Antivirus and Firewalls: the Best Combination for Virus Protection
MADRID, May 6 2003
Until recently, having updated antivirus software installed would have been sufficient to defend against possible attacks from malicious code. However, there is now an increase in the number of viruses whose effects, although less visible than say the destruction of data etc, can be just as damaging or even more so. One of the most worrying actions of this kind is the theft of confidential information stored on the system.
This could be particularly critical in the case of small businesses and professionals, where PCs may contain may contain client databases, bank details, credit card numbers or other particularly sensitive commercial information.
This type of action would normally be the work of a very specific type of malicious code known as Trojans. This is a particular kind of virus that installs itself silently on computers, in order to operate without victims even being aware of its presence. However, its ability to spread is highly limited, and this has led to the recent appearance of a new breed of malicious code: Worms/Trojans. These, as their name suggests, combine the ability of worms to spread rapidly with the dangerous actions of a Trojan, often one that is downloaded from the Internet after the worm has infected the computer, as was the case with Bugbear http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/
encyclopedia/overview.aspx?idvirus=37402.
Both Trojans and the ‘Trojan files’ downloaded onto PCs make use of communication ports: the main points through which information enters and leaves the computer.
Similarly, there are viruses that spread directly across the Internet, searching out computers with certain communication ports unprotected, as was the case with Opaserv
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/
encyclopedia/overview.aspx?idvirus=37403 or Hai
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/
encyclopedia/overview.aspx?idvirus=33353.
For this reason, as well as having an antivirus installed, it is highly advisable to have a personal firewall protecting the system. This type of software monitors all a computer’s inbound and outbound connections. So if a Trojan is installed on a system, the firewall will ensure that it does not send information out, at the same time, as blocking any attempts by viruses to enter through the communications ports.
This is just how Panda Antivirus Platinum 7.0 works. The first product of its kind, Platinum 7.0 is designed specifically for businesses and professionals looking for complete protection from the growing menace of Internet-borne threats. It includes the most advanced personal firewall technology on the market and automatic daily updates when users connect to the Internet to ensure that it is always prepared to exterminate all types of viruses and malicious code.
Users who would like to download the free evaluation version of Panda Antivirus Platinum 7.0 can do so from: http://www.pandasoftware.com/downloads More information about Platinum is also available at http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/platinum/.
About Panda Software
Panda Software (http://www.pandasoftware.com/) is a leading international developer of antivirus software for all types of customers: corporate clients, small and medium sized companies, and home users. Their 100% in-house, antivirus technology has received awards and quality certifications from the most widely-respected IT security institutions. Their commitment to client service and the concept of the protection of computer systems as a 24h-365d Insurance Policy rather than merely a software product have revolutionized the computer security industry. The quality of Panda Software’s products has been endorsed by major industry watchdogs including ICSA Labs and Checkmark.