The Internet Security Suites Blog

Outpost Firewall PRO 4.0 - Amazing Internet Security, but not for your Grandpa!

2006-11-30T07:49:00.000-08:00

Neil Rubenking, internet security expert at PC Magazine USA released a a review of Outpost Firewall PRO 4.0.

Here are quick conclusions about this internet security software:

PROS:
Hardy firewall resists attack by malware. Firewall blocks leak-test techniques used by malware to evade normal program control. Plug-in architecture allows bonus features.

CONS:
Advanced program control often flags innocent programs. Firewall pop-ups can be hard to interpret. Antispyware can't handle rootkits.

BOTTOM LINE:
Agnitum's robust Outpost firewall is tough enough to resist any attack, and its advanced program control blocks sneaky malware. Spyware protection is a nice (if imperfect) bonus. High-tech types will like it, but don't give it to Grandpa.

Indeed!

Being of the best internet security software to protect your Internet connection Outpost can hardly be used by computer dummies like your Grandpa.

Outpost Firewall PRO 4.0 - Amazing Internet Security, but not for your Grandpa!

2006-11-30T07:46:00.000-08:00

New BullGuard Internet Security 7.0 Released

2006-11-17T01:23:00.000-08:00

BullGuard released Internet Security 7.0 which is available immediately from www.bullguard.com. A single subscription to BullGuard Internet Security protects up to three PCs with Antivirus, Antispyware, Firewall, Spamfilter, Backup, and Support.

BullGuard Backup
The new to 7.0 is the functionality to configure online and or local backup from a single interface. In addition to being able to perform backup via the online storage facility included, users can also configure BullGuard 7.0 to perform scheduled backups to external hard drives, network drives, USB drives or other removable media. BullGuard Backup also provides integrated support with Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express for archiving email history, as well as an intuitive Wizard function for configuring backups and restoring of any lost files.

Integrated Antivirus & Antispyware
Version 7.0 integrates the Antivirus and Antispyware applications to minimize scanning time, neutralizing malware in one sweep.

BullGuard Firewall
The Firewall in version 7.0 has been completely overhauled with a new award-winning engine licensed from Outpost Firewall PRO, providing greater resistance to intrusion and extrusion attempts. This has been achieved with minimal interface changes taking existing BullGuard users into consideration.

BullGuard Spamfilter
The upgraded Spamfilter offers improved analyses of incoming e-mails, with better spam detection and fewer false-positives. The Spamfilter can be used with any e-mail application and includes full integration with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express.

Steganos Internet Security 2007 Released

2006-11-12T04:21:00.000-08:00

Steganos, European leader in providing security and privacy software for consumers and SMEs, has released Steganos Internet Security 2007, the latest upgrade to its comprehensive PC security package.

The package protects users from the wide range of threats they face while using the internet including viruses, phishing attacks, hackers, spyware, diallers, rootkits, spam, pop-ups and unwanted advertising.

NEW: Steganos AntiVirus optimised for rapid downloads
Steganos AntiVirus pro-actively protects PCs, scanning emails in real time and offering protection against script, macro, data and bootsector viruses. The software intercepts viruses before they reach the PC and uses a virus database that is updated every hour. Using advanced compression and incremental updates, the software now updates itself in the background with minimal impact on the user’s PC.
NEW: Antiphishing protection to avoid identity theft
This release introduces antiphishing protection. Phishing is a term used to describe when criminals attempt to extract banking and e-commerce credentials by impersonating banks or retailers, usually by sending spam email purporting to come from that institution and encouraging customers to log in at a fake website. Steganos Internet Security 2007 defends users from such threats by warning before sensitive data, such as passwords, pin codes, account numbers or credit card numbers, are entered on an unsafe website. The software uses a blacklist of known phishing sites, which is regularly updated.
NEW: Pop-up and advertising suppression
Also new for this release is the pop-up and advertising blocker. This blocks websites from opening unsolicited windows, which could be used to deliver viruses and trojans. Users can whitelist websites where they would like to permit pop-ups, and can screen out advertising embedded in webpages.
NEW: Protection from rootkits
Steganos Internet Security 2007 offers comprehensive protection against rootkits, which can be used to hide malicious software on a PC. By continuously monitoring the memory, the software warns users about process changes and hidden software. Rootkits hit the headlines last year when music CDs were released by Sony BMG which installed unsolicited antipiracy software and used a rootkit to hide it on the user’s PC.
NEW: Real-time examination of internet traffic
Steganos Internet Security 2007 examines internet traffic in real time to filter out malware before it even reaches the computer’s hard disk. Steganos Internet Security 2007 destroys spyware and malware, which could be used to record passwords as they are entered into banking and e-commerce websites and send them to criminals for use in committing identity theft or fraud.

