
Because viruses are not the only serious threat...
By Dan Ilett
Published: 9 September 2005 09:45 BST
Security vendor Sophos has warned companies not to rely on antivirus software to protect their IT infrastructure and systems.
Speaking at the Information Systems Security Association conference in London on Thursday, Vanja Svajcer, senior virus researcher for Sophos, said companies should also look to alternative technologies and procedures to ensure their IT assets are secure.
Svajcer said: "I always say, 'Do not rely on antivirus software'. The problem is we have to see a virus before we can detect it. If antivirus is in place, it may not detect [a virus] because it may be very targeted for you."
Svajcer added that virus writers are becoming more precise with malware attacks but most people only pay attention to email viruses. Viruses that give hackers access to compromised computers, otherwise known as 'bots', were a hidden problem, he explained.
"Most people know about email viruses as they get more coverage. But bots are running under the radar. People are not really aware there are so many," he said.
Virus writers are expected to improve the resilience of botnets in the next year, he said, as currently they are easy to take offline by shutting down the controlling IRC server.
One hope on the horizon, according to Svajcer, is that most antivirus vendors are looking to improve the generic detection for viruses, which would help to stop the spread of tailor-made malware.
How very refreshing to see a Sophos statement that...
David
This is as close as I've seen anyone doing a "Ratn...
David Supple
I agree with his opinion in that antivirus softwar...
Kevin Fitzgerald
My point was that one should not rely only on Anti...
Vanja Svajcer
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