Access "Is it the end of the line for antivirus signatures?"
This article is part of the December 2011 issue of Breaking the code: Are passwords destined for obscurity?
One fact leaps out of the Symantec Intelligence Report for July 2011: The sharp rise in “aggressively polymorphic” malware delivered by email over the last six months. This form of malware adopts a range of techniques to disguise itself to avoid detection, even changing its code each time it starts up. “This new aggressive approach to distributing generic polymorphic malware on such a scale should be concerning for many businesses, particularly those who rely solely on more traditional security countermeasures, which this type of malware is designed to evade,” Symantec wrote in the report. The report’s author, Paul Wood, a senior intelligence analyst at Symantec, concludes: “Technology cannot rely on signatures and heuristics alone, and must also take into account the integrity of an executable based on knowledge of its reputation and circulation in the real world.” It is a problem that has been bubbling up over several years, but the surge in recent months is worthy of note. Polymorphic malware accounted for 23.7% of all email-borne malware intercepted in ... Access >>>
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Features
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Alternatives to passwords: Replacing the ubiquitous authenticator
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
As the relative security of passwords falters, are they destined for obscurity?
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Alternatives to passwords: Replacing the ubiquitous authenticator
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
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A pen tester’s perspective on creating a secure password
by Mike McLaughlin, Contributor
A pen tester explains the importance of creating a secure password
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A pen tester’s perspective on creating a secure password
by Mike McLaughlin, Contributor
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News
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Is it the end of the line for antivirus signatures?
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
Traditional antimalware can't keep up with the threat landscape. Are antivirus signatures destined for the rubbish bin?
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Is it the end of the line for antivirus signatures?
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
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Columns
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Opinion: Firms can’t or won’t address social networking security risks
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
It's a common refrain: Even companies that are aware of social networking security risks don't do anything about them.
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Opinion: Firms can’t or won’t address social networking security risks
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
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