Steganos Internet Security 2007 comes with one year of free updates, as often as hourly for the virus definition. The trial version is available now to download at http://www.steganos.com/.

CNET Posted BitDefender Antivirus 10 Review with a 6.8 out of 10 score

2006-11-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

Robert Vamosi of CNET has reviewed new BitDefender Antivirus 10 giving it 6.8 out of 10 rating.

THE GOOD:
BitDefender Antivirus 10 offers two licenses and a two-year subscription at a price below that of the competition; runs on Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP; features award-winning antivirus protection.

THE BAD:
BitDefender Antivirus 10 performed slower than the competition; doesn't uninstall completely; the help file is a separate application to open.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
BitDefender Antivirus 10 is a solid antivirus and antispyware solution, offering two-year subscriptions for the price of one elsewhere; however, it could be faster, offer built-in help, and uninstall better.

Interesting facts from the review:
Once installed, BitDefender requires 60MB of disk space, twice as much as Eset NOD32 and CA Antivirus 2007, comparable to McAfee VirusScan Plus, yet one-third the size of Norton AntiVirus 2007. In terms of system resources, BitDefender Antivirus 10 (using its default scan settings) is neither a resource hog or nor is it lean, falling somewhere in the middle instead.

Outpost Firewall PRO 4.0 Wins The Termination Test Award

2006-10-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

Independent tests have determined that Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0 from Agnitum is the software firewall best able to defend itself from the type of direct and brutal attacks that can cripple, disable and shut down less robust firewalls.

Outpost was the only one of 13 software firewalls to pass all 38 tests conducted by Guillame Kaddouch, an expert in computer security who operates the security web site firewallleaktester.com. Test results are available on Kaddouch's website at http://www.firewallleaktester.com/termination.php

"In the wild malware often choose to terminate the security software in the system they are running on, instead of trying to use complex methods to circumvent them. The "termination test" I have done was to shed some light on the current firewalls resistance against termination," said Kaddouch. "When Agnitum released Outpost 4.0 with it's 'self-defense' feature, I wanted to know how efficient it was by curiosity, and how it would stand compared to all of the current most famous firewalls."

A 30-days trial version of Outpost Firewall PRO is available for download from here.

BitDefender Internet Security v10 Gets 3/5 Rating from PC Magazine Review

2006-10-25T04:58:00.000-07:00

Neil Rubenkin of PC Magazine USA has given 3 out of 5 rating to the recently released BitDefender Internet Security v10. The full review is available here.

Here is quick info why BitDefender has been given this rating.

PROS:
Now includes rootkit scan. Per-user parental control works well. Antivirus is powerful and flexible. Firewall now automatically configures access for known programs.

CONS:
Firewall easily disabled. Firewall alerts for unknown programs are confusing. Failed to remove many spyware samples in testing. Unstable on infested systems.

BOTTOM LINE:
Antivirus is still the suite's star feature, but BitDefender has improved the rest of Internet Security in many small ways. Some will find the information and configuration settings too technical.

Virus Bulletin Names BitDefender 10 The Only Security Software to Detect 100% of Malware

2006-10-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

BitDefender this week announced that BitDefender 10 was awarded VB100% certification from Virus Bulletin for its ability to detect 100% of the viruses on the WildList.

Tested by Virus Bulletin on Windows XP Professional SP2, BitDefender’s powerful security solution was proven to be one of the most secure anti-virus solutions available. Initially, Virus Bulletin judges failed BitDefender 10 because the software identified what had thought to be a clean file as malware. All other security software tested identified the file as clean. However, upon closer examination, Virus Bulletin judges found that the file that BitDefender identified as malware actually was infected and commended BitDefender for detecting it.

The VB100% certification is recognized as one of the industry’s definitive guides for the performance of an antivirus product. The WildList Organization (http://www.wildlist.org) collects monthly virus reports from anti-virus experts around the world. The data from the reports is compiled to produce The WildList – a list of those viruses currently spreading throughout a diverse user population. A virus that is reported by two or more of the WildList reporters will appear in the top-half of the list and is deemed to be 'In the Wild'.

Virus Bulletin magazine tests the leading antivirus solutions against the viruses which appear in the ‘In the Wild’ list. Only those antivirus solutions that achieve full protection from these latest viruses are considered for the VB100% certification.

"This is a dramatic confirmation of the value of BitDefender's B-HAVE heuristic detection technology and a great morale booster for BitDefender,” stated BitDefender CTO Bogdan Dumitru. “We are thrilled to learn that BitDefender 10 found malware that went undetected by every other security software tested.”

PC Magazines Publishes Part I of its Internet Security Suite Smackdown

2006-10-17T05:29:00.000-07:00

PC Magazine USA published the results of its first round testings of eight leading Internet Security Suite products. Norton Internet Security 2007 by Symantec was given the Editor's Choice award.

Here are some reasons why NIS 2007 became the winner:

PROS:
Intelligent firewall handles program control without bothering users. Powerful antivirus is as effective against spyware as the best standalones. Better interface, smaller performance hit than previously.

CONS:
Real-time antispyware allows low-risk spyware until reconfigured. Optional privacy and parental control features less flexible and powerful than previously. Antispam misses too much.

BOTTOM LINE:
The NIS 2007 firewall, antivirus, and antispyware all offer world-class protection. Optional antispam, privacy, and parental control modules are relatively weak, but that's better than having the strong antispam and weak antispyware of ZoneAlarm. And I love the firewall's silent but lethal program control—no popups!

Other security suite products tested include: CA Internet Security Suite 2007, Kaspersky Internet Security 6, McAfee Total Protection, Panda Internet Security 2007, Trend Micro Internet Security 2007, Windows Live OneCare and ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6.5.

The full article "Security Suite Smackdown, Part I" is available here.

F-Secure Internet Security 2007 Released

2006-10-11T00:08:00.000-07:00

F-Secure Corp, leading Finnish internet security software vendor, has released Internet Security 2007. The new version features a number of remarkable new and enhanced features to further strengthen its leadership in reliability of protection in the data security market.

The new features make it easier for customers to take care of the wellness of their PC’s, and to protect their families and their most valuable digital assets. The risk of previously unknown zero-day threats being able to do damage is greatly reduced through the new F-Secure DeepGuard technology. Instead of just analyzing new programs once when they enter the system, F-Secure DeepGuard also will persistently monitor the behaviour of software in a real-time mode, scanning for suspicious program behaviour and stopping activities that might pose a risk. Competing one-time-only solutions cannot offer the same level of protection as it is possible for malicious code-writers to obfuscate, encrypt or pack the code in ways that prevent the one-time solutions from detecting it - and once the file has passed it will be free to do anything it wants.

In recognition of the increasing threat of spyware, F-Secure has improved its detection rates and removal capabilities by adding another spyware engine solution to F-Secure Internet Security 2007. The integration has been enhanced to include target scanning, in addition to real-time scanning and manual system scans.

F-Secure Internet Security continues to offer proactive protection for content sensitive family members thanks to the improved parental control application. Access to the Internet can be limited according to individually configurable content based predefinitions. F-Secure Internet Security 2007 now has three different Parental Control Profiles: Child (White listed sites only), Teenager (Content Based Filtering) and Parent (Full Access). Anything falling outside of the parameters set by these profiles is automatically blocked. As before, parents can also exercise their discretion over the time used by their children on the Internet using the Time Lock feature.

Speaking about the new product, Ari Alakiuttu, Vice President of Product Marketing said:

"Consumers have a right to data security products that offer them protection at every possible level of interaction with the online world. We believe at F-Secure that the latest version of F-Secure Internet Security 2007 incorporates world class features and will set the standard for all other data security products serving the home and small office segment."

F-Secure Internet Security 2007 (IS2007) is now available for download from F-Secure's e-store and will be available on retail shelves beginning October 31st. All customers with a valid F-Secure Internet Security 2006 service subscription will get the upgraded IS2007 for free. Microsoft Vista support, for both 32bit and 64bit, will also be offered for free to IS2007 customers at the end of Q1 (pending the actual release date of Vista). The new advanced features of F-Secure Internet Security 2007 will also be available for F-Secure's corporate solutions at the beginning of next year.

Grisoft AVG Internet Security 7.5 Released

2006-10-04T01:08:00.000-07:00

GRISOFT, the developer of AVG security software, today announced the official release of AVG 7.5 product line. A significant addition to the AVG security software portfolio, AVG Internet Security 7.5, includes the most recent anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and firewall technologies with reliable automatic updates while consuming a low level of computer resources for convenient use.

AVG Internet Security 7.5 Features:

100% virus detection — AVG’s scanning engine has received numerous awards for its excellent detection of “in the wild” viruses, including the VB100% award. Its unique combination of detection methods provides full protection against viruses, worms and trojans.
Cutting-edge anti-spyware technology — Using the latest state-of-the-art detection technology, AVG detects spyware, adware, DLL-trojans, keyloggers, and much more. Malware hidden in data streams, archives, or the Windows registry is also detected.
Full on-access protection — The powerful AVG Resident Shield provides maximum protection by scanning every file opened, executed, or saved. It also prevents the opening or executing of infected files.
Flexible intelligent scanning — The AVG Resident Shield can include/exclude files from being scanned based on individual file extensions and can handle exceptions for potentially unwanted programs such as adware.
Full e-mail protection — AVG checks every e-mail sent or received, providing full protection from e-mail-borne threats. AVG supports all leading e-mail clients, including MS Outlook, The bat!, Eudora, and all other SMTP/POP3-based e-mail clients, such as Outlook Express. Encrypted connections using SSL are also supported.
E-mail spam and phishing filtering — AVG checks every e-mail received, using the latest technology and up-to-the-minute spam signatures to ensure maximum detection rates for spam and phishing attacks.
Automatic threat handling — AVG can automatically heal or remove infected files and other threats such as trojans, worms and spyware.
Control over all network access — The AVG Firewall monitors all communication to and from the computer, blocking external attacks and preventing trojans from exporting confidential data. The AVG Firewall configuration wizard automatically creates access rules for all popular software. In addition the firewall can switch profiles automatically, based upon the current conection type, ensuring seamless changeover for notebooks.
Powerful scheduling — AVG automatically provides recommended daily schedules for scanning and updating, and also allows you to create custom-scheduled events.
Multiple language support — No need to buy a special language version.

Grisoft also updated its AVG Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware, and Anti-Spyware titles to matching 7.5 editions.

“GRISOFT’s focus has always been providing users with the most comprehensive and proactive computer security solutions on the market,” said Larry Bridwell, Vice President of Communications of GRISOFT. “With AVG 7.5 and, more specifically, Internet Security 7.5, we’ve taken another step toward truly providing all users with security software that can continually protect them from the growing number of cyber and computer threats.”

GRISOFT now offers the option of a 1-year or a 2-year licence. The price of AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 is set at $29.95 for a one-year license and $38.95 for a two-year licence, which includes the option of free updates. One year license for AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5 is available for $29.95. A two-year license for AVG Internet Security 7.5 costs $69.95.

All products in the AVG 7.5 portfolio are immediately available for free download on the GRISOFT website.

CA Gives Away Insurance to Internet Security Suite Customers

2006-09-29T03:31:00.000-07:00

Computer Associates (CA) offers customers insurance against identity theft and computer virus infections when they buy CA's Internet Security Suite 2007.

Customers in all U.S. states except New York receive up to $5,000 in identity theft coverage when they buy Internet Security Suite 2007 through a reseller or direct, a CA spokesman said. In addition, up to $1,500 of virus protection coverage is provided for customers who buy Internet Security Suite 2007 or CA's Anti-Virus 2007. Both policies remain in force for one year after the product purchase date.

However, there is a catch, which states that the guarantee does not cover data loss or damage to software other than the Windows operating system. Customers also cannot use their personal laptops to work networks. In addition, they cannot turn off the CA's Internet Security Suite 2007 and its auto update mechanism.

The offer is similar to one that AOL offered earlier this month to its dial-up Internet-access subscribers, but is a new marketing tactic among other security-software vendors. Software rivals have, however, been improving their product offerings with other new features and stepping up price promotions as they roll out 2007 product upgrades.

Internet Security Suite 2007 costs $49.99 for a single-user license and $69.99 for a three-user license.

Agnitum Introduces Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0

2006-09-27T01:22:00.000-07:00

The computer security experts at Agnitum Ltd. today announced the launch of Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0. As we were reporting earlier on this blog, Agnitum released a public release-candidate version more than two weeks ago and now the official released happened.

This new version of the award-winning software provides home, small-office and mobile corporate users with powerful protection against spyware, keyloggers, Trojans, hackers, identity theft, rootkits, wireless network hijacking and other Internet-borne attacks.

Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0 is available immediately worldwide for US$39.95, including updates for one year, by download from www.agnitum.com. Trial versions may also be downloaded from http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost/download.php.

"Outpost has always been recognized for its heavy-duty, yet easy-to-use security products," said Mikhail Penkovsky, global vice president of Sales and Marketing at Agnitum. "Russians are known as some of the most talented hackers and cybercriminals. So who better than Russian security experts to stop them from breaking into your PC," said Penkovsky. "Like any responsible security software vendor, we would never claim to provide 100 percent protection, but we believe we are delivering as close to 100 percent as possible with today's technology --- certainly much stronger protection than users will get from basic firewalls such as that provided by Microsoft's OneCare service."

Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0 delivers this high level of protection with a range of new and improved tools, including support for 64-bit operating systems.

Learn more about new release from the official What's New web-page.

UK Firms Spent £1.8bn on Internet Security

2006-09-26T04:57:00.000-07:00

Spending on IT security measures by UK companies has reached "massive" £1.8bn level, according to a new report from Point Topic.

Most companies now have standard firewall and antivirus protection in place, according to the research, with larger companies also splashing out on disaster recovery and compliance monitoring to weed out security violations and further protect the business.

Companies with up to ten staff spend an average £11.30 per month per employee on security, while those with 11 to 50 staff only spend £4.50 per month per employee. Larger sites with over 50 staff spend £15.80.

"An explanation could be that they get economies of scale with the cost of security packages without having the need for consulting expertise and bespoke solutions required for the bigger sites," said Tim Johnson, chief executive at Point Topic.

The leading security suppliers quoted in the survey were Symantec, McAfee, Sophos, AVG, Microsoft and Trend Micro. Symantec and McAfee dominate at the smaller companies market, although McAfee held its market share better at the larger ones. Sophos and Trend Micro are confined to the larger sites, but with a significant share. AVG and Microsoft are represented across the range of sites.

Panda Antivirus 2007 Review by PC Magazine

2006-09-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

Neil Rubenking from PC Magazine made a reivew of Panda Antivirus 2007 last week. Here are key conclusions from the research:

PROS:
Protects against viruses and spyware. Includes heuristic protection against unknown threats. Scans files on access, in incoming e-mail attachments, and when sent by IM.

CONS:
Some test malware crashed the scanner. Lacks some expected features such as scheduled scans and quarantine. Some other important features are turned off by default.

BOTTOM LINE:
Panda Antivirus 2007 offers inexpensive protection against viruses and spyware, but you get what you pay for. In testing, its antispyware performance was so-so, and two spyware samples kept the scan from working.

The full review is available here.

Trend Micro Internet Security 2007 Released

2006-09-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

Trend Micro, this week announced the 2007 version of its Internet security suite. The 2007 Internet Security release will incorporate Trend Micro’s well-known PC-cillin™ engine and anti-malware protection along with a host of new features addressing all the latest threats including rootkits, spyware, phishing, spam, hackers, viruses, WiFi attacks, smartphone threats and the growing problem of identity-theft.

Enhanced Features and Benefits of PC-cillin Internet Security 2007:

Spyware Protection: Blocks and removes spyware, crimeware, adware, grayware and rootkits, a new type of deep-hiding invader.
Antivirus Security: Detects and removes viruses and the latest threats from your email, Internet downloads, removable media and PCs. Updates are installed automatically for the most up-to-date protection. An outbreak warning system, along with Windows vulnerability assessments, is provided.
Personal Firewall: Blocks hackers and network viruses from attacking your home network using a customizable inbound/outbound firewall.
Fraud Defense: Protects you from on-line phishing scams designed to steal credit card and bank account numbers. Easy to configure and notifies you of the latest Web-site risk.
Wireless Protection: Safeguards against unauthorized users invading your WiFi home network.
Home Network Control: Manage, configure and update security under one household license for up to three PCs on your network wherever Trend Micro Internet Security is installed with this easy-to-use management console.

In terms of licensing, Trend Micro made the $49.95 base product installable on three PCs, making it comparable in price-per-seat to Microsoft's OneCare. Previously, Trend's three-user license cost $79.95. Symantec last week upped the seat-count of its $69.99 Norton Internet Security 2007 to three. NIS 2006 for three PCs cost $119.95.

Trend Micro Internet Security trial is available for the direct download from this link.

Symantec Releases Norton Internet Security 2007

2006-09-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

Symantec Corp. has released Norton AntiVirus 2007 and Norton Internet Security 2007 that have been enhanced in technology and performance to protect users from today's evolving online threats.

The major addition for the Norton Internet Security 2007 is the ability to help prevent users from getting hurt from phishing scams. With a pre-defined list of known phishing sites, along with "advanced heuristic technology", it will block users from loading any Web site it thinks is a phising site.

The Intrusion Prevention feature in Norton Internet Security 2007 offers critical protection against recently discovered vulnerabilities in the Windows operating system and other popular applications. These security holes can be shielded by Norton Internet Security much faster than it typically takes a vendor to release a patch to fix the problem. Symantec said its most recent Internet Security Threat Report found that on average, virus writers are able to start exploiting these new security holes approximately six days after the disclosure of a vulnerability.

With Norton Internet Security 2007, viruses, worms and hackers attempting to infect or invade a person's computer through these vulnerabilities are immediately blocked from ever getting on the system. Users are now able to patch their operating system and other applications on their own schedule, yet remain safe.

The enhanced firewall in Norton Internet Security 2007 automatically configures itself to allow legitimate applications yet blocks spyware, viruses, worms and hackers from stealing valuable information from the user's computer.

The suggested retail price for Norton Internet Security 2007 is $69.99 (includes one-year service subscription to use the product and receive Symantec's protection updates). Small Office Packs for 5- and 10-users are scheduled to be available for both products. Norton Internet Security 2007 can be installed on up to three PCs.

The Norton products run under Windows XP, but are eligible for a free update to a Windows Vista version after the new Microsoft operating system ships.

Agnitum Posts Release Candidate for Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0

2006-09-14T00:06:00.000-07:00

The computer security experts at Agnitum Ltd. this week posted the release candidate for Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0.

The release candidate is a major milestone on the path to shipping the new version of Outpost, award-winning software that provides home, small-office and mobile corporate users with powerful protection against spyware, keyloggers, Trojans, hackers, identity theft, rootkits, wireless network hijacking, and other Internet-borne attacks.

The software is largely complete, and the preview gives users outside Agnitum a chance to test, experiment and provide feedback to the company.

Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0 delivers protection with a range of new and improved tools, including support for 64-bit operating systems and:

Strengthened anti-leak functionality, preventing all known methods for stealing information from a user’s PC by Trojans, spyware and adware that exploit operating system holes. With version 4, users may customize permissions and restrictions on outbound data transfers by any application attempting to gain control of another, attempting to launch a browser, or attempting to use the memory space of a trusted application.
Spyware protection now blocks all known malicious applications. Additional protection against unknown malicious applications has been added with the forced scanning of all applications before they are permitted to execute. To do this, Outpost simulates execution of the program in a closed ‘sandbox’ and tests it for legitimacy before permitting or blocking its actual execution. System performance is unaffected.
ImproveNet is enhanced. The community that brings Outpost users and Agnitum security experts together to share configurations now automatically distributes verified rules to protect against the latest threats. Version 4 adds a new set of rules to govern local application interactions on the user’s PC, giving a greater level of control over local processes that prevent hijacking of legitimate applications.
Improved usability. Version 4 introduces a new “Entertainment Mode” for users playing online games, watching movies or engaging in other activities on the PC that they don’t want interrupted. This mode suppresses Outpost prompts – and access decisions are made automatically in the background. Advanced users may also apply macro definitions to customize adaptive firewall rules.
Self-protection technology prevents Outpost from being deactivated by viruses, Trojans or spyware, even through the simulation of keystrokes that would cause the firewall to be shut down. Outpost continuously monitors its own files on the hard drive, as well as registry entries, memory status and running services, and blocks any attempted changes by malicious applications.

Users may download the Outpost Firewall Pro release candidate software from here.

Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0 Release Candidate download is a 30-day trial version and can be registered using the license key from your existing installed version of Outpost. You can also puchase a license for the currentl version 3.51 and use the registration key for the 4.0 release candidate.

