[rtpnet-tact] Edupage articles on antivirus approaches

[Judy Hallman]

To TACT and TechCoop lists:

  Free Antivirus Software from Computer Associates
  Closing Gate to Network for Unprotected Computers

FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE FROM COMPUTER ASSOCIATES
Computer Associates (CA) announced this week it will make its eTrust EZ
Armor software--which includes virus protection and a personal
firewall--available at no charge to consumers in an effort to protect
corporate networks from the large number of unprotected home users.
CA's Ian Hameroff said that his company remains focused on corporate
customers but that threats increasingly come from home users. CA's
announcement sent the stock prices of competing antivirus companies
falling. Symantec's stock dropped seven percent, while that of Network
Associates fell five percent. At least one analyst said the reaction
was excessive, however. Donovan Gow of American Technology Research
noted that CA only holds six percent of the antivirus market worldwide
and just one percent of the consumer market. Hameroff said CA's
motivation in offering the software for free "was not to erode the
market share of our competitors."
CNET, 18 November 2003
http://news.com.com/2100-7355-5108904.html

CLOSING GATE TO NETWORK FOR UNPROTECTED COMPUTERS
Networking-equipment giant Cisco Systems will begin offering technology
next year to scan individual computers for current virus-protection
software before they are allowed access to a network. Computers found
to be lacking adequate software can be blocked entirely, given
restricted access, or directed to sources of appropriate antivirus
software. Cisco Chief Executive John Chambers said that network
security threats cannot be adequately addressed by reactive measures.
Three leading makers of antivirus software, Network Associates,
Symantec Corp., and Trend Micro, will include Cisco's new technology
in their products. Security experts agreed that strategies like the one
presented by Cisco will help significantly in combating computer
viruses such as the Blaster worm, which reportedly infected 128,000
computers within three minutes of being released.
Wall Street Journal, 19 November 2003 (sub. req'd)
http://online.wsj.com/

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