Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. recently announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Nokia's security appliance business. The two businesses have collaborated over the past decade to deliver industry-leading enterprise security solutions. Building on this collaboration, Check Point will provide an extended security appliance portfolio developed, manufactured and supported by Check Point.

Gil Shwed, Chairman and CEO at Check Point, said, "Adding Nokia's security appliance portfolio into Check Point's broad range of security solutions is the natural conclusion of our long collaboration, and will assure a smooth path forward for our mutual customers."

Check Point and Nokia have long provided customers with a range of best-of-breed security solutions, proven in high-performance, mission critical environments. Nokia's security appliance business provides purpose-built security platforms optimized for Check Point firewall, virtual private network (VPN) and unified threat management (UTM) software. About 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies have bought Nokia's security platforms. More than 220,000 Nokia appliances have been installed with over 23,000 customers worldwide. The agreement between Check Point and Nokia is expected to close in the first quarter of 2009 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Further details of the transaction are not being disclosed at this time.

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Quick Heal Technologies hosted Asia’s Premier Information Security Conference—Association of Anti-Virus Asia Researchers (AVAR 2008) for the first time in India. AVAR 2008 is a unique three day event showcasing the latest technologies in Information Security and Anti—Malware Industry. In fact, this is the largest Asia-Pacific Conference for anti-malware technologies.

Present on the occasion were Mr. Kailash Katkar—Founder & CEO, Quick Heal Technologies, Mr. Sanjay Katkar—Chief Technology Officer, Quick Heal Technologies & Mr. Seiji Murakami—Chairman AVAR 2008; along with Key Security Expert Speakers from all over the World. Security companies from all over the world participated in the event. There were paper presentations from Microsoft, Symantec, Trend Micro, Quick Heal Technologies, Webroot, F-Secure, AVG, ESET and K7 Computing.

Keynote presentations include "Fighting International Organized Online Crime" by Mr. Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer, F-Secure Corporation, Finland. Mr. Mikko Hypponen known for the memorable keynotes and presentations he has delivered in international conferences such Black Hat, RSA and InfoSec Europe. He was selected among the 50 most important people on the web in 2007 by the PC World magazine.

Other interesting presentations include: "Cyber Threats in 2018" by Eugene Kaspersky, Founder and CEO, Kaspersky Labs., "Search Engines—How Far are they Trustworthy?" by Alice Decker, Threat Researcher, Trend Micro., "WOW64 Woes for Anti-Virus Products" by Abhijit Kulkarni, Program Manager Development & Prakash Jagdale, Sr. Software Architect, Quick Heal Technologies.

The Conference concluded with a Panel Discussion on Computing—Security and Privacy Concerns. The panel was be chaired by David Perry of Trend Micro. The panel members include Eugene Kaspersky from Kaspersky Labs, Sanjay Katkar of Quick Heal Technologies, Mikko Hypponen from F-Secure, Randy Abrams from ESET and Vincent Weafer of Symantec.

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MicroWorld has been awarded VB100% certification for its soon to be released product, eScan Version 10 from Virus Bulletin, a leading UK based malware & spam prevention, detection and removal magazine.
Winning the VB100% certification for the 17th time has proved MicroWorld’s consistency in detection and removal of all kinds of malware. The continual VB100% certifications makes eScan Version 10 a part of the prestigious circle of Anti-Virus solutions that have managed to detect 100% of the viruses in the wild, without any false alarms time and again. eScan Version 10 withstood the rigorous testing methodologies of VB100% and had a 100% detection record in all malware categories with no false positives.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Govind Rammurthy, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, MicroWorld, said, “At MicroWorld, our products are specially designed keeping in mind the security requirements of our customers. By winning this prestigious certification for the 17th time, eScan Version 10 has proved the consistency of our product excellence, thereby, creating a new level of perfection for the industry to follow.”

