Newsletter

Processor

August 19, 2005

By Daniel Dern

Original article on Processor website

A Proactive Approach To Preventing Spyware

Acronis Adds Management Console & Agent-Based Operations

Within a remarkably short time, spyware has joined viruses, worms, and network attacks on the IT short list of things to keep out of company computers and networks. To block, detect, and/or remove spyware, companies are deploying both gateway-level and client-level software.

Storage and systems management software vendor Acronis has released its enterprise-oriented Acronis Privacy Expert 8.0 Corporate, a centrally managed antispyware solution, based on its consumer version, Acronis Privacy Expert Suite 8.0.

Acronis uses a signature-based approach to scanning for spyware, checking files on the computer against the database, as well as a monitoring part that watches for, detects, and prevents spyware activity.

The new version, as the name suggests, is intended for the enterprise environment to protect corporate workstations. New features in this corporate edition, according to Stephen Lawton, director of marketing at Acronis, include "a central management console, an agent-client program which does not require systems be rebooted before it can be run, and the ability to deploy agents to networked PCs." The console, says Lawton, "runs any of the various tasks that the agent offers."

These tasks include a scheduler to automate spyware scans on all networked systems; a spyware shield that prevents spyware, adware, keyloggers, hidden dialers, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs from being installed; a pop-up blocker; and automatic updates of spyware definitions.

Acronis' antispyware approach is proactive. Lawton says, "We watch as the data comes in. For example, if something tries to change your Registry, we'll intercept it and alert you. Not all the competition does that."

The agent runs on Win98/Me/NT 4.0 Workstation SP 6/2000 Pro/XP Pro. The management console can run on Win98/Me/NT 4.0 Workstation Service Pack 6/2000 Pro/XP Pro, as well as on WinNT 4.0 Server Service Pack 6/2000 Server/2000 Advanced Server/2003 Server.

Competing products include LavaSoft, WebRoot, Symantec AntiVirus, and Trend Micro's antispyware appliance. According to Lawton, "The others don't all support scan scheduling, corporate network usage, remote management consoles, or remote client installations."