McAfee Addresses the Need to Keep Families Protected Online
McAfee Will Release its McAfee Family Protection Software this Quarter
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 27, 2009 - McAfee, Inc. (NYSE:MFE) today announced that it has completed an internal beta for a new offering that will help families oversee their kids’ and teens’ online interests, while keeping them safe as they learn and explore the Internet. The McAfee product is named “McAfee Family Protection” and will be available for sale later this quarter.
The McAfee Family Protection software allows parents to set up individual accounts for each of their children so it can be tailored for kids as they grow. Some features include the ability to approve a list of e-mail contacts, filter both categories of content as well as specific keywords, set up time limits and monitor personal information that users post on social networking sites.
As increasing numbers of kids and teens have their own PCs and use them not only for schoolwork, but for entertainment and to communicate with peers, research shows that U.S. parents have become more concerned with online safety issues. In particular, kids and teens support their parents’ worries by communicating with strangers and hiding online activities:
- 52% of teens admitted having given out personal information to someone online they didn’t know offline
- 16% of kids and teens admit they have private e-mail addresses or social networking profiles to hide what they do online from their parents
- 43% of parents do not know what personal information their children have been posted on the Internet
- 63% of parents are concerned with their children’s security when they are online
- 52% are concerned about inappropriate content on Web sites
*Sources: 2008 Forrester Consumer Technographics survey; Virtual Parenting Report, March 2009; McAfee/Harris Interactive Moms and Teens Survey, 2009.
To address these concerns and the educational needs of families, last fall McAfee appointed Internet safety expert Parry Aftab as its Family Internet Safety Advisor. Ms. Aftab is helping to develop McAfee’s online family safety programs by capitalizing on her extensive expertise and a network of thought leaders, influencers and experts. To provide a voice as a parent to other parents, McAfee also appointed the industry’s first Chief Cyber Security Mom, Tracy Mooney, a mother of three. Both Parry Aftab and Tracy Mooney provide counsel to families via the McAfee Security Advice Center (www.mcafee.com/advice) where consumers can find links to their blogs and educational videos.
“The McAfee Family Protection product will advance the company’s family safety strategy by providing families with software that is easy to use, and also comprehensive enough that parents can dial it up or down to match the needs of their youngest kids and their mature teens,” said Todd Gebhart, executive vice president and general manager, consumer, mobile and small business for McAfee. “It will let moms and dads empower their kids and teens to enjoy the Internet, while providing the oversight they have been asking for.”
McAfee Family Protection will be available as a standalone package that can work with McAfee’s consumer security suites—VirusScan® Plus, Internet Security and McAfee Total Protection – as well as security products from other vendors.
About McAfee, Inc.
McAfee, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is the world's largest dedicated security technology company. McAfee is relentlessly committed to tackling the world's toughest security challenges. The company delivers proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure systems and networks around the world, allowing users to safely connect to the Internet, browse and shop the Web more securely. Backed by an award-winning research team, McAfee creates innovative products that empower home users, businesses, the public sector and service providers by enabling them to prove compliance with regulations, protect data, prevent disruptions, identify vulnerabilities, and continuously monitor and improve their security. http://www.mcafee.com
NOTE: McAfee and any additional McAfee marks herein are registered trademarks of McAfee, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. 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. © 2009 McAfee, Inc. All rights reserved.
McAfee, Inc.
Kim Eichorn, 408-346-3606
kim_eichorn@mcafee.com
or
Red Consultancy
Gina Weakley, 415-618-8809
gina.weakley@redconsultancy.com