Mr. Sunil Kripalani, Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing, MicroWorld, said, “We, as a company, believe in giving 100% to our customers and we do this by providing 100% quality in all our products. Repeated international recognition of this nature fuels our enthusiasm and reinforces our quality commitment. We strive to create new industry benchmarks in terms of quality and perfection and will continue to do so through our latest innovations.”

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Citrix Systems recently announced that the Citrix Access Gateway has been positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the leaders’ quadrant in the Magic Quadrant for SSL VPN 2008 report. Gartner defines leaders as demonstrating “balanced progress and effort on all execution and vision categories. Their actions raise the competitive bar for all products in the market, and they can change the course of the industry.” The report can be accessed, compliments of Citrix, at: http://mediaproducts.gartner.com/reprints/citrix/163232.html.

Citrix Access Gateway is a strategic component of the Citrix Delivery Center, which simplifies IT operations by managing desktops and servers, accelerating application roll outs and reducing IT operation costs. Citrix Access Gateway is the only application access solution to securely deliver any application with granular policy-based Citrix SmartAccess controls. By tightly integrating with the Delivery Center, Citrix Access Gateway enables organizations to cost effectively extend access to datacenter resources from outside the office while maintaining unprecedented control through comprehensive SmartAccess policies.

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Kaspersky Lab announced that the company is looking at India as a major market for its world class integrated computer security solutions and planning to expand its operations in Asia by opening an Indian technology centre in the next two years.

The company would provide not only industry-leading antivirus technology to its partners, but also excellent support at post-sales and post-integration stages. At present, Kaspersky Lab has direct presence in India through Zoom Technologies Pvt Ltd, as its exclusive distributor. The company plans to become number one in the anti-virus market in India and tap the growing market by increasing its number of partners to address the needs of its customers in India, said Harry Cheung, Managing Director, Kaspersky Lab Asia-Pacific.

Speaking on the occasion, Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and co-founder of Kaspersky Lab said: “I believe that India is one of the countries which will become our company’s key strategic markets in the near future. Thus we are determined to put an extra emphasis on developing our business here and increasing our presence in the national market. Besides, India has a tremendous potential as a country of numerous talented IT professionals, which is also an important point for us as a leading IT security company”.

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Kaspersky Lab announces that Acer Thailand has chosen Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 for bundling with all Acer notebook computers sold through retail channels in Thailand.

Starting from 8 October all retail customers buying Acer notebooks in Thailand will receive a copy of the newest version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus – KAV 2009 – with a 12-month user license without charge to Acer customers. Personal customers buying Acer notebooks in Thailand will now enjoy all the benefits provided to Kaspersky Lab product users, including discounts for future license renewal and upgrades to Kaspersky Internet Security 2009, as well as free technical support from Kaspersky Lab’s local Distributor, ICOM TECH CO., LTD.

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IANS, a research firm serving the world's leading IT security teams, will bolster its client Web site with advanced identity protection technology from VeriSign. IANS is deploying VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) Authentication Service to enhance the online safeguards available to IT security professionals logging in to the Boston-based firm's password-protected Internet site. VIP is a comprehensive suite of identity protection and authentication services designed to strengthen and protect consumers' digital identities.

To take advantage of VIP Authentication Service's fraud protection, IANS clients will receive an IANS-branded card that displays a one-time password (OTP) for every log-in. During an online session, this password is entered into the IANS Web user interface with other information (such as user name and password) to achieve two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication dramatically reduces the risk of fraud because it combines something the user has (the VIP credential) with something that user knows (user name and password).

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McAfee and Wipro Technologies have announced a global alliance. The partnership combines Wipro's Enterprise Security Solutions (ESS) practice, one of the fastest growing and largest existing global security services practices, together with McAfee's extensive security product suite, including McAfee Total Protection solutions for Endpoint and Network Security. Wipro will be a global reseller of McAfee products and is also a managed security services partner addressing a market for security systems of more than $3 billion and growing at the rate of 15 percent annually. A key joint offering is the managed endpoint security solution based on McAfee Total Protection for Endpoint, which enables organizations to adopt a more holistic and effective approach to protecting their endpoints and reduces Total Cost of Ownership by up to 40 percent.

