection, including daily virus signature updates. The free software will be available for download through June 30, 2004, from the CA Web site and can be accessed via a link from Microsoft Protect Your PC Web site. CA joins other leading vendors working with Microsoft to increase awareness and education about PC security among customers.
The Protect Your PC campaign is designed to help consumers understand a few simple measures they can take to decrease threats from viruses and other malicious attacks. Customers are encouraged to take three key steps to protect their PCs:
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Use an Internet firewall on all PCs and laptops. An Internet firewall can help prevent outsiders from getting to a user’s computer through the Internet. Those who use Microsoft® Windows® XP should enable the built-in firewall.
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Update their computer. Windows includes the Automatic Update feature Windows Update, which can automatically download the latest Microsoft security updates. Windows 98 SE and Windows Millennium Edition can be updated from http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ .
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Use up-to-date anti-virus software. Installing, configuring and maintaining anti-virus protection is essential.
“Helping Windows customers get more secure and stay protected is a priority for Microsoft,”
said Tom Button, corporate vice president of the Windows division at Microsoft.
“Support from key industry leaders such as CA enhances the work we are doing through programs such as Protect Your PC to make security protections easier to enable for customers.”
More information about the Protect Your PC campaign and additional anti-virus and firewall solutions can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/protect/. The site also contains helpful tools such as the Windows Security Advisor, which will walk users through the steps they need to take to help keep their PC more secure. Users of Windows XP have the added advantage of the tool that enables fast and easy installation of their computer system’s firewall and security updates that they receive automatically through Automatic Update.
Consumers can learn more about PC safety through Microsoft Insider Live, a 30-minute educational TV show about Microsoft products and technologies on cable television and the Web. Insider Live will feature information about the Protect Your PC campaign on TechTV through Nov. 26. Some information covered in the show also will be available on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/insider/live/default.aspx .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software any time, any place and on any device.
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