Russian Technology Major Reaffirms Regional Commitment
Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content management solutions, has launched into the Middle East the Arabic editions of its latest generation products designed to protect home users from all types of security threat. The Arabic version 2009 products combine the benefits of Kaspersky Lab's new antivirus engine, with its dramatically improved scanning speeds, and cutting-edge HIPS technology to block new malicious programs even before signatures have been added to the antivirus databases.
Regarding the launch of the Arabic edition of its new products, Tarek Kuzbari, Managing Director, Kaspersky Lab Middle East, said, "This is a major breakthrough for Kaspersky Lab in our continuous efforts to come closer to our customers in every region we operate in. The Arabic versions became available just weeks after the global launch of our new products, testimony to our ability to tailor make solutions for diverse audiences in different markets across the world."
"As a region, the Middle East has made the highest progress in networked readiness over the last seven years with the number of internet users in the area soaring by more than 600 per cent, three times the world's average increase and this alone speaks volumes that our strategy of developing bespoke Arabic solutions to service this rapidly growing region is a sound one," said Kuzbari.
"According to a recent INSEAD study, the Middle East has made the single biggest upward move in technological competitiveness spearheaded by the GCC's rapid economic growth as well as the vision of some of the Gulf States that are gradually diversifying their revenue streams towards knowledge-based marketplaces. We feel that this region still has a massive room for growth and Kaspersky Lab is already well positioned to tap into this growing potential," said Kuzbari.
Kaspersky Lab experts predict huge growth in the number of new malicious programs appearing in 2008; a predicted ten-fold increase means the number of malicious programs will exceed 20 million. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 addresses this threat by using a groundbreaking approach to antivirus protection: system-wide monitoring to ensure users are completely protected from all IT threats.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 incorporates an innovative application activity filtration module that makes use of HIPS (Host-based Intrusion Prevention System) technology together with a proactive defense module and an integrated firewall. These protect the system against both known and unknown threats. Additionally, a white-list feature for trusted applications significantly reduces the need for user interaction.
All unknown applications are subjected to complex analysis; the application is then assigned a security rating based on the risk it presents. The rating assigned to an unknown application determines the level of access it has to operating system resources, network resources, confidential user data, system privileges and removable devices. This means that even if an application is malicious, the system will be protected from infection as the program will be unable to deliver its payload.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is expressly designed to prevent systems from ever becoming infected; this provides far more effective security than attempting to deal with an infection after the fact. For example, it's too late to disinfect a machine once spyware has already stolen the data needed to access a user's bank account. The 2009 products create a secure environment on the user's PC which constantly monitors all programs executed on the system and all potential attack vectors, including unprotected Wi-Fi connections, infected web sites, as well as MSN and ICQ traffic.
New Security Analysis and Browser Setting features scan the operating system and applications for vulnerabilities, and provide options to enhance system security and significantly reduce the likelihood of a malicious program penetrating the computer.
At the heart of the new generation of products is Kaspersky Lab's new antivirus engine which is even more effective at detecting malicious programs than its predecessor. The new engine dramatically increases system scanning speed thanks to improved processing of objects and optimized use of system resources, particularly on dual- and quad-core processor platforms. The unique product architecture ensures high productivity and one of the lowest uses of system resources in the industry.
The range of functions designed to protect confidential user data has also been extended. The new generation products prevent users from unwittingly accessing known phishing sites and preclude the theft of important passwords and login details by key-logging programs. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 also includes a virtual keyboard that enables users to enter logins and passwords safely. Moreover, Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 prevents the theft of data transferred via secure connections (HTTPS, SSL) and can remove all traces of a user's Internet activity (temporary files, cookies, etc.).
The components included in earlier product versions, such as the firewall, heuristic analyzer, parental control module and anti-spam module have all been enhanced and upgraded. The product interfaces have also been redesigned, making them more transparent to beginners and more experienced users alike. The new products include an automated application mode: these results in the best options being chosen without the user being bothered by requests for action. Information about protection status and any actions which need to be taken is also presented in a clearer form.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 and Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 were developed in line with the system requirements for Windows Vista and are fully compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system.
Further information about Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 and Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 can be found on the Kaspersky Lab site at www.kaspersky.com/homeuser.
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About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab delivers the world's most immediate protection against IT security threats, including viruses, spyware, crimeware, hackers, phishing, and spam. Kaspersky Lab products provide superior detection rates and the industry's fastest outbreak response time for home users, SMBs, large enterprises and the mobile computing environment. Kaspersky® technology is also used worldwide inside the products and services of the industry's leading IT security solution providers. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com. For the latest on antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and other IT security issues and trends, visit www.viruslist.com.
For further information please contact:
Cynthia Darwish,
Associate Account Manager,
GolinHarris,
Dubai:
+971 50 216 3352
Aya Yassein,
Account Executive,
GolinHarris,
Dubai:
+971 50 544 0997
© Press Release 2008
