London, UK, 13 October 2000 - GFI, leading developer of email security & anti-virus software, has announced that a complex new virus-worm, the MTX or Matrix virus, is in the wild. This harmful three-in-one virus, which contains virus installation, worm code and backdoor code components - and any variants of it - can be blocked by Mail essentials, GFI's email security, content checking and anti-virus gateway.

"This is a complex virus with an unusual structure that can damage files beyond repair when activated," said Nick Galea, CEO of GFI. "It is also proof that script kiddies are ever becoming ever more inventive at creating new forms of harmful viruses that contain various components; and that email is now the main way of spreading viruses."

The new virus-worm spreads through email and infects Win32 executable files. Once the Matrix virus is triggered by recipients who do not have adequate anti-virus protection on their PCs, it releases the worm that emails itself out to all addressees that the infected user is sending mail to. The worm takes the form of an infected attachment that is either a .pif; .scr or .exe file and can adopt one of over 30 file names. It also installs a backdoor component, or registry entry, on the PC.

"With Mail essentials, blocking this virus is easy. The anti-virus module prevents the virus from infecting the system. At the same time, Mail essentials can be set to block .pif; .scr or .exe attachments in the Content Checking tab," Mr. Galea explained. "This will block any incoming/outgoing infected mail. This way, the Mail essentials resolution will block all viruses of this kind, as it will quarantine any attachments in such formats. This means that Mail essentials will also catch any variants of the Matrix virus."

Mail essentials is a comprehensive email content security & anti-virus gateway for Exchange/SMTP that offers the following features:

• Content checking/filtering.
• Prevention of confidential info leaks.
• Virus checking of all email.
• Advanced anti-spam measures.
• Disclaimers: Enables you to add a disclaimer to each outgoing mail.
• Email management: Reports, archiving of all email, POP3 downloading & Server-based auto replies.

More information can be found at http://www.gfi.com/me/index.html. The full version of Mail essentials is available from $275 for 10 users.