MCI Strengthens Remote Access Security For Mobile And Remote Users

Unveils Security Enhancements Including Network Anti-Fraud Protection, Secure Authentication, Enhanced Denial of Service Support and SSL VPNs

ASHBURN, Va., April 6, 2004- MCI (WCOEQ, MCWEQ) today announced it is adding new end-to-end security capabilities to its Remote Access suite of services to help businesses better protect their information assets, while providing traveling and remote workers with simpler, more secure access to corporate resources. Throughout 2004, MCI is strengthening its built-in security features to include anti-fraud protection, stronger authentication, enhanced Denial of Service support and desktop policy enforcement as well as adding Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)-providing one of the industry's most complete remote access platforms available.

"There is no question that network and information security are of paramount concern for businesses of all sizes in every region around the world," said Nancy Gofus, MCI senior vice president, Product Management. "MCI's new remote access security features deliver secure network connections from an individual's desktop all the way through the network. As a result, our customers can operate with increased confidence, while ensuring the highest levels of productivity for their employees."

Network Security Enhancements
Beginning next month, MCI will deliver an anti-fraud solution for its Remote Access customers that allows for the proactive identification, notification and termination of fraudulent customer traffic, which occurs when an end user's account is compromised by an unauthorized user. This unique MCI network enhancement provides customers with 24/7 protection via the company's patented and proven anti-fraud system, MCI Sheriff.

MCI also will enhance its authentication capabilities through the introduction of Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) to its Remote Access solutions this Fall. The integration of EAP directly into the MCI global IP network will enable unique security features, including the ability to scramble user passwords before they cross the network, so they will not be visible in their original form.

To help customers better defend against Internet attacks, MCI recently introduced the industry's first Denial of Service (DoS) Service Level Agreement (SLA) which provides all MCI Internet customers with immediate access to MCI's security staff, to help them rapidly address and mitigate attacks. MCI's security team works hand-in-hand with customers to determine and implement the necessary steps to quickly mitigate the security threat. MCI is the first and only service provider to develop and initially utilize and implement a set of highly effective anti-DoS network tools and techniques, enabling its security team to trace and stop potential attacks quickly.

Recognizing MCI's security leadership, the Company received two awards by the SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security) Institute. MCI received the Award for Leadership in Mitigating Denial of Service Attacks for its proactive efforts in developing new and aggressive techniques to identify and block Distributed Denial of Service attacks (DDOS) against its customers. MCI also received the Award for Leadership in Rapid Response to Worm Activity for its security team's quick and decisive work in decoding and halting the CodeRed, Lion and SQLSlammer worms.

Desktop Security Enhancements
To further secure customer networks, MCI is modifying its Access Manager client to be aware of other desktop applications, such as personal firewalls or anti-virus clients, while enabling administrators to push breaking security updates to traveling or remote workers. With the integration of application awareness into its remote access platform, IT managers will be able to configure end-user computers to prevent access if key security applications are not working properly.

In order to provide customers with a complete solution, MCI will roll out a centrally-managed personal firewall this spring, leveraging Sygate technology. This new managed offering will enable MCI to proactively protect
remote user traffic and computing resources, while allowing IT administrators to extend corporate security policies down to an end-user's PC. As a result, mobile and remote users can easily and securely connect to corporate networks, access applications and automatically launch a VPN from a dial-up, Ethernet, Wireless or DSL connection, while secured by a centrally-managed firewall.

Today, MCI also announced the immediate availability of an SSL VPN, providing companies with an alternative to MCI's Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) VPNs. MCI's SSL VPN offering provides Remote Access customers with a clientless VPN to encrypt, authorize, and authenticate access to enterprise data resources and applications from anywhere, any device and any network environment. MCI uniquely combines this VPN solution via Aventail with other security features, giving customers access to the broadest, most flexible range of VPN offerings available today.

MCI's Remote Access Portfolio
MCI's advanced global Remote Access suite offers businesses a comprehensive range of end-to-end security solutions via dial up, Wireless, DSL or Ethernet connections, backed by enhanced service level agreements and 24/7 technical and end-user Help Desk support. With built-in network security and desktop policy enforcement, MCI gives company IT administrators a single-point-of-entry to easily create and modify user groups, configure multiple products sets, and set user passwords via its administrator platform, Enterprise Services Management (ESM). MCI's advanced end-user remote access management platform ensures that traveling and mobile users enjoy a consistent and positive end-user experience from more than 140 countries around the globe.

About WorldCom, Inc.
WorldCom, Inc. (WCOEQ, MCWEQ), which, together with its subsidiaries, currently conducts business under the MCI brand name, is a leading global communications provider, delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers. With the industry's most expansive global IP backbone, based on the number of company-owned points-of-presence (POPs), and wholly-owned data networks, WorldCom develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For more information, go to http://www.mci.com.