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6 December 2001

US Government anti-virus advice won't work for all, says Sophos

Sophos, a world leader of corporate anti-virus protection, believes that the US Government's call for anti-virus vendors to issue automatic software updates is out-of-step with users' requirements. Following comments from Richard Clarke, President Bush's cyberspace security adviser - in which Clarke claimed it shouldn't be 'beyond the wit of this industry' to force patches on users - Sophos would like to add that many users have chosen to be in control of their own updating procedures.

"I fear the US Government is making comments without being fully aware of the facts," said Stuart Palmer, managing director of Sophos Anti-Virus for Australia and New Zealand. "Most anti-virus vendors give their customers the option of automating updates, but some businesses are reticent about outsourcing crucial security measures. For peace of mind, they'd rather implement their own updates to ensure they work properly for their environment."

Sophos does concede that the US Government has a vital role to play in anti-virus protection.

David L. Smith

"The US courts have still to sentence David L. Smith, even though it's more than two years since he pleaded guilty to writing the Melissa virus and causing 80 million dollars' worth of damage," continued Palmer. "Sentencing could go a long way to deterring other virus writers - this would be a real boost to businesses operating under the threat of virus infection."

Sophos has published a ten point plan describing safe computing measures companies can take to reduce the virus threat.

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Sophos Security Threat Report 2009
  • USA number 1 for malware and spam
  • Huge surge in email attachment attacks
  • Scareware makes users buy bogus products

About Sophos

Sophos enables enterprises all over the world to secure and control their IT infrastructure. Sophos's network access control, endpoint, web and email solutions simplify security to provide integrated defenses against malware, spyware, intrusions, unwanted applications, spam, policy abuse, data leakage and compliance drift. With over 20 years of experience, Sophos protects over 100 million users in nearly 150 countries with its reliably engineered security solutions and services. Recognized for its high level of customer satisfaction and powerful yet easy-to-use solutions, Sophos has received many industry awards, as well as positive reviews and certifications.

Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com