For Security & Risk Professionals

PCI X-Ray: File Integrity Monitoring

by John Kindervag, October 26, 2009

To effectively deal with the broad and complex requirements of Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security, you need to break the elements apart to provide enhanced clarity. We've designed the PCI X-Ray series to provide actionable information to help Forrester . . .

For Vendor Strategy Professionals

Consumers Turn To Freeware As Their Security Worries Deepen

Consumers Are Getting More Security-Savvy, More Concerned, And Less Trusting

by Jonathan Penn, July 6, 2009

To understand the state of consumers' attitudes and behavior with regard to online security and privacy and how it is changing, Forrester recently surveyed more than 4,600 online adults in North America. We found that consumers' worries about malware, . . .

Client Antivirus And Firewall Adoption In 2006

Trends, Deployment Options, And Best Practices

by Natalie Lambert, February 23, 2006

In January 2006, Forrester surveyed 149 technology decision-makers at North American small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprises about their approach to IT security; 94 of these respondents were knowledgeable about their client security practices. . . .

Limited Worm Impact Shows That Microsoft's Security Strategy Is Working

by Paul Stamp, August 18, 2005

The recent Zotob worm spread rapidly around the world bringing networks to their knees. It's the first worm to do so in more than a year and a half. Predictably, the usual chorus of Microsoft denigrators has publicly decried sloppy programming practices . . .

Client Security Suites Scorecard Summary: Symantec

Key Findings From "The Forrester Wave™: Client Security Suites, Q2 2005"

by Natalie Lambert, David Friedlander, June 22, 2005

Symantec Client Security 3.0 (SCS) is a complete solution, including antivirus, antispyware, a personal firewall, and limited host IPS functionality. Symantec uses its "generic exploit blocking" functionality to protect customers against unknown virus/spyware . . .

Client Security Suites Scorecard Summary: Computer Associates

Key Findings From "The Forrester Wave™: Client Security Suites, Q2 2005"

by Natalie Lambert, David Friedlander, June 22, 2005

Computer Associates offers strong antivirus and sufficient antispyware functionality through its eTrust Threat Management product line — CA will improve its antispyware manageability in the next release. While the two feature sets, eTrust Anti-virus 7.1 . . .

Client Security Suites Scorecard Summary: Trend Micro

Key Findings From "The Forrester Wave™: Client Security Suites, Q2 2005"

by Natalie Lambert, David Friedlander, June 22, 2005

Trend Micro OfficeScan 7.0 offers a client security suite that includes antivirus, antispyware, and personal firewall capabilities. To fill the host intrusion prevention system (IPS) gap and give its customers protection against zero-day viruses, Trend . . .

The Forrester Wave™: Client Security Suites, Q2 2005

Lab-Based Evaluation Of Top Client Security Suites Vendors Across 170 Criteria

by Natalie Lambert, David Friedlander, June 22, 2005

This Forrester Wave includes a detailed, customizable data spreadsheet; presentation resources; and in-depth evaluations of the following vendors: Computer Associates, McAfee, Symantec, and Trend Micro

Since the first computer virus was created in 1981, the need for client security has grown monumentally. Today, endpoint machines are vulnerable to all types of attacks. Antivirus and perimeter defenses alone no longer provide adequate defense against . . .

Client Security Suites Scorecard Summary: McAfee

Key Findings From "The Forrester Wave™: Client Security Suites, Q2 2005"

by Natalie Lambert, David Friedlander, June 22, 2005

McAfee is the only vendor to offer a complete suite for endpoint security; but it is not fully integrated — yet. Its customers can use the ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) management console to fully manage McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.0i, McAfee Anti-Spyware . . .

Making The Most Of Your Antivirus Subscription Renewal

by Paul Stamp, April 25, 2005

Until recently, network firewalls and antivirus (AV) software were firms' primary security defenses. This is no longer the case, and the AV marketplace has matured to the point where an apples-to-apples comparison of AV features has become almost irrelevant. . . .

IT Security Threats In 2005: Viruses And Worms Top The List

by David Friedlander, March 25, 2005

In January 2005, Forrester surveyed 200 technology decision-makers at North American companies about their approaches to IT security. Although the vast majority of companies have deployed antivirus products at both the host and the gateway level, respondents . . .

