New generation of Outpost Pro 2009 - new level of protection

A new generation of the popular family of protective software - Outpost form Agnitum Company has been released. Alexey Belkin (the head of tasking department of Agnitum) and Vitaly Janko (commercial director of Agnitum) answer the questions of the editors of Soft@Mail.Ru. What new security threats have arisen since the release of the previous generation of your software? What “gaps” in the protection malefactors prefer now? According to our expectations, malware “industry” is experiencing a period of some stability to date. You can talk not about the emergence of new types of threats, but about the evolution of traditional types of viruses and hacker attacks. In a world of malicious software, there are two major trends: on the one hand, well-known types of malware (viruses, Trojans, spyware) are becoming “slyer”, “hide” better on a user's computer, on the other hand - they are developing in new versions and modifications. What vulnerabilities in protection you consider the most dangerous, what calls for maximum protecting efforts? Perhaps the greatest danger represents not vulnerabilities of protective software or operating system, but the peculiarities of the modern development of communications and… banal user`s carelessness. All any common technologies used in malware, or ways of penetrating by such software a user computer are well explored by the representatives of computer security industry. And so overgrown hacker, poring over the complex malicious code, is gradually going past. Modern hacker is sly, well aware of the user and, what is more essential, he is sociable, in his hands is a new tool - social networks and “social engineering”. User culture in the area of IT security, is certainly growing up (now a user less opens suspicious applications and links in suspicious “emails”, think more about the nature of one or another web-site), however, whether many of us wouldn`t seduce to a reference sent by “friend” in “Contact” or in “Odnoklassniki”; would many people think about keyloggers, introducing a credit card number, and download-portals and “intriguing” news? That`s why the task of every developer of protective software is not only proactive protection of the user by software tools, but also providing the user by as much complete picture of the existing threats as possible. With regard to Agnitum, we are constantly performing such “educational” functions. We issue a monthly newsletter “In a world of security”, support such resources as Security Teacher (tips for common users). If we talk about applications and their vulnerabilities, we should admit that browsers, email clients and any programs, regularly connecting to the Internet are remaining in risk area. And more I would note the increasing transference of malicious software (often - worms) through portable data media. It is rather curious situation when on your camera`s memory card malicious code can “take root”. Many security problems faced by the user are caused by the peculiarities of Windows OS. How do you assess the development of this system in the security field? They said a lot about the safety of Windows Vista for the past year and a half. If you ask: “What is safer - XP or Vista?”, the answer is, without a doubt, “Vista”. Perhaps good intentions of Microsoft, reflected in the introduction of User Account Control and strengthening the built-in firewall, does not have the desired effect, but the work on the security-components of Vista is still going on. Besides, we should hand it to Microsoft as to the propagandist of more attentive attitude toward the computer security. A huge amount of time and effort, spent by them, has gradually its effect on the growing security culture among the ordinary users. Is your licensing policy changed? Were the prices increased? Vitaly Janko: Licensing policy remains soft as usual - legally you can use the product since the installation for term of life, but only registered users can receive updates and move to more “fresh” versions of Outpost. After all, the modern protective software industry is becoming more similar to the provision of services for protection against infection, burglary, theft and information damage leading to a waste of time and stopping of working processes. Outpost offers services for updating antivirus and antispyware bases, rules for local and network applications activity, spam filtering criteria, lists of malicious sites and addresses of ad networks - at least 7 services for just $1 a week. As for prices, some movement has occurred - we can say even the unification of prices. This is because after the release of Outpost 2009 another full modernization of the line functionality was made. Since July 1, 2008 recommended price of personal decisions of the family Outpost Pro has raised to 4-8 dollars, and the price of licenses for organizations decreased by 25% (new prices will take effect from August 1). Thus, for instance, Outpost Antivirus Pro and Outpost Security Suite Pro are available now at a price of $28 and $56 for the annual license to one PC - both for home users, and for organizations. These prices still remain markedly lower than prices of competitors, allowing you to complete the arsenal of protective software, for example, specialized products for backup copying. By the way, during August the visitors of Soft@Mail.Ru will enjoy a single discount for programs Outpost 2009 in the amount of 12%, which almost grades the increase of price and will provide the protection of level in 2009 before the beginning of autumn activity. And closer to winter, we will further expand the range of functions of Outpost 2009, demanded by users. Outpost Security Suite Pro 2009 is firewall, antivirus, antispam… What other functions in the future your products will receive, and in what you won`t engage for a while? Outpost Security Suite Pro 2009 includes, besides the components listed, proactive protection against threats (module “Local security”), self-defense against the deactivation by malicious software, antikeylogger, antispyware, "Web control" module providing content filtering, and secure web surfing . Antispam in the new version operates also with a popular mail client The Bat! Certainly, we will further develop the existing components, besides, for the future there are such drafts as “parental control” module, a special mechanism for controlling of portable mediums, possibly compatibility of antispam with other mail clients. There is a view that individual products with a rich history are better than some integrated solution. How much your antivirus is competitive to well-known antivirus? Of course, Agnitum is originally a manufacturer of personal firewall, but in antiviruses industry we are not novices already. First antivirus module has appeared in Outpost Security Suite Pro (product soon “took” VirusBulettin 100% award), not so long ago a single product Outpost Antivirus Pro has emerged. In signature methods of protection our two laboratories engaged: viral base is constantly updated by our partner VirusBuster (since the beginning of the year there appeared in the base more than 400 thousand new signatures, and now, in total of “spyware” base, they are over 700 thousand), “spyware” base is filled up by our internal department of viral analysts. Partners have licensed signatures and anti-virus constituent of our Anti-Malware module. The engine of detecting of hiding software and treating of active malware code is completely ours: after the introduction of SmartScan technology to Outpost 2008 and its improvement in Outpost 2009 malware scanner operates very quickly. Outpost is struggling against all kinds of “infection”, including many root-kits and keyloggers (special “Anti-keylogger module”, consisting of the functional “Local security” has appeared in Outpost 2009). Besides, separate product Outpost Antivirus Pro, as a firewall and integrated solution, is equipped with a proactive lock mechanisms, but proactive protection of our antivirus is not so full, as built-in a complex solution. Summarizing what was said, our anti-virus technology at the moment is on the level of traditional producers of antivirus, and in something even exceeds this level. We look with optimism to the future. There is confident that we will be able to break the stereotype that “firewall developers” are incapable of creating antivirus of first line. Outpost is a powerful product with multude functions and settings. Is it suitable for use by beginners? It`s suitable, and moreover, we have reached a “the happy medium” between the complexity of protective mechanisms and simplicity of use. In 2009 version we took several steps on setting the interface for user's specific needs. Among them is the possibility of switching between simple and expanded kinds of program, quick access to all major settings, improved registers of network activity, more informative main window of products, etc. Else, in 2008 version a feature of “self-education mode” has been appeared, when choosing of which the product during a week “studys” typical user activity and installed on his PC applications, and don`t ask any questions. At the end of this period Outpost has sufficient amount of information in order to continue not to disturb the user by requests and notifications. Thank you for the interview, and we wish you new successes in the developing of your software!