The latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report (dubbed SIRv7) has been released, and while rogue security software was the “single largest threat category for the first half of 2009,” the real news relates to worms. Worm infections became very common during the same period. Microsoft Security Report Highlights Worm Problem According to the report , “[W]orm infections in the enterprise rose by nearly 100 percent during the first half of 2009 over the preceding six months.” Which, to put it another way, means worm infections about doubled in a very short period of time. Conficker led the charge, posing a special threat to businesses because it can operate well within firewalled network environments. Taterf, meanwhile, went after a different group of people because it targets MMORPG players. And detections of it were up 156 percent. That makes for a scary situation with folks getting attacked on all fronts. Still, on the bright side, Microsoft recorded a tenfold decrease in Zlob disinfections, and rogue security software infections were down 20 percent. As for some other info included in the report, the U.S. turned out to be roughly average in terms of computer security consciousness. Japan, Austria, and Germany all performed rather better.

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Microsoft Security Report Highlights Worm Problem

This morning, M86 Security became bigger and better than ever. Or, to be more explicit: M86, which is a company that specializes in Web and messaging security products, acquired Finjan, an organization focused on Web gateway solutions for the enterprise market. M86 Security Purchases Finjan John Vigouroux, the CEO of M86 Security, stated as a result, “We are very pleased to add Finjan’s technology, products, customers and employees to the M86 team. With M86’s complementary Email security and reporting products and worldwide distribution, we anticipate a broad opportunity for Finjan’s enterprise-class Web security solutions to existing and new customers.” Gadi Maier, the CEO of Finjan Software, also said, “We are very excited to see Finjan become part of M86 Security. Finjan is well known for its advanced malware detection technology and leading secure Web gateway and hybrid SaaS solutions. Integrating it into M86’s broader Web and messaging product lines and utilizing its worldwide distribution is a win-win for M86 Security and Finjan.” And indeed, it doesn’t look like there’s much reason for anybody to be upset about the deal. Granted, the financial terms remain unknown, so it’s hard to guess how investors should feel, but on the security side of things, little besides a straightforward combination seems to be planned. Vigouroux even hails from Finjan (he changed jobs about seven months ago) so he’s in an especially good position to make sure that everything is integrated properly.

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M86 Security Purchases Finjan

More confirmation came yesterday that it is, quite simply, a terrible idea to leave a Windows 7 computer running without antivirus protection. Chester Wisniewski, a Senior Security Advisor at Sophos Canada, found that the operating system is vulnerable to all sorts of stuff. Yes, Windows 7 Needs Antivirus Software Wisniewski put Windows 7 and its User Account Control tech to the test by exposing a machine to ten viruses. Without UAC active, two of the ten were stopped. UAC (at its default settings) then just kept an additional one from wreaking havoc. These results are, of course, not exemplary - no one would ever buy security software that lets 70 percent of the bad stuff through. Heck, something like that couldn’t even be given away. Still, since Windows 7’s UAC isn’t actually security software and hasn’t been marketed as such, the results may not be much to worry about, either. Just about everyone, from tech experts to grandmas using AOL, understands that something extra is necessary to keep a computer safe. Consider this an FYI, then, and, whether you’re trying to spare an old computer the extra burden or simply feeling adventurous, continue to resist the urge to do ill-advised, no-protection experiments.

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Yes, Windows 7 Needs Antivirus Software