A hacker attacking a computer enterprise can compromise the system, steal everything of value and completely erase his or her tracks within 20 minutes, according to the New York-based International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants.
In addition, spam, spyware, e-mail-borne viruses and other malicious code continue to spread via the Internet, endangering systems and data worldwide. Meanwhile, federal and state regulations require that insurers, brokers and agents comply by taking reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorized access to the often-sensitive consumer data that resides on their systems.
With these kinds of threats and responsibilities facing insurance and financial services entities every day, vendors of security-related products are offering a variety of solutions designed to build up defenses and secure valuable information that resides on computer systems.
Following are just a few of the many products currently available.
o Panda Software has announced that its latest versions of its Platinum 2006 Internet Security and Titanium 2006 Antivirus + Antispyware products include an additional level of Internet protection.
According to Glendale, Calif.-based Panda, the upgraded products "don't just check executable files but also any file that could be downloaded when a user visits a Website." Panda said this is particularly important given a recently emerging threat in which malicious code is included in non-executable files, such as images or QuickTime or Flash files. "This has opened a new channel through which malware writers can distribute their creations, no longer depending on .exe or .bat files to enter them in systems," said Panda.
Both products provide protection against a wide variety of online threats. This new level of protection can be configured according to the user's requirements, although the company advises users to have it active at all times, especially when accessing "unusual Web pages or those with dubious content."
Platinum 2006 Internet Security carries a retail unit price of $79.95 for 12 months of service, while a single unit of Titanium 2006 Antivirus + Antispyware sells for $49.95 for 12 months of service, the company said.
Further details are available at .
o Where securing sensitive and high-value e-mail is a concern, Goodmail Systems Inc. and PostX have announced an alliance to deliver better security for "transaction messages sent from corporations to their customers."
The companies are combining Mountain View, Calif.-based Goodmail's CertifiedEmail system for trusted e-mail with Cupertino, Calif.-based PostX's patented encryption technology. The combination, they said, will be of particular benefit to "banks, brokerages, insurance companies and other financial services companies."
Goodmail said its CertifiedEmail service assures qualified users that "their messages are delivered to the server-level inbox of intended recipients with all links and images intact." Outbound messages are imprinted with a secure token and presented to the user with an icon that assures consumers that the message is indeed from the company.
PostX's Messaging Application Platform provides secure delivery, administration, processing and integration capabilities, the companies said.
"Any sender of high-value messages, such as banks and financial services companies…requires two things: that messages actually are delivered to their customers and that those messages are secure in transit," said John Ouren, senior vice president of sales and business development for Goodmail. "The combined solution…gives such institutions both of those capabilities in a best-of-breed solution that integrates seamlessly into existing infrastructures."
