Software Industry Announcements and News


McAfee Offers Guidance and Protection as China-Linked Google Cyberattack Continues to Unfold

[ Comments Off ] Posted on 01.17.10 under Security & Privacy

McAfee Guidance Helps Organizations Determine If They Were Compromised, McAfee Products Shield Against Future Attacks Exploiting Internet Explorer Vulnerability

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–McAfee, Inc. (NYSE:MFE) today released guidance to help organizations determine if they were targeted in the same sophisticated cyberattack that hit a growing list of companies, including Google. The high profile cyberattack, linked to China by Google, targeted valuable intellectual property.

“This is the largest and most sophisticated cyberattack we have seen in years targeted at specific corporations,” said McAfee Worldwide Chief Technology Officer George Kurtz. “It is a watershed moment in cybersecurity because of the targeted and coordinated nature of the attack. As a result, the world has changed; organizations globally will have to change their threat models to account for this new class of highly sophisticated attack that goes after high value intellectual property.”

As part of the fallout of the attack, Windows users currently face a real and present danger due to the public disclosure of a serious vulnerability in Internet Explorer. McAfee was the first to discover and announce that an Internet Explorer vulnerability was a key vector in the attack on Google and others. Unfortunately, the risk has been compounded because the attack code that exploits this Internet Explorer vulnerability has now been posted in the public domain, increasing the possibility of widespread attacks. McAfee technologies provide protection against current threats related to the attack on Google and others.

How to know if your organization was compromised

Over 30 organizations have reportedly been targeted by the same attack that hit Google and the list of victims continues to grow. McAfee calls the cyberheist “Operation Aurora” and today provided detailed guidance to help organizations determine if they were impacted by the attack, which occurred over the December holidays and into early January.

McAfee’s guidance involves two steps:

1) If you are a McAfee customer, verify that you are using the latest threat definition files and perform a full scan on all machines within your enterprise.

2) Inspect network traffic history for communication with external systems associated with the attack.

3) Examine computers for specific files or file attributes related to the attack.

Detailed guidance is available on the McAfee Web site at http://www.mcafee.com/operationaurora

How to protect against the Internet Explorer vulnerability

McAfee products protect against attacks that may use the now publicly available exploit to attempt to attack Internet Explorer users and the malware used in the attack on Google and others:

1. McAfee consumer and enterprise PC security products provide protection against the malicious computer programs used to target Google and others through the threat definition files released on January 11 and through the McAfee real-time, cloud-based Global Threat Intelligence. Current customers should ensure the latest definition files are installed and that cloud detection is enabled. McAfee consumer security products are available online.

2. McAfee® Network Security Platform detects attacks that use the Internet Explorer zero-day exploit through the threat definition files released on January 15. Users of the McAfee Network Security Platform should ensure the latest definition files are installed.

3. McAfee Web Gateway and McAfee Firewall Enterprise provide powerful Web security technology to filter malicious traffic on the network. Users of either of these McAfee products should ensure that outbound Web security capabilities are enabled and malware scanning within the firewall is based on the latest signatures and associated rules.

Use Advanced McAfee Technology To Detect Future Attacks

The attack on Google and others marks a new, high-risk era in the world of cybercrime where these advanced persistent threats are no longer targeted at just governments, but are also targeted at organizations in many different sectors. McAfee is making available free trials of its advanced protection technologies to help companies shield themselves against sophisticated attacks such as the recent attack on Google and others.

Organizations can evaluate the following McAfee technologies at no cost:

* McAfee Network Threat Response, a network security appliance that automatically analyzes threats attempting to spread on a network. McAfee Network Threat Response would have allowed victims to detect the attack that hit Google and others.
* McAfee Application Control, a whitelisting application that prevents zero-day attacks past and future and ensures only trusted applications run on servers and PCs. It reduces risks from unauthorized software, boosts endpoint control, extends the viability of fixed-function systems without impacting performance, and lowers operating costs.

Also, McAfee Foundstone® has consultants who are available for forensic investigations. Complete the “911 Contact Form” on the Foundstone Web site for help.

McAfee will continue to provide updates on the attack that hit Google and other cyberattacks on its Web site and blog.

About McAfee, Inc.

McAfee, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is the world’s largest dedicated security technology company. McAfee is committed to relentlessly tackling the world’s toughest security challenges. The company delivers proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure systems and networks around the world, allowing users to safely connect to the Internet, browse and shop the web more securely. Backed by an award-winning research team, McAfee creates innovative products that empower home users, businesses, the public sector and service providers by enabling them to prove compliance with regulations, protect data, prevent disruptions, identify vulnerabilities, and continuously monitor and improve their security. http://www.mcafee.com

SharewareRadio.com interviews Visual Lint’s Anna-Jayne Metcalfe and Beth Mackenzie

[ Comments Off ] Posted on 01.14.10 under ASP Member Companies, Web Sites

News Reports:

Google threatens to leave China
Digital River buys stake in Spanish software download company
Facebook partners with McAfee for security
US Justice Department settles blind students v. Kindle controversy
Court reinstates music antitrust suit
Baidu hacked by ‘Iranian cyber army’

The Kiss My Butt Award of the Week
This week it goes to the Mexican government

This week’s Interview
This week’s guest’s are Anna-Jayne Metcalfe and Beth Mackenzie. Their company develops Visual Lint.

