Sapo Portal’s Web Mail Protected by Panda Software

SAPO portal is the first web mail provider in Portugal to provide antivirus protection to 1.4 million users after reaching an agreement with Panda Software Portugal

MADRID, July 9 2003

SAPO, the most important national portal, has chosen Panda Software’s antivirus protection to protect its web mail infrastructure, which has already 1.4 million registered users. The high efficiency and performance that this antivirus offers was the reason for the agreement between both companies.

By signing this antivirus protection contract with Panda Software, SAPO becomes a pioneer in security for its web mail users against computer viruses.

Panda Antivirus Appliance from Panda Software, available from July 7th, includes the scanning and protection against computer viruses of more than 1 million e-mails and their attachments sent and received everyday by its users.

Sapo.pt’s web mail users will also have the possibility of purchasing Panda Antivirus Titanium or Panda Antivirus Platinum 7 online, so they can protect their computers.

Besides the capabilities shown by this product in detecting and deleting viruses, Celso Martinho, Technical Director of Sapo, said he was “pleased with the technical support service given by Panda Software during the tests phase and implementation of the solution in the web mail infrastructure of SAPO”, which he evaluated as “decisive” in “granting Panda Software the responsibility of guaranteeing the safety of our users”.

For Ruben Dias, General Manager of Panda Software Portugal, with this agreement Panda Software offers “the best antivirus protection available on the market for all web mail users of Sapo.pt. We are happy with the trust that the most important Portuguese portal has placed in the solutions and services of Panda Software, which successfully allowed us to sign the most important contract of antivirus protection ever made in our country”, concluded Ruben Dias.

José Carlos Baldino, Director of SAPO portal explained that the company wants to “offer all web mail users of SAPO a high level of protection against all kinds of virus and malicious codes. The agreement with Panda Software is the highlight of a long technical and strategic decision-making process, very important to guarantee that SAPO products keep leading the Portuguese market”. José Carlos Baldino pointed out as well “the technical capacity shown by Panda Software during the whole process” which contributed to making a final decision, which was “easy due to the degree of protection they offered” and the “flexibility and speed of implementation of the professional team at Panda Software in Portugal”.

About SAPO portal

After eight years of continuous existence, more than 2 million users per month and more than 200 million pages visited per month, SAPO (www.sapo.pt ) is nowadays the reference and undisputed leading Internet portal in Portugal. The secret for this success lies in fact that the SAPO’s services and contents are centred on people, instead of a specific platform, application, service or net. We work to provide our clients and users with the perfect control over their information and data and to provide ever higher levels of content, services, ease of use and personalisation.

In September 1999, PT Multimédia – Servi?§os de Telecomunica?§ões e Multimédia, SGPS, S.A. acquired 74.9% of the capital of Saber e Lazer, owner of SAPO portal. In March 2000, that share was transferred to PTM.com, following the creation of this holding with the purpose of gathering all businesses related with Internet of PT Multimedia. Nowadays, the company is held 100% by PTM.com, included in the group of PT Comunica?§ões.

After the acquisition of Saber & Lazer by PTM.com, SAPO has become the portal of the entire group – Portugal Telecom, in its several platforms of the group’s available access.

About Panda Software
Panda Software () is a leading international developer of antivirus software for all types of customers: corporate clients, small and medium sized companies, and home users. Their 100% in-house, cutting-edge antivirus technology has received awards and quality certifications from the most widely-respected IT security institutions. Their commitment to client service and the concept of the protection of computer systems as a 24h-365d Insurance Policy rather than merely a software product have revolutionized the computer security industry. The quality of Panda Software’s products has been endorsed by major industry watchdogs including ICSA Labs and Checkmark.