The partnership between BitDefender®, an award-winning provider of anti-malware security solutions, and Kanguru Solutions, manufacturer of secure, portable IT storage solutions, has helped support Kanguru’s expansion into European markets by adding BitDefender’s anti-virus software to Kanguru’s encrypted, remotely manageable flash drives.

Read the full story here.

With malware like Stuxnet spreading via USB sticks, anti-virus protection is more important than ever.

Malware, Portable Storage

Defense Systems has a great explanation of the Stuxnet worm that is targeting industrial machines and may have been an attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities.  Kevin Coleman writes that the “Stuxnet worm was highly sophisticated – perhaps the most sophisticated attack that is known to the public thus far, leading some in the field to proclaim the piece of code the best malware ever.”

A commenter on the article asks why critical machines would be connected to the public internet and made vulnerable to such attacks.  Dark Reading points out that even if the machines are isolated, they can be breached using USB sticks:

PLCs and control systems had been considered relatively insulated from the outside world and attack because they aren’t typically Internet-connected. But Stuxnet drove home the worst-kept secret that these systems still are connected to Windows or other machines that can get infected — in this case, by a USB stick — and therefore aren’t as protected as they had seemed.

An easy solution would be to use Endpoint Security or Group Policy to block USB sticks unless they have built-in anti-virus protection like the Kanguru Defender Elite.

Malware

Dark Reading asks “Could USB Flash Drives Be Your Enterprise’s Weakest Link?”  The question was prompted by new details about a US Military security breach caused by USB malware.  The virus was brought in on a USB flash drive and then spread throughout the network.

A large part of the fight to keep organizations secure against such mobile devices is the education of employees. Because USB flash drives can aid productivity, getting employees to abandon them is difficult, as the Pentagon discovered. Instead, using technologies such as encryption, role-based authentication and data-leakage protection can help reduce the threat posed by flash drives.

Because of this incident, and similar data breaches involving USB drives, many enterprises are looking for devices that integrate encryption and malware defenses.  The security features cannot be optional because employees will opt not to use them.  To that end, Kanguru has integrated 256-AES hardware encryption and real-time virus and malware scanning directly into the Kanguru Defender family of Secure USB flash drives.  Always-on security ensures that the USB flash drive is not the weakest link in your enterprise.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage

Via ComputerWorld, “Microsoft on Friday warned that attackers are exploiting a critical unpatched Windows vulnerability using infected USB flash drives.”

Kanguru Defender Elite and Defender V2 secure flash drives come standard with onboard BitDefender Antivirus to prevent malware from spreading on infected drives.  The first year of A/V service is free of charge and can also be used to scan the host computer for malware.

Malware, Portable Storage

The trojan Generic! Atr, which spreads via USB devices, is the most common malware issue worldwide according to a new report from McAfee released today.  A second virus that targets removable devices is currently in the No. 3 spot.  The popularity and portability of USB memory sticks has made them a favorite for hackers.  People unwittingly spread the malware every time they plug into a new machine.

Kanguru has integrated Anti-malware protection directly into the Defender Elite flash drive to reduce these threats.  Using Bit Defender’s AV engine, the Defender Elite will scan files in real time as they are transferred to the device.  The flash drive can also be used to disinfect the host computer.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage

Kanguru is pleased to announce a new technology partnership with anti-virus provider BitDefender.  Read the full announcement.

BitDefender is a global leader in virus and malware protection.  The company’s products have won numerous awards and recognitions, including a #1 rating in protection from Consumer Reports in 2008.

Kanguru and BitDefender are teaming to provide onboard anti-virus scanning on the Defender Elite encrypted USB drive.  All files stored on the drive are scanned to prevent malware from spreading through USB ports.  Kanguru is including a 1-Year subscription with every purchase of the Defender Elite.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage

Integrated anti-virus and malware protection for the Kanguru Defender Elite encrypted flash drive will be going live next week.  All Defender Elite drives will come standard with a one-year A/V subscription.  Defender Elite drives that have already been purchased can be updated to include the new A/V functionality by using the “Check for Updates” menu option.  Contact Kanguru for further info.

In the next few days, Kanguru will be announcing a strategic partnership with one of the industry’s leading antivirus vendors.  This partnership combines the expertise of two data security leaders to create one of the world’s most secure flash drives.

Malware delivered by USB devices is becoming one of the biggest concerns for Public-Sector and Business security professionals.  We’ve highlighted some of the risks here and here.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage

A recent NY Times story on the Google – China confrontation mentions an increasingly common attack using USB flash drives to load malware.

Often, malware infections are a result of high-tech twists on old-fashioned cons. One scam, for example, involves small U.S.B. flash drives, left in a company parking lot, adorned with the company logo. Curious employees pick them up, put them in their computers and open what looks like an innocuous document. In fact, once run, it is software that collects passwords and other confidential information on a user’s computer and sends it to the attackers.

USB malware is a serious problem and Kanguru highly recommends using endpoint security to defend against these types of attacks.  Portable flash drives may cause security concerns, but blocking them altogether can reduce worker productivity and cause major inconveniences.  Endpoint security is an easy way to allow limited flash drive usage and still keep out unauthorized devices.  That is why Kanguru has built USB Device Control directly into its Remote Management Console.  Now organizations can remotely manage their secure devices and lockdown all others from one integrated console.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage

One of the lessons that can be drawn from last week’s massive flash drive recall is the importance of central management.  Right now many organizations are scrambling to retrieve their formerly secure flash drives from all over the globe.  Little thought has gone into things like patch management, because thumb drives have not been treated the same way as other information assurance products.  That may change after this incident.

Kanguru Remote Management Console allows Kanguru’s Secure USB Drives to be updated remotely anywhere in the world.  Not only can you modify the security settings and password requirements, but the device firmware itself can be updated without physical possesion of the drive.  Audit logs keep track of which devices are up-to-date and which are out of compliance.  Administrators can even create automated actions to disable drives that have not checked in for updates within a certain period of time.

Central management is key to lowering the overall cost of ownership when you factor in costly compliance issues and helpdesk support.  Now we can add security updates to the list of cost savings.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage

Several high profile Secure USB Flash Drives have been in the news this week due to a security flaw that could allow hackers to unlock the encrypted data.  The Kanguru Defender family of encrypted flash drives are not susceptible to this method of attack.  For more information, see our recent announcement or contact Kanguru directly if you have any specific concerns.

Kanguru Defender and Defender Elite use a secure hardware encryption processor to perform all password checks.  Software hacks are ineffective against this type of security.  The encryption chip itself is protected from physical tampering as well.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage