| Norton Internet Security 2007
With so many companies now offering free protection against internet-based security threats, there are only a couple of reasons why you might want to fork out for software: complete security and a simple-to-manage package. Can the latest version of Norton Internet Security make the grade? Features We're well used to seeing security suites combine firewalls and anti-virus software to protect us, and Norton adds some more recent problems to its books, such as phishing, pharming and rootkits. However, it's what it leaves out that's most telling: no anti-spam, no internet filtering and no built-in back-up software. These can be purchased from Symantec separately, but to our minds that defeats the object of a security suite. Performance Symantec's record speaks for itself, and the company continues to have a virtually unblemished history of picking up viruses and other internet problems, and dealing with them before they have a chance to cause problems to the general public.
Symantec Claims Vista Lockout
Playing to the card the European Commission has dealt it Symantec has been accusing Microsoft to the press - without suing or filing a formal complaint but within hearing of the regulators - of abusing its monopoly by locking it out of Vista and not giving it the information it needs to build compatible products. The EC, of course, has already warned Microsoft about bundling its own security upgrades in Vista and foreclosing the market to competitors. Such is the state of things between Microsoft and the regulators that Vista might not ship on time (ha!) or might not ship in Europe and if it does the EC will probably torpedo it. Symantec is now exploiting that dust-up. It says it's trying to pressure Microsoft into giving it the APIs so it can communicate with Vista's Defender anti-spam/anti-spyware filter and security dashboard.
Review: Panda Internet Security 2007
So I was excited recently to test Panda Internet Security 2007 ($79.95 with one year of service; $135.95 with two years of service). It provides all of the above plus lightning-fast updates, a small footprint on my hard disk, and it hasn't gotten in the way of productivity. So it's right for me, but it may or may not be right for you, because you may need to be a computer guru or get help from a consultant to deal with various initial-release warts. The product feels rushed and just shy of prime time. The suite protects against all kinds of gremlins. It's got antivirus, anti-spyware and anti-adware components, a firewall, and more. It's one-stop shopping for the time and cost needs of small businesses. It caught more than a half-dozen instances of malware installed on my testbed computer that escaped several other solutions.
Who's in your honeypot?
The Internet Security Threat Report is released earlier this week by Symantec, and shows home users are increasingly being targeted for ID theft, fraud and other financially motivated crimes. Classic Business Day gets Patrick Evans on the line from Symantec on the line to find out if you're about to be visited by a Trojan horse
LINDSAY WILLIAMS: Patrick, are attacks on home users becoming a big problem?
PATRICK EVANS: It is. One thing that isnt known is the number of attacks targeting home users has actually dropped in the last six month period from the six month period before. Theres a shift occurring between financial institutions and home users - it depends on where the information is, and where the vulnerability is in terms of whos being targeted with crime as the motive.
Trojan Installs Anti-Virus, Removes Other Malware
An anonymous reader writes "SpamThru takes the game to a new level. The new virus uses an anti-virus engine to remove potential 'rival' infectious code." From the article: "At start-up, the Trojan requests and loads a DLL from the author's command-and-control server. This then downloads a pirated copy of Kaspersky AntiVirus for WinGate into a concealed directory on the infected system. It patches the license signature check in-memory in the Kaspersky DLL to avoid having Kaspersky refuse to run due to an invalid or expired license, Stewart said. Ten minutes after the download of the DLL, it begins to scan the system for malware, skipping files which it detects are part of its own installation." .
Guardian Unlimited Web
Send your questions and comments to Jack.Schofield@guardian.co.uk. Published letters will be edited for brevity, but include full details with your query.
Please visit our Ask Jack weblog for daily updates
Jack Schofield
Thursday November 2, 2006
The Guardian
.
|
