Tag: symantec
-
Welsh 419 scam
Email from Welsh-speaking Kuwaiti widow indicative of more targeted spam. Email users in Wales who received a recent 419 scam will have been surprised to find the message – purportedly from the widow of the Kuwaiti ambassador to the Ivory Coast – written in Welsh. A lesser known aspect of spam and phishing is that…
-
AV-Test.org issues latest round of testing results
Symantec and Microsoft outdo Trend and McAfee in live tests. Independent testing organisation AV-Test.org has released its latest round of test results in a simplified format, providing at-a-glance details of performance in a series of tests aimed at mimicking real-world situations. Testing covered a wide range of criteria, all run in a fully connected and…
-
Symantec to acquire VeriSign business
Vendor splashes out more cash on authentication. Symantec , the AV vendor with a reputation for snapping up other companies, has announced its purchase of VeriSign ‘s authentication services business. The $1.28 billion cash deal – expected to close in the quarter ending in September – follows hot on the heals of two other encryption-related…
-
Symantec buys key pair of encryption firms
PGP and GuardianEdge snapped up in surprise dual acquisition. Symantec has announced the acquisition of two separate firms specialising in encryption and email security. The deals were completed in cash with PGP , a renowned specialist in public key cryptography, costing $300 million and GuardianEdge , which also provides encryption and data loss prevention solutions,…
-
Microsoft steps into free AV market
Security Essentials release creates expected storm of words. Microsoft ‘s release of its free Security Essentials product this week sparked the expected barrage of views and opinions from all angles, from those hailing the release as the end of the AV industry to those slating the free product as inadequate and pointless. The new release…
-
Banking sector confuses users over online safety
Leftfield AV detection scores used to promote ID theft tool. With online banking an increasingly important way of interacting with our banks, the security of online transactions is a huge issue for users. Even more important for banks is the perception of security, as users worried by scare stories about stolen passwords and plundered accounts…
-
AV-Comparatives releases latest detection figures
Large collection test shows major improvement from AV giants. Independent testing organisation AV-Comparatives has released its latest bi-annual detection test figures, with 17 products included in the field and a test set containing a massive 1.3 million samples. The first set of results of 2009 showed notable improvements for major players Symantec and McAfee .…
-
Symantec slip sparks suspicion, spam
Update error leads to conspiracy theories and exploitation of fears. A faulty update issued to some users of Symantec ‘s Norton product line yesterday has led to an explosion of rumour, uncertainty and attempts to exploit a lack of clear information. The update, a file called ‘Pifts.exe’, was released without the required certifying signature, which…
-
Symantec to acquire PC Tools
Industry giant adds spyware specialist to growing portfolio. Security industry behemoth Symantec has announced the planned acquisition of PC Tools , the Australia-based company behind Spyware Doctor and a range of security, privacy and system-cleaning products. Symantec plans to close the deal by the end of the year, keeping PC Tools as a separate unit…