Newest Version of Company’s Flagship Product Delivers a Unified Solution for Real-Time
Protection against Viruses, Trojans, Spyware, Adware and Riskware
SAN DIEGO, CA – May 2, 2005 – ESET, a global security software company providing next generation virus protection, today announced the availability of the newest version of its award-winning flagship product, NOD32 version 2.5, which includes enhanced protection
against spyware, adware, phishing and riskware. To-date ESET is one of only two security
companies worldwide that have received Checkmark’s certification for anti-spyware. To
achieve certification, a product must be able to detect Trojans, key-loggers, cookies and other
malware in the West Coast Labs spyware test suite. With the release of NOD32 v2.5, ESET is
also launching ThreatSense.NET, an online early warning system that enables fast bidirectional
notification of impending threats.
In today’s IT environment, viruses are just a percentage of the broad range of threats facing
enterprises. Spyware has become a leading threat and according to a December 2004 report
issued by analyst firm, IDC, 67 percent of all computers are infected with some form of
spyware. Though spyware is not always malicious in intent, many enterprises have identified
it as one of the greatest threats to enterprise network security since it often slips through
firewalls undetected.
NOD32 v2.5 utilizes ThreatSense™ technology, a sophisticated detection system based on
advanced heuristics, to proactively identify previously-unknown viruses, Trojans, spyware and
phishing attacks in real-time. ThreatSense is built into NOD32’s single scanning engine to
provide comprehensive protection so users do not need to rely on additional point solutions
for spyware and adware protection. Additionally, slowed network and CPU performance is no
longer an issue for end-users and IT administrators as NOD32 v2.5 consumes less than 20
MB of memory.
"The reactive signature-based methods of many anti-virus solutions can't keep pace with the
number and speed of threats facing enterprises today. Many anti-virus vendors are adding
anti-spyware applications to their suites that rely on signatures, thus extending a reactive
paradigm that leaves customers exposed while they wait for signature updates," said Jose
Lopez, senior industry analyst, Frost & Sullivan. "ESET's NOD32 meets the market need for
a solution that delivers real-time protection against viruses, spyware and other malware with
one unified application."
With the launch of NOD32 v2.5, ESET is simultaneously launching ThreatSense.NET, an
online early warning system. ThreatSense.NET monitors global malware epidemics based on
information gathered from two-way communication between NOD32 users and ESET’s
ThreatLab. Customers can opt-in to automatically provide ESETs researchers with
anonymous data about new threats detected by NOD32. The gathered data is used to
enhance the ThreatSense engine to detect subsequent waves of new malware. Customers
worldwide can receive notification of new malware outbreaks and tips on how to protect
themselves via this feedback loop as well, thus enhancing their level of protection.
“One of the biggest challenges for today’s IT security manager is keeping up with all the latest
threats. Before we were concerned with just viruses, but now we’re dealing with a multitude of
threats like spyware, adware, Trojans and worms,” said Scott Brown, information security
analyst at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire. “Most AV solutions are
reactive, but fortunately with ESET's NOD32 we have proactive protection against all threats
including spyware and adware. With NOD32’s small footprint, granular configuration and
centrally managed console with exceptional reporting, I now have time to attend to other
security issues. We are so pleased with the performance and support that we have purchased
NOD32 for all of our students.”
New Features in NOD32 v2.5:
- Improved Spyware, Adware, Riskware Detection:
New option added for detecting adware, spyware and riskware that provides real-time
active detection rather than scheduled scans. - Certification by CheckMark for spyware detection capabilities
- New option for detecting programs that are usually used for commercial purposes, but
may be misused by determined intruders such as programs for remote control, remote
access tools and potentially dangerous applications
ThreatSense.NET Early Warning System: - Monitors global threats, allowing for the optional submission of detected malware
- Notifies customers of new threats and recommended protective measures
Additional Improvements: - Improved scanning of self-extracting archives (SFX)
- Improved performance via “Smart” application of advanced heuristics in active monitor
- Option to scan Alternate Data Streams
- Automated cleaning of system restore points
“The new Checkmark spyware certification tests the ability of a product to deal with a wide
variety of spyware threats from the real world. NOD32 performed extremely well on these
tests and is one of the first products to achieve certification to this standard," said Jon Stearn,
CTO of West Coast Labs. "NOD32 is now certified to AV Level1, Level2, Trojan and Spyware
Checkmarks. This confirms the commitment that ESET has shown to providing a reliable,
integrated solution that will protect users from the multitude of threats they face online."
“Spyware and viruses are some of the greatest threats to network security, and can often slip
undetected through firewalls. In addition, threats like identity theft through phishing are on the
rise and attackers are coming up with new ways to infiltrate systems every day. The standard
signature-based approach used by most traditional anti-virus companies is not always
effective against these complex threats,” said Andrew Lee, CTO of ESET. “The only way that
consumers and enterprises can protect their networks and desktops is by having proactive
protection that is easy to manage. With NOD32, our customers have proactive protection from
evolving malware threats within a single solution.”
About NOD32 v2.5
NOD32 v2.5 is a unified anti-virus and anti-spyware solution with a single optimized engine
that protects against all email and Internet threats through its ThreatSense technology. The
proactive system does not rely on known threats and acts like a “virtual malware researcher”,
using multiple methods including emulation, advanced heuristics, and generic signatures to
deliver comprehensive protection from evolving threats. NOD32 is easy to install and use and
offers multi-point protection (Internet, email, ftp, disk, USB, etc.) and is multiplatform
(Windows, Linux, Novell, DOS). NOD32 v2.5 is flexible and configurable with centralized
management and reporting functionality. With its highly optimized disk scanning, low memory
usage and small footprint, NOD32 ensures network performance is never sacrificed. With a
record 31 Virus Bulletin 100 percent Awards, and a 92 percent success rate in catching new
email borne threats using advanced heuristics, NOD32 has the best detection record of any
anti-virus product on the market.
Availability and Pricing
NOD32 v2.5 will be available after May 9, 2005 in English and Slovak. International
language versions will be available approximately one to two months after that. Pricing for 50-
user small business is $1,495 for one year, which includes licenses for a file and mail server
and 50 desktops. Pricing for individual home and home office users begins at $39. For large
or enterprise quotes call 866-343-ESET or e-mail at sales@ESET.com.
About ESET
Founded in 1992 and headquartered in San Diego, Calif., ESET is a global provider of
security software solutions for enterprises and consumers. ESET’s award-winning anti-virus
software system, NOD32, provides real-time protection from known and unknown viruses,
spyware and malware. NOD32 offers the smallest, fastest and most advanced protection
available, with more Virus Bulletin 100% Awards than any other anti-virus product. ESET has
been named to Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 three years running, and has an extensive
partner network, including corporations like Canon, Dell and Microsoft. ESET is a privately
held company with headquarters in San Diego, California. Additional offices are located in
London, UK, Paris, France, Prague, CZ, and Bratislava, SK. For more information, visit
www.ESET.com or call 866-343-ESET. |
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