Renowned spyware researcher Eric Howes joins Sunbelt Software

Leading malware expert to head Sunbeltıs Threat Research Team

Worcester, UK, 16th January 2005 ­ Sunbelt System Software, the leading provider of Windows system administration tools and enterprise security solutions, today announces the appointment of renowned security expert, Eric Howes, to the position of director of malware research. In his new role, Eric will be responsible for spearheading Sunbeltıs threat research initiatives and manage the talented efforts of Sunbeltıs threat research team. He will be based at Sunbeltıs office in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Howes, formerly an instructor and researcher at the University of Illinois, has been studying spyware behaviour for over five years. Widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on spyware and malicious mechanisms, Howes has served as a panellist at the CNET anti-spyware workshop and is an active and well-known participant in many of the security forums dedicated to spyware research including www.SpywareWarrior.com and www.DSLReports.com/BroadbandReports.com.

He regularly updates and maintains a number of spyware block lists, including the IE-SPYAD restricted sites list for Internet Explorer, to supply Internet users with resources to protect their privacy and security on the Internet. In recognition of this work, Microsoft awarded him its MVP (Most Valued Professional) Award.

³Eric brings an enormous breadth and depth of spyware research expertise focused on uncovering deceptive and malicious mechanisms by spyware developers,² said Alex Eckelberry, president at Sunbelt Software Inc. ³His expert research and knowledge of spyware applications and their behaviour will help Sunbelt continue to provide one of the best spyware threat databases in the industry.²

Howes holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Virginia, an MA in English Literature and is completing his MS in Library Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

About Sunbelt System Software
Established in 1983, Sunbelt System Software is the first and largest provider of 'best-of-breed' Windows system administration tools and enterprise solutions, supplying the tools necessary to support a Windows 2000/2003 corporate infrastructure. As well as being a software developer Sunbelt has a long history of working in partnership with innovative software developers like NSI. Sunbelt System Software produces and distributes leading edge utilities and provides mainframe quality technical support.

Sunbelt System Software has 20 years of experience in supporting mission critical systems for the world's largest corporations who have implemented flexible, powerful, and quality system management tools, easily, rapidly and cost effectively through the guidance of Sunbelt.

Part of the Sunbelt International Group, Sunbelt System Software covers the EMEA and most of the rest of the world, Sunbelt Software Distribution covers the US and Canada.

The Sunbelt group has offices in France, UK, Belgium, Germany, Sweden as well as the USA. Revenues from all operations were more than $35 million in 2004.

For further information on Sunbelt System Software please visit www.sunbelt-software.com.