Zone Labs Spyware Wards Off Hackers

To combat the threat of spyware, end-point security vendor Zone Labs recently unveiled a new version of its Integrity software designed to detect and disable spyware on desktop computers and enterprise networks.

Zone Labs' Integrity Clientless Security 2.0 is thought to be the first security product on the market aimed specifically at eliminating spyware, a category that includes keystroke loggers, Trojan horses, worms and other hacker tools.

Frederick Felman, vice president of marketing at Zone Labs, San Francisco, said the features of Clientless Security 2.0 should help enterprises remove the threats of ID and password theft and data loss, while preserving productivity.

"This software gives enterprises the ability to detect the security posture of every machine on the network," he said. "For channel partners, that's a value-add they're not going to find with any other tool on the market today."

Clientless Security 2.0 sits on an Apache or Microsoft Internet Information Services server and scans computers for spyware as the desktops attempt to access a corporate LAN. The software then grants access to the network based on whether the end points comply with corporate security policies.

If an end point fails to comply, the software automatically requires the user to install up-to-date firewall and antivirus products or download the critical software patches. If an end point complies with a company's security policies but contains undesirable software, a disablement feature shuts down unapproved processes before login.

Felman said that because the software sits on a remote server, it's best suited for enterprises where remote users access the corporate network through an SSL VPN. Enterprises can even use the tool to enforce security policies on third-party PCs and kiosks that have access to the network, further securing their network from malicious intrusions that otherwise might go undetected.

Dan Brown, vice president of sales at Secure Technologies International, a solution provider in Gloucester, Ontario, praises Zone Labs' end-point security technology for its ability to interoperate with an array of platforms and its ability to compete with more expensive offerings from firms such as Sygate. "We cater to the IT needs of the Canadian government, and the interoperability of Zone Labs in mixed-vendor environments is critical to delivering our service," Brown said.

Integrity Clientless Security 2.0 begins at $20 per user. Volume discounts are available. The product supports servers running Windows, Linux and Unix.