McAfee established a Center of Excellence (CoE) at Wipro's Bangalore campus to enhance competencies for over 300 consultants per year across the McAfee product portfolio. This CoE includes a solution showcase of McAfee Total Protection for Endpoint, McAfee ePolicy Orechestrator, McAfee Endpoint Encryption, McAfee Data Loss Prevention and McAfee Vulnerability Manager with 100 trained / certified consultants. The CoE produces reusable assets and process frameworks that support the joint offerings and further enhance the project results and ensure quicker time to market for customers. Launched a service offering that provides consulting, migration and management services to implement McAfee Total Protection for Endpoint security.

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Building on a long-standing, multifaceted alliance, EMC and Microsoft Corp. recently announced they have expanded their technology partnership to help companies better protect sensitive information and share it in a more secure manner. The companies will be working together with a built-in “systems” approach that helps protect information throughout the infrastructure based on content, context and identity.

The partnership will take advantage of resources and technology from Microsoft and RSA, The Security Division of EMC. Microsoft will build the RSA Data Loss Prevention (DLP) classification technology into the Microsoft platform and future information protection products. The resulting collaboration is designed to enable organizations to centrally define information security policy, automatically identify and classify sensitive data virtually anywhere in the infrastructure, and use a range of controls to protect data at the endpoints, network and data center. In addition, in the near term RSA’s DLP Suite 6.5 will be engineered to integrate tightly with Microsoft Active Directory Rights Management Services (RMS) within Windows Server 2008.

RSA and Microsoft’s new approach helps address customer needs through an end-to-end solution with fewer point tools to buy, deploy and manage. By building DLP classification technology into Microsoft products, the infrastructure becomes content-aware. The solution is designed to allow customers to centrally manage and apply their information security policies, based on user identity, to wherever information lives or is used.

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To address the growing need for a PC security solution tailored to the demands of emerging markets, smaller PC form factors and rapid increases in the incidence of malware, Microsoft Corp. plans to offer a new consumer security offering focused on core anti-malware protection.

Code-named “Morro,” this streamlined solution will be available in the second half of 2009 and will provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. This new solution, to be offered at no charge to consumers, will be architected for a smaller footprint that will use fewer computing resources, making it ideal for low-bandwidth scenarios or less powerful PCs. As part of Microsoft’s move to focus on this simplified offering, the company also announced today that it will discontinue retail sales of its Windows Live OneCare subscription service effective June 30, 2009.

Built on Microsoft’s award-winning malware protection engine, “Morro” will take advantage of the same core anti-malware technology that fuels the company’s current line of security products, which have received the VB100 award from Virus Bulletin, Checkmark Certification from West Coast Labs and certification from the International Computer Security Association Labs. The new solution will deliver the same core protection against malware as that offered through Microsoft’s enterprise solutions, but will not include many of the additional non-security features found in many consumer security suites.

“Morro” will be available as a stand-alone download and offer malware protection for the Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. When used in conjunction with the ongoing security and privacy enhancements of Windows and Internet Explorer, this new solution will offer consumers a robust, no-cost security solution to help protect against the majority of online threats.

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Following Helle Kristoffersen’s appointment as head of Global Account and Verticals Solution Marketing in the Enterprise and Verticals organization, Alcatel-Lucent recently announced the appointment of Rajeev Singh-Molares, a senior executive with more than 20 years of experience, as SVP, Strategy and corporate development. He will join the company early January 2009 and will report to Ben Verwaayen, Alcatel-Lucent’s CEO.