This interview was held in Berlin at ESWC 2008

Digital River and Softonic Announce Strategic Partnership

[ Comments Off ] Posted on 01.13.10 under ASP Member Companies, Business

MINNEAPOLIS & BARCELONA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Digital River, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRIV), a leading provider of global e-commerce solutions, and Softonic, a leading European software download site, announced a strategic partnership. As part of a joint agreement, Digital River acquired a less than 15 percent ownership stake in Softonic for a $26 million USD cash investment. Digital River’s final percent of ownership in the privately-held, Barcelona-based business will be determined based on Softonic’s future financial performance. Softonic will maintain its independence and organizational structure. Softonic is recognized as a top download site and market leader in software downloads in Europe and Latin America, offering thousands of software titles for Windows, Macintosh and mobile phones.

“We are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Softonic and excited to work with them in offering the global marketplace an unrivaled collection of downloadable software titles”

As part of the strategic partnership, Digital River will become the exclusive third-party e-commerce provider for digital buy-now software titles on the Softonic site and significantly increase Softonic’s existing software catalog by adding a major portion of Digital River’s collection of approximately 100,000 downloadable software titles. The expanded software collection will provide Softonic added opportunity to drive global sales and strengthen its leadership position in key markets.

“We are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Softonic and excited to work with them in offering the global marketplace an unrivaled collection of downloadable software titles,” said Joel Ronning, Digital River’s CEO. “By working as their e-commerce partner and marketing our software catalog through Softonic, we are expanding our presence in the European marketplace and further differentiating our e-commerce solution from our closest competitors in the region. Through this agreement, we can deliver even more value to our global software clients, broadening their market reach by giving them access to a sizeable population of European software consumers that frequent the Softonic site.”

“The announcement of our relationship with Digital River reflects our ongoing commitment to developing key alliances with industry leaders that expand our position in strategic markets such as the US and Asia and reinforce our leadership presence in Europe and Latin America,” said Tomás Diago, founder and president of Softonic. “There are great synergies and opportunities to grow our businesses. We signed an agreement with Digital River because of its high-caliber software catalog and powerful, industry-leading e-commerce system. Through this single relationship, we look forward to offering our customers both a significantly expanded selection of downloadable software titles as well as a superior online shopping experience.”

No additional terms of the investment and agreement were disclosed.

About Softonic

Softonic is a market leader in Europe and Latin America in free software downloads and sales. Founded in Barcelona in 1997, the company has over 170 employees. Softonic offers one of the largest collections of shareware and freeware software titles and commercial demos analyzed, evaluated and validated in different languages by an expert team. Currently, it has more than 100,000 software titles for Windows, Macintosh and mobile phones. Softonic is available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Polish. The Dutch and Japanese version will be launched in the first half of 2010. Softonic’s headquarters is located in Barcelona. The company has offices in San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Madrid as well.

For more details about Softonic, visit the Web site at www.softonic.com.

About Digital River, Inc.

Digital River, Inc., a leading provider of global e-commerce solutions, builds and manages online businesses for software and game publishers, consumer electronics manufacturers, distributors, online retailers and affiliates. Its multi-channel e-commerce solution, which supports both direct and indirect sales, is designed to help companies of all sizes maximize online revenues as well as reduce the costs and risks of running an e-commerce operation. The company’s comprehensive platform offers site development and hosting, order management, fraud management, export controls, tax management, physical and digital product fulfillment, multi-lingual customer service, advanced reporting and strategic marketing services.

Founded in 1994, Digital River is headquartered in Minneapolis with offices across the U.S., Asia, Europe and South America. For more details about Digital River, visit the corporate Web site at www.digitalriver.com or call +1 952-253-1234.

Corel Streamlines Global Operations

[ Comments Off ] Posted on 01.09.10 under Desktop Publishing

OTTAWA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Corel Corporation (NASDAQ:CREL) (TSX:CRE) today announced that it is reducing its global workforce by approximately 20% worldwide. The Company is taking these actions to appropriately align its cost structure with its FY2010 operating plan while providing additional flexibility to fund investments in new product development.

