ALKHOBAR, 6 July 2004 — One feature that Microsoft hasn’t built into its operating systems, and which I really need these days, is the ability to reach out through a network gateway and touch someone. Please understand that I’m not interested in virtually touching someone. No, I am discussing encounters of a more violent sort in which I reach right through my monitor and strangle, strike or in some way physically damage the criminals who have made life online a constant nightmare.
A couple of weeks ago e-mail addressed to me started bouncing. E-mail that I sent took forever to be delivered. Browsing ground to a crawl. Network madness was definitely in full swing, so I phoned my ISP to see if they had any thoughts on the situation. I was briskly informed that they were under attack. The ISP had been deluged with virus generated e-mail for days. No one had time to talk. They were too busy just trying to keep their operation from crashing.
As PC and Internet penetration rates have increased across the Kingdom, ISPs are having a tough time coping with the inexperience of their customers. In the olden days of computing, just a few years ago, most viruses and worms attempted to infect machines and networks with the purpose of causing localized data and system crashes. Now the wackos who write malicious code have changed their measure of gratification. These criminals no longer want to bring machines down. No, they want to infect as many systems as possible and leave them operational enough to spew out zillions of e-mail causing massive network traffic and congestion. In the minds of these criminals, their hero will be the first code writer destructive enough to create a virus that causes the Internet to grind to a halt.
The writers of malware are becoming cleverer. Knowing that many ISPs have installed antivirus software, malicious code writers now download their little bugs directly into systems through infected Internet sites. Since individuals and small businesses don’t regularly check activity logs, it can take a while before they realize their equipment has been commandeered for IT evil. Everyone in the IT industry agrees that more needs to be done to raise awareness of IT security among the general public in Saudi Arabia.
With that in mind, on Sunday evening at Le Gulf Meridien Hotel, Rabita Electronics and Trading, the new country partner for Panda Software, held a launch event for the 1st Worldwide Internet Security Campaign. Through the end of July everyone is invited to click to www.worldwidesecure.org and take advantage of the resources available there. The site asserts that prevention is a key to keeping Internet-borne problems at bay. The campaign aims to provide access to content, tools and no-cost applications, designed to keep computers free from the effects of viruses and any other type of intrusion. At worldwidesecure.org, Internet users will also have a direct line to security experts through a forum in which they can post any questions they may have. The aim of the forum is to resolve questions or problems and collect suggestions about issues related to Internet security.
“The Internet is not a parallel universe: It is part of our world,” said Ibrahim Sheriff, operations manager, Rabita. “Everyday, the Internet plays a greater role in our everyday lives — at work and at home. Just as we all take precautions in all aspects of everyday life to safeguard security and personal safety, we also need to follow certain guidelines and use the correct tools to ensure the same kind of security on the Internet.”
According to market researcher Global Reach, there are currently 729.2 million Internet users. There are also over 76,000 viruses currently circulating across the Internet, 1,600 of which, according to data collected by Panda Software, are particularly active and continue infecting computers. The combination of these situations along with other types of threats, such as hackers, spam, spyware, etc., create a sense of insecurity about the Internet among users and make them feel vulnerable. Such feelings of being under attack are made worse still by worldwide epidemics like those caused in 2004 by Netsky, Bagle and Mydoom.
The 1st Worldwide Internet Security Campaign has been set up to address this situation. The campaign website incorporates information about various IT security problems users could have, as well as details about every threat in circulation and specific solutions for each of them. The portal consists of five comprehensive sections.
The first section, Threats, contains information about all kinds of dangers including viruses, worms and Trojans: What they are, how to recognize them, where they come from, the differences between them, etc. This section also discusses intrusions: How hackers can get into computers, how to avoid them and what to do if they slip in. The Threat section covers junk mail or spam: Why it is harmful and how to combat it. There is also information on spyware: What it is, what it’s used for, the different types and how to avoid or delete it. Lastly the Threats section explains unauthorized dialers and security holes: What bugs are, the problems they cause, how to detect them and protect against them.
In the Solutions section, users can access many types of free tools for protecting their PCs against the threats described above. From this micro-site they can benefit from a range of free tools for protecting against viruses and intruders. These include full versions with free services, exclusive to visitors to this portal.
In the section, Enjoy the Internet, users can learn the best precautions to take in order to get the most out of the Internet, easily and safely. This section explains how to browse the Internet without leaving any traces behind. The section also details how to use e-mail correctly and what to avoid. Other topics include online banking services, exchanging files, setting up a good content filter for worry-free Internet browsing and basic guidelines for using wireless networks and digital signatures.
Don’t worry that the site is all work and no play. Worldwidesecure.org even has a section of entertainment resources such as games, screensavers and wallpaper. Last but not least, Internet users can get real-time statistics on Global Virus activity and the development of Internet threats in circulation in individual countries.
The Worldwide Internet Security Campaign is sponsored globally by the Internauts Association (www.internautas.org) and Panda Software (www.pandasoftware.com). Abdul Aziz Al-Wabli, managing director, Rabita, said Panda Software is the largest European manufacturer of antivirus and intrusion prevention solutions and is present in more than 50 countries. Even though Panda Software is not yet wellknown in the Kingdom, their products are used by many large enterprises around the world including Boeing and the Central Bank of China.
“Panda Software was created in 1990 and they chose not to follow the same path as some other antivirus providers,” said Al-Wabli. “All Panda Software solutions use the same scan engine which supports many different platforms. This helps the company put all its R&D efforts into anticipating the new techniques used by the writers of malicious code, instead of simply defending against attack and responding to it.”
Al-Wabli said Rabita is currently setting up offices across the Kingdom, complete with leased lines to fulfill Panda Software’s strong international commitment to customer service. Since 1997 Panda Software has offered international technical support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with daily updates for combating new viruses and intrusions. Similarly, the 24-hour SOS Service provides a solution in less than 24 hours for all new virus outbreaks.
“We are certain,” said Al-Wabli, “that Panda Software’s high quality products will respond perfectly to the needs of the thousands of potential clients in Saudi Arabia’s antivirus market.”
Of course, other antivirus providers in the Middle East are sure to up their offerings to cope with the new competition. Symantec has confirmed its intention to offer a new class of protection, especially anti-spam, to Middle East users.
In late June, Symantec announced that their acquisition of Brightmail had cleared the customary regulatory approvals and the transaction had been completed ahead of schedule. The acquisition was originally announced in May 2004.
“This acquisition will position Symantec to provide customers — including those in the Middle East — with the most comprehensive messaging security solution in the industry. Symantec will now focus on integrating Brightmail’s anti-spam solutions into Symantec’s gateway offerings to create a new class of protection,” said Kevin Isaac, regional director, Symantec, Middle East and Africa.
“Spam is a major problem in the Middle East. It affects all users. Spammers do mischief by jamming mailboxes and causing important files to be lost sometimes. It is an inconvenience we all can do without. With Brightmail’s expertise and Symantec’s technology, we shall limit this menace,” he added.
Isaac said Symantec is also hoping to leverage the huge volume of e-mail traffic passing through the Brightmail filtering process as a new source of early warning on impending threats.
And the threats are out there. Panda Software has found that in extreme situations up to 100 new viruses can appear everyday, with an average of 600 new viruses emerging every month. With numbers like those, Internet users need all the help they can get.
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