Network Associates is shifting its business emphasis to focus just on security, and to help reflect that the company is changing its name to McAfee. The McAfee brand name comes from the company's well known anti-virus software. By focusing only on security, McAfee hopes to boost its overall profitability. The company also plans to make "fundamental" changes to its internal back-end systems architecture.

Additionally, as part of the move the company plans to sell off its Sniffer business to Silver Lake Partners and Texas Pacific Group for US$275 million. Between 450 and 500 people were employed by the Sniffer group. Both organizations have indicated they are committed to making the transition smooth for both customers and employees, and the Sniffer name will change to Network General Corporation, which was the name of the company McAfee merged with in 1997 to become Network Associates.

The goal of the changes is to streamline the company around security products and boost operating margins to 25% by mid-2005, said George Samenuk, the company's chairman and CEO, in a conference call with media and analysts.