Symantec unveils reputation-based technology code-named Quorum in the latest versions of Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus. Now available as a free beta, the products represent Symantec's hybrid approach to security, mixing traditional signatures with application whitelisting.Symantec July 6 pulled the covers off of free beta versions of Norton
Internet Security 2010 and Norton AntiVirus 2010 with new reputation-based
technologies code-named Quorum.'
Quorum will be introduced into the market in fall 2009. Symantec's 2010
products use application reputation in response to the problem of dealing with online
criminals who use unique new threats to evade signatures. In the Symantec
software, application reputation is created by gathering data about the
characteristics of applications used by members of the Norton Community Watch
program.
Symantec's approach is part of its effort
to integrate whitelisting into its security strategy. Other vendors such as
McAfee
and Kaspersky Lab have also taken steps to integrate whitelisting into
their products as they seek ways to deal with the growing number of malicious
programs circulating on the Web.
According to Symantec, its researchers see millions of attacks
every month, with many being never-before-seen threats. While Symantec created
nearly 1.8 million new virus definitions in 2008, the use of signatures is not
keeping pace with the number
of threats being created by online criminals.
Most malware has never been seen before, has an unknown publisher or has
some other characteristic that can be used to give it a poor reputation score,
Symantec officials said in a statement.
"Looking at the sheer volume of infected systems in the world, one
thing is resoundingly clear: Basic security protection is not good enough,"
Rowan Trollope, senior vice president of the Consumer Business Unit, said in a
statement. "Norton pioneered the signature-based model of security and
today we're introducing a new standard that reconsiders all facets of
protection. Quorum lets us stop the bad guys even if we've never seen their 'Wanted'
poster."
The software also includes a new dashboard and a new anti-spam engine from
Symantec Brightmail. In addition, Norton 2010 users can sign up for a free
subscription to OnlineFamily Norton, a Web-based service meant to keep parents
aware of their children's online activities.
Symantec said it plans to make all flagship Norton
products, including Norton 360, Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus, compatible
with Microsoft Windows 7. Norton users with a valid product subscription will
receive the compatibility updates automatically at no additional cost, the
company said.