REDMOND, Wash. - Jan. 4, 1999 - MSN™ Hotmail, the world's largest e-mail service, today announced that it now offers Network Associates Inc.'s popular McAfee VirusScan software free to its 30 million members. Hotmail is the first Web-based e-mail service to offer an anti-virus service to help protect its members from viruses received via file attachments.

Hotmail's 30 million members have the option to scan attachments with Network Associates' McAfee VirusScan software before downloading. This option is available to members regardless of operating system or geographic location and addresses all attachments other than in-line graphics presented within the message text. Hotmail members also have the opportunity to purchase VirusScan from Network Associates for additional protection that covers the users' entire PC system.

"Our goal is to provide the safest possible e-mail environment," said Don Bradford, Hotmail general manager. "Making VirusScan a part of our service is the logical next step in our efforts to educate and protect our members, and something we know is important to them."

"McAfee VirusScan offers Hotmail customers an outstanding solution to protect themselves online," said Sal Viveros, director of product marketing for the Total Virus Defense division at Network Associates. "With more than 40 million users worldwide, VirusScan is the world's most trusted name in desktop and Internet virus security."