GRISOFT Launches Beta Program for AVG Internet Security 7.5

2006-09-12T04:06:00.000-07:00

GRISOFT has announced the availability of a public beta version of AVG Internet Security 7.5, its new anti-malware security suite. In addition to the new security suite, public beta versions for the entire AVG 7.5 computer security portfolio are available, including new products, as well as updated versions with significant improvements.

This is the most comprehensive beta program that GRISOFT has launched for its users to test. AVG Internet Security 7.5 is a comprehensive suite of computer security tools – tools users need to protect themselves again a growing cyber and computer threats including worms, viruses, Trojans, spam and keyloggers.

The new security solution incorporates anti-spyware, easy to use personal firewall, spam filter, anti-phishing tools, as well as an updated version of AVG Anti-Virus. As with all other AVG products, AVG Internet Security offers automatic high-speed updates, and it provides complete protection while consuming low levels of system resources.

Beta versions of AVG 7.5 products are designated for compatibility testing in large number of different hardware and software configurations in Windows XP, Windows Vista Beta 2/RC1, FreeBSD, and GNU/Linux operating systems. The feedback from the users during beta will be used to fix potential bugs as well as provide for further development of AVG products.
Beta versions of AVG products are available for testing free of charge at beta.grisoft.cz.

PC Authority Rates Kaspersky Internet Security 6

2006-09-11T05:46:00.000-07:00

Australian PC Authority posted a review of Kaspersky Internet Security 6. The product was given a 4 out of 6 mostly thanks to its high-class antivirus module.

The conclusion says the following:

The real strength of the Kaspersky suite remains the anti-virus protection, which is also available in standalone format in a new version 6 guise. But even this seems expensive at $63, especially when compared to the free version of AVG, which performs just as well. Ultimately ZoneLabs’ product is Kaspersky's undoing this month: it's $4 cheaper and outperforms Kaspersky's offering in every regard.

The full review is available from here.

Comodo Firewall 2.3 Released

2006-09-08T02:49:00.000-07:00

Comodo, a global leader in Identity and Trust Assurance Management solutions, today announced the availability of its free Comodo Firewall V2.3.

The latest version sees a host of new features:

Submit suspicious files to Comodo - Version 2.3 contains built in links that let the user instantly submit unrecognized or suspicious files to Comodo for analysis, helping to speed up the identification and nullification of hitherto unknown threats.
Protocol Analysis - key to the detection of fake packets used in denial of service attacks. The firewall now checks that every packet conforms to protocol standards before allowing traffic to pass.
Packet Checksum verification - Comodo firewall now recalculates the checksum of data packets and compares this against the checksum stated in the packet signature. If the two do not match then the firewall will block it as it may have been altered during transmission.
Flexibility and ease of use - 'New Alert Frequency Slider' allows one-touch configuration of the amount of alerts the program generates.
Defends itself from attack - New option that ensures Comodo Firewall registry entries and files cannot be deleted or modified either accidentally or deliberately. This vital security feature prevents malicious programs or intruders from being able to shut down or sabotage the Firewall.
More powerful and intuitive security rules interface - "smart" alerts provide users with invaluable, common sense advice whenever a connection attempt is made.

A full list of new features of Comodo Firewall 2.3 can be found at: http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/whycomodofirewall.html

Sunbelt Software Announces Top Ten Spyware Threats for August

2006-09-06T01:16:00.000-07:00

Sunbelt Software, the vendor of CounterSpy anti-spyware product family, yesterday announced the top ten most prevalent spyware threats for the month of August. The results are based on the monthly scans performed by Sunbelt's award-winning antispyware product CounterSpy(TM). The Trojan.Smitfraud threat appears for the first time in the top ten lists and is a trojan that is used to download rogue security products and change the user's desktop to display false warnings that the computer is infected with spyware.

