McAfee, Inc. Awards Grants to Help Train Cybercrime Fighters, Adds Experts to McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime

McAfee Inc. (NYSE:MFE), the world’s largest dedicated security company, today announced it has awarded two grants to help train cybercrime fighters as part of the McAfee^® Initiative to Fight Cybercrime. Additionally, Visa Inc. and the Merchant Risk Council have joined the McAfee initiative as Advisory Council members.

McAfee has approved grants of US$55,000 to the Council of Europe and US$55,000 to the National District Attorneys Association. The grants, the first under McAfee’s Initiative to Fight Cybercrime, will be utilized in programs to train law enforcement, prosecutors and judges on cybercrime to make a practical and measurable impact on decreasing criminal activity.

"Cybercrime is a growing problem that negatively impacts everybody, especially in the current economic climate,” said Dave DeWalt, McAfee president and chief executive officer. "A lot has been done to combat cybercrime over the past decade, but criminals still have the upper hand. McAfee is proud to support these two organizations to advance their efforts to make the world a safer place.”

The Council of Europe has been a pioneer in the fight on cybercrime with its Convention on Cybercrime, the most important international treaty enabling prosecution of cybercriminals. Today the Council of Europe works tirelessly on adoption of its Convention and the training of law enforcement, prosecutors and judges around the globe.

"Much of our private life takes place on and is stored on our computers,” said Alexander Seger, head of the Economic Crime division for the Council of Europe and responsible for the Council’s global project on cybercrime. "This means that if our computers are attacked, our fundamental rights are attacked. Therefore, we need to take action against cybercrime. It is clear that McAfee shares our dedication and we thank them for this grant.”

The National District Attorneys Association represents state and local prosecutors across the United States. The NDAA is a key group in the prosecution of cybercriminals, it provides education of local constituencies and offers assistance to cybercrime victims. Through its grant, McAfee will help multiply the important cybercrime training the association has developed to reach prosecutors who heretofore have not had the opportunity for such training. The NDAA will use McAfee’s grant to offer an electronic training course for prosecutors and law enforcement across the U.S.

"With this McAfee grant, NDAA can extend its training programs on cybercrime to the broadest range of prosecutors, protecting communities, businesses and families from cybercriminals,” said Jason Scott, program manager of NDAA’s National Center for the Prosecution of Identity Crime. "Our e-learning course will enhance the capacity of prosecutors throughout the United States to effectively address cybercrime.”

Visa Inc. and Merchant Risk Council join McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime

In addition to the grants, McAfee today announced that Visa and the Merchant Risk Council have joined the McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime Advisory Council. The new members are, by virtue of the communities they represent, very familiar with the tremendous damage caused by cybercrime and fraud. As such, they are in a perfect position to provide insight into what has worked well and what new efforts can help stem the tide of cybercrime.

The McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime Advisory Council was created to ensure McAfee’s initiative is sustainable and lets by harnessing the insights and energy of leaders who have already made a difference in this critical area. This global group is chaired by former White House Cybersecurity Adviser Howard A. Schmidt.

Joining the Council are Joe Majka, Visa’s global head of Fraud Control & Investigations, and Bob O’Neill, a program manager at the Merchant Risk Council.

Majka manages the cyber-security and investigations group at Visa, the world’s largest retail electronic payments network, and has more than 28 years of experience in corporate security and criminal investigations, specializing in the area of financial crimes.

"Fraud prevention is a top priority for Visa,” said Majka. "We are committed to taking proactive steps to maintain trust in the payments system and create an environment of partnership by promoting industry engagement around security,” said Majka. "Security is a shared responsibility, and we are pleased to be able to participate in and contribute to McAfee’s Initiative to Fight Cybercrime.

The Merchant Risk Council represents large, well-recognized merchants with global footprints and an international perspective of the impacts of global cybercrime including Amazon.com, Google, Yahoo!, Expedia and over 150 others. The organization has been working closely with law enforcement organizations to aid in investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes.

About the McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime

Announced in October 2008, the McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime is a wide ranging initiative aimed at closing critical gaps in the fight against cybercrime. The initiative is anchored by a multi-point plan that includes calls for action from law enforcement, academia, service providers, government, the security industry and society at large to deliver more effective investigations and prosecutions of cybercrime. More information is available at: http://www.mcafee.com/fightcybercrime

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

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