Microsoft Gains Antivirus Momentum With Sybari Acquisition

by Paul Stamp, February 10, 2005

Microsoft remained tight lipped on Tuesday about its wider antivirus (AV) strategy after announcing plans to buy server antivirus and antispam vendor Sybari Software for an undisclosed sum. However, Forrester believes that Microsoft will use the Sybari . . .

The State Of Consumer Security, 2004

Two Levels Of Defense Take Shape, Spurred By Broadband And Home Networks

by Maribel D. Lopez, December 27, 2004

As viruses and worms proliferate, consumers are taking action by embracing two levels of protection: 1) hard security measures like antivirus and personal firewalls, and 2) soft security measures like installing ad- and spam-blocking software. Home networking . . .

Internet Viruses Slow Consumers' Online Activity

by Ted Schadler, October 4, 2004

Ninety percent of online consumers report using antivirus software on the computer they use most frequently. Despite this protection, fear over viruses has consumers decreasing how often they do common online activities — opening email attachments, downloading . . .

Revisiting Antivirus Defenses

by Jan Sundgren, March 8, 2004

Recent events on the virus front highlight the importance of standard antivirus practices like blocking dangerous file types and reminding users to be wary of attachments. They also argue for greater attention to certain issues like Zip files, patch management, . . .

For Infrastructure & Operations Professionals

WLANs as an Entry Point for Viruses?

by Stan Schatt, November 19, 2003

Clients might want to establish policies that require employees to frequent only those hotspots that offer virus screening and to have an aggressive update schedule.

Recent Wave of Malicious Code Escalates the Urgency of BasicAntivirus Measures

by Jan Sundgren, August 28, 2003

What¿s disturbing about the Sobig virus and its repeated emergence is the fact that its built-in SMTP engine can be turned into a spam relay, leading observers to warn of a new possibility ¿ the use of viruses in money-making schemes.

Use Discretion When Notifying Users of a Virus

by Jan Sundgren, July 28, 2003

Notifying recipients about a detected virus is a good idea, especially if the virus is not part of a mass-mailing virus outbreak. Forward the e-mail if it can be safely disinfected, and let users know about the problem and what was done about it.

Remember the Basics: Lessons of Bugbear.B

by Jan Sundgren, June 24, 2003

The outbreak of the mass-mailing virus Bugbear.B turned out to be substantial, and its success underscores familiar lessons about avoiding virus infections. It also highlights some challenges of detecting new viruses, even variants of known viruses.

Eset NOD32 Has Speed and Accuracy, But Needs Work to Serve the Larger Enterprise

by Jan Sundgren, June 18, 2003

Eset is clearly moving toward becoming a more full-fledged enterprise antivirus vendor, and if its scanning engine is as good as the tests and reviews indicate, it might very well succeed.

Microsoft — Secure Products or Security Products?

by Michael Rasmussen, June 18, 2003

Microsoft's announcement to acquire the antivirus technology of GeCAD provides significant challenges to the software giant. The question arises should Microsoft focus on building secure products or should it also be a security product vendor?

Recommended Antivirus Vendors 2003

by Jan Sundgren, June 17, 2003

Most of the major vendors are also moving toward a vision of integrated, holistic security that includes functions like firewalling and intrusion detection (both network and host).

Microsoft Antivirus Is a Potential Long-Term Factor

by Jan Sundgren, June 13, 2003

Given the unpredictable ways in which malicious code evolves, Microsoft wants antivirus in its arsenal of security technologies so that the company will have more flexibility in how it provides security.

Microsoft Buys Antivirus To Inoculate Its Platform

by Laura Koetzle, Charles Rutstein, June 10, 2003

Microsoft's purchase of antivirus-unknown GeCAD spells long-term trouble for Network Associates and Symantec. For now, users should stick with their current antivirus products and look for Microsoft to claim a slice of the antivirus market in 2005.

IT Trends 2003, Midyear Update: Antivirus

by Jan Sundgren, June 5, 2003

We are now firmly into the era of "blended" threats that incorporate multiple propagation techniques. The big change that is hovering on the horizon is the gradual absorption of antivirus into broader security suites.