The top ten most prevalent spyware threats for the month of August are:

1. DesktopScam 2.22%

2. Trojan-Downloader.Zlob.Media-Codec 1.46%

3. Virtumonde 0.96%

4. Command Service 0.83%

5. Trojan.Smitfraud 0.80%

6. Trojan.WinlogonHook.Delf.A 0.72%

7. DollarRevenue 0.70%

8. Zango.SearchAssistant 0.68%

9. StartPage.TimesSquare 0.63%

10. SpySheriff 0.62%

The Sunbelt Software Threat Research Center specializes in the discovery and analysis of dangerous vulnerabilities (i.e., security holes, bugs, maligned features or combination of operations) that could be exploited for Internet and email attacks. The research team actively researches new spyware outbreaks, creating and testing new spyware definitions on a constant basis. For detailed spyware research information and to view the top ten spyware in real-time please visit http://research.sunbelt-software.com.

PC World Australia Reviews Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0

2006-09-04T23:05:00.000-07:00

Australian PC World made a review of Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0 what resulted in a 4 out of 5 rating.

Here are key conclusions from the review:

Pros:
-Fairly accurate detection, Powerful security tools.

Cons:
-Some false positive results, Uses a lot of system resources, Expensive.

Bottom Line:
Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0 is a powerful security suite but the price tag and the interface may turn away some users.

Click here to read full review.

CA Internet Security Software Flags Windows Component as Virus

2006-09-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

Computer Associates (CA) caused some headaches this week after its antivirus and internet security suite software inadvertently flagged component of the Windows OS as malware.

A spokesman for the security vendor told that the error followed an incorrect update of the application's antivirus signature file, causing it to remove or isolate a file named 'Lsass.exe'. The company released an update for its antivirus signature file within seven hours.

The Lsass.exe process is part of Windows' security mechanism. So users who had set their eTrust Antivirus and Internt Security Suite to automatically remove malicious software may have found that their systems crashed and were unable to boot up Windows once Lsass.exe was removed.

It’s not uncommon to see false positives in AV and anti-spyware software … for example, Sophos mistakenly claimed that few Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader components on systems running Mac OS X were infected with the Inqtana virus. Last July Symantec detected the the Zlob Trojan in the Nullsoft Scriptable Install System tool. And Microsoft Anti-Spyware IDed some components of Symantec' Norton Antivirus as malware.

The biggest trouble for the CA Customer Service is that new AV signatures aren’t going to fix those issues for users who downloaded the update files.

Microsoft Launches a Beta of Windows Live OneCare Family Safety

2006-08-31T07:17:00.000-07:00

A Redmond-based giant on Wednesday launched a beta version of Windows Live OneCare Family Safety, an add-on to its security suite aimed at protecting families online. The application includes content filtering technologies, as well as contact management, activity reports, and guidance on online safety issues.

"The Internet offers fantastic opportunities to explore and learn, and OneCare Family Safety aims to ensure that those opportunities aren't limited due to questionable content," the company said in a blog posting Wednesday. "Microsoft is focused on improving our new OneCare Family Safety service and we hope that you will try it out and offer your thoughts on its features and usability."

Family Safety Settings is designed to include the following features:

Content filtering
Web filtering will allow customers to choose settings to “allow,” “block” or “warn” for a range of content categories, and unique settings can be applied for each member of the household. The filtering settings will be enforced when a user logs on to Windows Live on a PC that is running Family Safety Settings. Parents will be able to review and adjust settings online anytime from any PC to help meet the family’s evolving needs.
Expert guidance
AAP and other respected child organizations worldwide will provide parents with valuable guidance on age-appropriate settings and online activities. For example, users will have access to guidelines on how to help a child use online communications safely or how parents should talk to children about inappropriate Web browsing.
Activity reports
Parents will be able to access activity reports for each user in the family, at any time from any PC connected to the Internet, to help them stay informed about how their children are browsing the Web or communicating online.
Contact management
Parents will be able to create “allow” lists for communication services, including Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Spaces, to help prevent their children from crossing paths with unknown contacts. The allow list will also help parents restrict access to a child’s personal Web log (blog) or social networking page to only those contacts they have approved. These communication services protections will apply any time a user is logged in through Windows Live.

“Online safety for children is a crucial issue facing families today. We’re designing Windows Live Family Safety Settings to help open the lines of communication between parents and children and in the process, give them a safer Internet experience,” said Blake Irving, corporate vice president of MSN. “We’ve heard a universal concern about exposure to unwanted content regardless of age, and Windows Live Family Safety Settings will help here as well. We’re providing tools to put people in control so they can explore the Web more safely.”

Microsoft said it also plans to make international versions of the software available to users in the coming months. Family Safety is the third free service to arrive as part of the Windows Live OneCare suite.