Clearswift Internet Survey Shows: Businesses Still Vulnerable to Plethora of Web-Based Threats
Companies lulled into false sense of security by URL blocking technology
SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 2004--
According to research recently carried out by Clearswift, the MIMEsweeper(TM) company and world's No. 1 in Content Security, there is significant confusion in the business community regarding the level of protection provided by so-called "Web filters" or "URL filters."
Over 2,500 people from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Scandinavia, took part in the research, and results indicate that 95 percent see viruses and other malicious codes as the single biggest Web security concern, yet organizations are in many cases relying solely on URL blockers to provide protection. Additionally, over 70 percent of respondents expressed concern over unauthorized downloads of material, but less than 10 percent used Web security software to restrict downloads.
The research suggests an overall lack of understanding of the Web security market and confusion over the differences between Web content analysis, Web-filtering, URL blocking and anti-virus products. As a result, companies that had deployed products that provided only URL blocking mistakenly believed they also had anti-virus and Web content analysis capabilities.
Many Web-based threats are not addressed by simple URL blockers:
-- they provide no protection from viruses and other malicious code such as spyware
-- they cannot protect against unauthorized downloads of copyright material (e.g., music or films)
-- they rely on being updated every time an inappropriate Web site is created
-- they cannot protect against inappropriate uploads such as company confidential information and intellectual property
-- they cannot protect against loss of bandwidth caused by downloading of large files
"Although businesses are all too familiar with the security risks associated with e-mail, they seem to think that a URL blocker will protect them from Web-based threats, such as virus infections and loss of IP," commented Alyn Hockey, director of research at Clearswift. "As security threats continue to evolve, companies need to be more proactive and should look toward a more comprehensive Web security strategy with policy-based content security solutions, to ensure they do not fall victim."
The research also found that 65 percent of respondents use the Internet for access to Web-based e-mail -- of these, over three quarters admitted it was for personal e-mail. However, businesses fail to recognize that the use of Web-based e-mail presents a significant "backdoor" risk for all e-mail security threats rendering any e-mail security policies and technologies useless.
Clearswift's MIMEsweeper for Web enables companies to deploy a multi-layered approach to Web security in order to ensure comprehensive protection from Web-based threats. MIMEsweeper for Web bi-directionally scans all traffic entering or leaving an organization via the Internet and applies designated rules that dictate what actions can be taken.
In addition to controlling Internet access using powerful URL filtering and real-time content analysis, MIMEsweeper for Web also protects organizations from all other Web security threats. It is able to block files by name (e.g., sasser.d or kazaa), type (e.g., .exe, .xls or MP3) and size and can analyze files maliciously hidden within Web links or zipped attachments. MIMEsweeper for Web works in tandem with anti-virus software by transferring files downloaded from or to the Internet to the AV tool for virus detection.
Clearswift's MIMEsweeper for Web is a policy-based content security solution enabling organizations to align e-mail and Web policies at a company, group or individual level. By implementing MIMEsweeper for Web, organizations can meet legal and regulatory requirements, protect themselves against digital attacks and implement productivity-saving policies.
The new MIMEsweeper for Web version 5.0.5 has improved performance, reliability and scalability and introduces a new "single server install" feature to simplify evaluation and reduce total cost of ownership.
About Clearswift
Clearswift is the world's leading provider of software for managing and securing electronic communications. Clearswift solutions ensure business compliance through safe messaging, secure boundaries and best practice in electronic communications. Clearswift delivers the capabilities for organizations to protect themselves against e-mail and Web-based threats, meet legal and regulatory requirements, implement productivity-saving policies and manage intellectual property passing through their network.
Clearswift product portfolio includes MIMEsweeper(TM), the world's leading family of content security products for e-mail and Web, as well as a range of highly specialized security solutions for government and defense organizations. More information about Clearswift, its products and services is available at www.clearswift.com
Clearswift, MAILsweeper, MIMEsweeper, spamActive and ENTERPRISEsuite are trademarks or registered trademarks, in the United States, United Kingdom and certain other countries, of Clearswift Limited. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.
Contacts
The Intelec Group
Susan Majerus, 480-354-4334
susanm@intelecgroup.com
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