Tests Highlight Cyber-Threats Facing Home PC Users

Tests Highlight Cyber-Threats Facing Home PC Users and Their ISPs and Prove the Effectiveness of Prevx Home at Defending Such Attacks

LONDON, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

Prevx Home is the First Free Host Intrusion Prevention Software to Offer Consumer PCs and ISPs Protection From New, Unknown or Zero-Day Threats

Security software specialist Prevx today announces the official launch of Prevx Home, the world's first free downloadable Host Intrusion Prevention Software to fill the security gap left by Anti-Virus software, spyware clean-up tools and firewalls. The official launch of Prevx Home follows an extensive beta program, in which tens of thousands of home users have downloaded and tested the software. During the beta test period Prevx Home has successfully blocked hundreds of thousands of attacks, particularly Internet worms like Sasser which accounted for 24% of all reported attacks. Other prevalent attack types include malicious spyware, remote access Trojans and other vicious attacks.

Despite the millions being spent on Anti-Virus software and other cyber security measures, from vendors such as McAfee and Symantec, home computer users remain vulnerable to each new ("Zero Day") cyber-attack during the critical period between the launch of a new attack and a "signature update" becoming available. With today's attacks propagating ever more quickly, the risk of being hit in the hours immediately following their launch is growing. Prevx Home protects systems during that window of exposure.

Existing technologies also provide poor protection against hack attacks, Internet worms and the rising tide of malicious spyware. Current spyware tools detect and clean up after an attack but fail to stop the initial infection. Prevx Home actually prevents the deployment of malicious spyware and other malware on the user's system.

Utilizing technology developed by Prevx for major enterprises, Prevx Home's strength lies in its ability to detect and block the behaviour displayed by malicious attacks. Prevx Home protects against both known attacks and new, previously unknown threats, before they can invade a user's PC, and without relying on signatures to recognize the attack.

Nick Ray, CEO of Prevx, said: "User feedback during the beta program has been very positive and the wide take up of the beta version of Prevx Home, in over a hundred countries, has enabled us to prove the exceptional stability of our technology in the very diverse environments of the home PC. We want to play our part in reducing the spread and impact of the rising tide of cyber-attacks by making technology available to the home user that, until now, has only been available to large enterprises. For sound commercial reasons we are making this available free of charge.

"It is not just computer users that are affected by attacks. All ISP's, even major providers such as AOL and BT Openworld, suffer massive support costs and service degradation every time their customers are affected by a major outbreak. ISP's are increasingly concerned about the need to offer better protection to their customers, mindful no doubt of the potential liabilities. We are in negotiations with a number of ISP's who wish to make Prevx Home available to their broadband and dial-up customers."

"Enterprises, having learned that even the very best antivirus products cannot protect their desktops during new worm and virus outbreaks, are turning to host intrusion prevention software. However, home users do not have the benefit of an IT department to understand attacks, clean infected machines or apply timely patches," said Eric Ogren, senior analyst with the Yankee Group. "Prevx is solving the major security problem for every owner of a home PC by delivering the protection of corporate-strength intrusion prevention in an easy to use form custom designed for home users."

Prevx Home is the only free downloadable software that can protect against these new threats including Internet worms, Trojans, automated hacking tools and covert spyware. It can be downloaded from http://www.prevx.com/prevxhome. Installation is simple and once installed it will protect a user's computer, alerting them when an attack is defeated.

SOURCE: Prevx

Web site: http://www.prevx.com/prevxhome

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