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Filtering Out the Bad
Filtering products bolster antivirus software by buffering the user from potentially harmful email. In a technical paper published by the Interhack Corporation in May 2000, "Why Anti-Virus Software Cannot Stop the Spread of Email Worms", the authors noted "With the attention received by the 'ILOVEYOU' worm that floated around the Internet in the early part of May 2000, many people are wondering why their anti-virus software didn't prevent them from becoming infected and how they can protect themselves in the future. Here we argue that this approach to the problem, though popular, is fatally flawed and simply cannot work." The study concluded there were two possible solutions: "get rid of the users or help them to avoid getting fooled."
Ken Sokol, Product Marketing Manager for Baltimore Technologies concurs, "It is now common practice to use antivirus software on email gateway servers, internal email servers and on computer desktops. With such widespread usage it should be expected that damage from Internet virus outbreaks would be on the decrease. Unfortunately, just the opposite is true."
Ken recommends a layered approach, using content filtering to provide protection for email while using traditional antivirus scanners to defend against those threats that are known. Baltimore's MimeSweeper is a server-based product that provides a range of protective features against pornography, confidentiality breaches, and theft of data at the enterprise gateway. For desktop protection, a product such as M@ilDefense defends email from active content and potentially viral executables.
Patchy Protection
Security vulnerabilities are discovered at alarming rates. Some of the more serious ones can allow files to be downloaded to your local drive from a website - even if your browser settings dictate otherwise - or allow attachments to automatically execute within email. Keeping abreast of the necessary patches is made easier by Shavlik Technologies and their unique Inspector for the Web series. A quick online check will reveal any loopholes in your security measures and determine exactly what patches are needed for your system.
Scan That File
Antivirus software comes in all shapes and sizes. Nod32 and Command Antivirus both provide a small footprint with no skimping on protection. Grisoft's AVG is another excellent product and one of the only products still free for home use (though only within the U.S.). There's really no right or wrong choice for antivirus software - what runs well on one system may tank on another. Useability is a key factor. If you don't understand how to use it, chances are you won't use it properly. Nearly all vendors provide free trials of their software. Most importantly, the product must be kept updated as often as the vendor provides. As with evaluations, nearly all vendors have a mailing list to inform users of necessary updates.
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