“For 25 years, Corel has demonstrated an ability to adapt and evolve in order to meet new consumer demands and an ever changing competitive landscape,” said Kris Hagerman, Corel CEO. “In building our operating plan for 2010, we are aligning our cost structure so that we have the financial flexibility to continue to innovate and deliver new products to the market, drive broad awareness of our products and global brand, and ensure we are making the best use of our global teams and resources.”

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release includes forward-looking statements which are based on estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances including but not limited to general economic conditions, product pricing levels and competitive intensity, and new product introductions.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements discussed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include the recent disruption in the overall economy and financial and credit markets, which may adversely impact our operations and financial results as well as our ability to obtain financing required to grow our business and make acquisitions. We may experience fluctuations in our operating results depending on the timing and success of product releases. Our core products have been marketed for many years and the packaged software market in North America and Europe is relatively mature and characterized by modest growth. Accordingly, we must successfully complete acquisitions, penetrate new markets, establish relationships with new original equipment manufacturer customers, or increase penetration of our installed base to achieve revenue growth. The long-term trend in our business reflects growth in revenues from acquisitions, which give rise to their own risks and challenges, rather than from our existing products, and that recent growth may not be representative of future growth. We face competitive threats from well established software companies that have significantly greater market share and resources than us and from online services companies that are increasingly seeking to provide software products at little or no incremental cost to their customers to expand their Internet presence and build consumer loyalty. We rely on a small number of key strategic relationships for a significant percentage of our revenue and these relationships can be modified or terminated at any time. In addition, we face potential claims from third parties who may hold patent and other intellectual property rights which purport to cover various aspects of our products and from certain of our customers who may be entitled to indemnification from us in respect of potential claims they may receive from third parties related to their use or distribution of our products. Any resulting litigation costs, settlement costs or royalty requirements could affect our profitability.

These and other risks, uncertainties and other important factors are described in Corel’s Annual Report dated February 9, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere. A copy of the Corel Annual Report and such other filings can be obtained on Corel’s website, on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov./ or on the CSA’s website at http://www.sedar.com. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are made. We disclaim any intention or undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law.

About Corel

Corel is one of the world’s top software companies with more than 100 million active users in over 75 countries. We develop software that helps people express their ideas and share their stories in more exciting, creative and persuasive ways. Through the years, we’ve built a reputation for delivering innovative, trusted products that are easy to learn and use, helping people achieve new levels of productivity. The industry has responded with hundreds of awards for software innovation, design and value.

Our award-winning product portfolio includes some of the world’s most widely recognized and popular software brands, including CorelDRAW®Graphics Suite, Corel®Painter™, Corel DESIGNER®Technical Suite, Corel®Paint Shop Pro®Photo, Corel®VideoStudio®, Corel®WinDVD®, Corel®WordPerfect®Office, WinZip®,and the recently released Corel®Digital Studio™2010. Our global headquarters are in Ottawa, Canada, with major offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, China, Taiwan and Japan.

Kanguru Defender Elite Safe from Security Flaw Discovered in Other Encrypted Flash Drives

[ Comments Off ] Posted on 01.06.10 under Security & Privacy

MILLIS, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kanguru Solutions has announced its Kanguru Defender Elite encrypted flash drives are safe from the security flaw recently exposed in several high profile secure flash drives.

“Our Kanguru Defender Elite uses hardware based encryption chips to determine if a login password is legitimate or not, safeguarding users from potential attacks of this nature.”

Encrypted flash drives manufactured by Sandisk (and private labeled by Kingston, Verbatim and a variety of other OEM partners) have been found to contain a security flaw leaving their devices vulnerable to data breaches. These devices front end software (where you type the password) do device authentication and provide a “thumbs-up” to allow access to the secure area of the drive. The software can then be hacked to always give a “thumbs-up” to the chip as if a successful password has been entered, leaving potentially sensitive data visible and unencrypted.

“A design flaw of this type seriously compromises the security of any data residing on these devices,” said Nate Cote, vice president of product management at Kanguru. “Our Kanguru Defender Elite uses hardware based encryption chips to determine if a login password is legitimate or not, safeguarding users from potential attacks of this nature.”

Don Brown, CEO of Kanguru Solutions added, “this development validates Kanguru’s decision to use our own resources in the design of our secure flash drives. Many companies are utilizing the Sandisk software and will be affected by this issue.”

The Kanguru Defender Elite uses military grade 256-bit hardware encryption and on-chip password matching, safeguarding it from hacking attempts. In addition, Kanguru offers remote management and USB device control for its secure flash drives, providing a level of security and control unmatched in the industry.

A division of Interactive Media Corporation, Kanguru Solutions manufactures high quality, secure and portable computer storage and peripherals that have provided consumers with secure back-up solutions for more than a decade. Interactive Media Corp. was established in Massachusetts in 1992. For more information on Kanguru Solutions, visit their website at www.kanguru.com.

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