Most recently, Rajeev Singh-Molares was a senior partner of Monitor Group, a global professional services firm where he was responsible for developing and managing client relationships in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. During his 18 years at Monitor, he has held a variety of executive positions in North America and EMEA. Additionally, he has worked on a variety of projects in the public sector relating to competitiveness and pressing social issues. He served on the worldwide board of Monitor from 1997 to 2002. Before joining Monitor, Rajeev Singh-Molares was in the international division of Chemical Bank in New York.

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Absolute Software, Intel Corporation and Lenovo are bringing hardware-based anti-theft and computer-theft deterrence technology for notebook computers to businesses. Select Lenovo ThinkPad T400 notebooks will be among the first notebooks to ship with support for Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection and Absolute Computrace technology built in. The new optional services will be available beginning in December.

Select models of Lenovo ThinkPad T400 notebooks that offer Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology with Intel vPro Technology will ship Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection "Ready," needing only to be activated by companies' IT departments. Absolute Computrace and Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection working together provide the PC with intelligent mechanisms that detect potential theft situations and respond according to programmed IT policy.

For example, if a Lenovo ThinkPad T400 notebook has not "checked in" with the Absolute Monitoring Center over the Internet within a specified time, Anti-Theft PC Protection working through Computrace would automatically lock the notebook, rendering it unusable to an unauthorized user. Additionally, an IT administrator can use Computrace and Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection technology to make a device inoperative when it is lost or stolen. The next time that computer "checks in," the computer will be locked. Working alone, Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection can lock a computer if it experiences more than a prescribed number of password attempts, or if it exceeds an internally programmed IT policy for check-in time. The IT department can unlock the computer when it is back in the hands of an authorized user.

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Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. announced the availability of the Get Genuine Solution (GGS) for Windows Vista whereby Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) can easily legalize their counterfeit or unlicensed Windows Vista PCs. So far, customers were able to legalize their counterfeit or unlicensed Windows XP Professional PCs under GGS. Businesses with five or more copies of unlicensed Windows Vista software now have to simply place an order with their reseller to legalize their counterfeit software. Once the order is placed, businesses will receive genuine Windows Vista related license materials. They will also become eligible for further updates and constant enhancements under the Windows Genuine Advantage Program. In addition, they will have the option of enrolling for Microsoft’s Software Assurance (SA) program that makes them eligible for future updates of the software including Windows 7.

GGS is aimed at easing the pain that businesses face while migrating to original software and allows them to derive greater value out of their technologies. It is a simple, cost-effective and practical solution that will help SMBs easily migrate to original software and can therefore rest assured of the security that it provides to their business. Due to its strong dependency on the channel community, GGS also helps resellers strengthen their customer relationships and create an ongoing value to their business.

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McAfee announced it has appointed Mark Tonnesen as senior vice president and chief information officer. In this role, Tonnesen is responsible for the worldwide management and implementation of the company’s information technology and infrastructure. He reports directly to Rocky Pimentel, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of McAfee, and will be located in Santa Clara, Calif.

Tonnesen joins McAfee from Logitech, a world leader in personal peripherals, where he was vice president and chief information officer. Prior to Logitech, Tonnesen spent more than a decade at Cisco Systems, a networking solutions company, where he held a variety of senior management roles. While at Cisco, he spearheaded Cisco's successful implementation, evolution, and adoption of Cisco’s extended e-Business strategy.

Prior to Cisco, Tonnesen spent two years with EFI, a digital print company, managing the firm's IT, facilities, and purchasing functions. He recently served as a senior advisor with the Department of Homeland Security during its creation, with a specific focus on Transportation Security. He continues to consult with the Department on an ongoing basis. Tonnesen holds a MBA from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from San Jose State University, San Jose, Calif.

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Three IT industry veterans, with over 70 years of experience between them, have joined GFI’s executive management team. The appointments are being made in line with GFI’s strategy to boost growth of the company, to improve services to customers and to further develop GFI’s award-winning product line.

