Facebook and McAfee Partner to Releases Online Security Solutions

McAfee, Inc., a developer of dedicated security solutions and software, and Facebook, an online social network, announced that the two companies have jointly created security solutions that include McAfee security software, a custom scanning and repair tool, and education materials that Facebook will make available to its more than 350 million users.

Under the terms of the partnership, McAfee is Facebook's exclusive provider of consumer security software, and Facebook users will be eligible for a complimentary six-month subscription of the McAfee Internet Security Suite software. Following the six-month period, Facebook users will be eligible for special discount subscription pricing. Facebook is applying all financial incentives from this partnership to the benefit of its users and will not be taking a share of any revenue from user subscriptions. McAfee Internet Security Suite software protects users' PCs from online threats, viruses, spyware, hackers, online scammers, identity thieves and other cybercriminals, and includes McAfee SiteAdvisor site rating technology.

In the rare instance a Facebook account is compromised, Facebook has developed a process that requires users to take steps to re-secure their Facebook account and learn security best practices. As part of this partnership, this process will now also include custom McAfee technology to clean users' computers. There is no charge for use of this tool.

"Facebook is very serious about security and has made significant efforts to protect its users and service by investing in dedicated teams and systems, and this partnership with McAfee furthers that mission," said Todd Gebhart, executive vice president and general manager, McAfee Consumer, Mobile and Small Business. "We believe partnerships will make a real difference in the battle to secure the Internet by giving so many more people access to technology from McAfee."

"By partnering with a company like McAfee, we are taking a step towards making the entire Internet more secure and reducing the possibility of threats being brought onto our service by unsuspecting users," said Elliot Schrage, vice president of global communications, marketing and public policy, Facebook. "Keeping the Internet secure requires that users, security vendors and Internet companies all work together. We think we've developed a model for this collaboration, and to ensure the greatest possible value to our users, Facebook will not accept any revenue from subscriptions. We hope this is something that other services will emulate."

Upon launch, McAfee Internet Security Suite software will be available to Facebook users in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Numerous additional countries will be added throughout the first quarter of 2010.

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