McAfee Security, a division of Network Associates, introduced a new version of its GroupShield antivirus software for Microsoft Corp.'s Exchange 5.5 Monday, giving administrators the option to scan e-mail via multiple methods and extending content filtering to attachments and file names.
GroupShield scans e-mail sent through the Exchange e-mail server, checking for viruses in messages and attachments, as well as filtering messages based on content in their subject lines and bodies, said Ryan McGee, group product marketing manager for McAfee Security, based in Santa Clara, California.
The new version of GroupShield allows e-mail to be scanned using one of three modes: Messaging Application Program Interface (MAPI), Antivirus Application Program Interface (AV API) and Extensible Storage Engine (ESE). All three methods have been used by various antivirus programs for Exchange in the past, McGee said. Each of the three methods offers different benefits in terms of security, performance and reliability and including the ability to scan e-mail with all three methods will allow customers to choose the option best for them, he said. Switching between the modes is relatively simple and does not require reinstallations or restarts the way some products have previously, he added.
Administrators will also be able to more easily block mass e-mail, forwards, jokes and hoaxes with the new version of GroupShield, McGee said. The new version allows the program to scan e-mail based on an attachment's filename, body text or size, he said. The software comes preconfigured with a number of rules for blocking common hoaxes and forwards, though administrators will have to create their own for any not included, he said.
GroupShield for Exchange 5.5 works with Exchange 5.5 Service Pack 3 or higher, running on Windows NT 4.0 or 2000 Server.
The product is immediately available worldwide and starts at about US$27 per user per year, with prices going down in volume.