Phil Bousfield joins GFI as Vice-President of Product Engineering. He has held a variety of engineering and commercial roles and prior to joining GFI he was Head of International Operations for VERITAS. He was also head of engineering for Insignia Solutions where he was responsible for compilation and emulation technologies.

Dave Winpenny joins GFI as Vice-President, Worldwide Customer Support. With nearly 30 years’ experience in the high tech customer support industry he is widely recognised for his contributions in building robust and responsive support infrastructures. Over the past 12 years as VP of Support for Seagate Software, VERITAS and CA he has developed numerous solutions for global support issues.

With more than 20 years of senior leadership experience, John Wilson will be managing GFI's global sales activities. Prior to joining GFI, he was the Vice-President World Wide Field Operations, for Qualys. Before joining Qualys, John held a variety of leadership positions with Cybertrust, Ubizen, The Sayers Group, Winstar Communications, LANSystems, and Johnson & Johnson. In addition, John served as an officer in the U.S. Army and is a combat veteran.

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Blue Coat Systems and Proofpoint recently announced that they have partnered to make available a comprehensive security solution that protects against malware attacks through both email and Web-based traffic. Proofpoint and Blue Coat are working to share email and URL reputation data to provide enhanced protection at the Internet gateway against spam, spyware, phishing attacks, malware, botnets and other email- and Web-borne threats.

Blue Coat ProxySG and ProxyAV appliances and the Proofpoint on Demand hosted service and Proofpoint Messaging Security Gateway appliance will share real-time intelligence and reputation data to provide Blue Coat and Proofpoint customers with increased protection against the latest email and Web-based malware attacks. The interoperablesolution protects against inbound threats such as spam, viruses, phishing and denial-of-service attacks at the Internet and email gateways.

Additionally, ProxySG appliances work in conjunction with the Blue Coat WebPulse cloud service to provide up-to-date information on the latest malware threats. With an advanced background malware detection process that utilizes ten threat detection engines, as well as human raters, the WebPulse service can identify new and evolving threats and provide updates to ProxySG appliances every five minutes. These real-time content ratings provide a tool for enterprises to categorize unknown content to which corporate IT policies can then be applied.

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Kaspersky Lab announces the official opening of its first Middle East regional office in Dubai, UAE. The new office, headed by Tarek Kuzbari, will provide operational management and sales support for Kaspersky Lab products in the region.

"The opening of our first Middle East entity will be a pivotal milestone for the Kaspersky Lab brand and help fuel further awareness of our internationally acknowledged products and services in 20 markets across the region," said Eugene Kaspersky, CEO & Co-Founder of Kaspersky Lab. "Our Dubai base will be instrumental in our ambitious Middle East growth strategy as we aspire to be among the top three antivirus companies in the market in terms of revenue by 2010, whilst improving our presence in both consumer and corporate segments."

Speaking at a press conference in Dubai to unveil the company's regional plans, Kaspersky said that the Middle East is still well positioned for economic growth, despite a global downturn and that the need for investment in IT infrastructure is essential for the region to obtain a competitive edge over the West as the world's financial gravity shifts eastwards.

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CyberSource Ltd. announced that its Decision Manager anti-fraud solution has been selected by FutureBazaar India Ltd, the online shopping portal of Pantaloon Retail, one of India’s largest retailers. Using Decision Manager, FutureBazaar can now access over 150 global validation tests to screen for fraud and determine in real time whether online transactions should be accepted, rejected, or marked for further review.

Decision Manager’s fraud evaluations, drawn from over 150 order validation tests, take place within seconds and are based on business rules determined by FutureBazaar. The rules can be updated at any time through an easy-to-use online interface. This flexibility enables FutureBazaar to continually adapt its fraud screening strategies to changing marketplace realities. Decision Manager includes sophisticated case management systems and process analytics to help further address the accuracy and efficiency of the fraud management process. For more information on CyberSource’s Decision Manager, see: http://www.cybersource.co.uk/products_services/risk_management/.

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