Dark Reading summarizes the annual threat report from PandaLabs. Virus writers were hard at work in 2010 and many of them were focused stealing banking and financial data.
Banker Trojans still dominate the ranking of new malware that appeared in 2010 (56 percent of all samples), followed by viruses and worms. A relative newcomer to the malware landscape, rogueware (fake antivirus software) now comprises 11.6 percent of all the malware gathered and has been given its own category.
Find out more about how Kanguru can protect your organization from USB-borne viruses and malware.
Data Security, Portable Storage
While SanDisk has decided to abandon the Cruzer Enterprise drive and focus on basic flash memory, Kanguru continues to deliver a world-class security suite for USB Flash Drives. The FIPS 140-2 certified Kanguru Defender Elite is now the only flash drive on the market that includes onboard virus/malware protection free-of-charge.
Kanguru is offering SanDisk Enterprise users a chance to transition to the Defender Elite and Kanguru Remote Management Console. For a limited time, SanDisk customers can purchase Defender Elite and KRMC software at 20% off retail price. We are also pleased to announce a free upgrade to the next available memory capacity!
Example: Your organization owns 200 SanDisk Cruzer Enterprise 4GB drives and CMC management console. You are eligible to purchase up to 200 Defender Elite 8GB drives and KRMC licenses at 20% off our 4GB price.
This offer is available through all authorized Kanguru reseller partners. Contact us today for more information!
** Offer good through Dec 31, 2010
** Requires verification of SanDisk purchase
** Discount qty is unlimited. Upgrade qty is limited to total number of Cruzer Enterprise drives owned.
Data Security
German IT distributor, OPTIMAL System-Beratung, was overwhelmed by visitors’ interest in the Kanguru Defender Elite at the it-sa security convention in Nuremberg, and the local press is beginning to take notice as well.
“The experts were particularly interested in the virtual operating system and enterprise-wide management of the sticks,” said Bert Rheinbach, managing director of OPTIMAL System-Beratung.
Read more:
Cartoon explains the most secure USB Stick in the world, Elektronik Praxis (german)
How the most secure USB flash drive in the world works, CRN.de (german)
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Data Security, Portable Storage
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
Kanguru is introducing the new RocIT Defender Elite platform to US Army technology experts at the 2010 LandWarNet Conference this week. RocIT Defender Elite is a Secure Mobile Operating System designed to meet military security needs, including support for CAC, PIV and Smart Cards. Instead of using an untrusted host computer, users boot directly to a secure virtual OS running on the encrypted USB flash drive. The local hardware is completely bypassed. RocIT Defender Elite leaves no footprint on the host computer – meaning your privacy and data are secure.
Data Security
11 Things You Can Do With Kanguru Defender Elite Encrypted Flash Drives
- Communicate security policy changes and updates directly to the drive and enforce changes as necessary via remote management.
- Audit drive usage to ensure policy updates.
- Create lists (whitelist/blacklist) of approved IP ranges so that drives are only used in trusted locations.
- Track device usage and location via IP addresses.
- Set a master password for administrator access.
- Immunize any PC or Laptop with Defender Elite’s onboard Anti-Virus.
- Disable and/or delete devices that have been lost or stolen.
- Meet regulatory requirements through the use of a verifiable security audit trail.
- Track device activity on each workstation/computer using Kanguru USB Device Control.
- Revoke drive access to former employees still in possession of their drives. (Particularly useful if their drive contains proprietary company info.)
- Sleep well knowing that 100% of your data is secure!
Data Security
With the launch of the Defender Basic, Kanguru now has a Secure USB Flash Drive for every segment and budget.
Defender Basic for consumers and small/medium businesses. Basic model features 256 AES Hardware Encryption and free onboard Antivirus protection.
Defender V2 for large enterprises. V2 adds Remote Management capabilities and additional customizable security options.
Defender Elite for high-end enterprise and government agencies. Elite provides FIPS 140-2 certified encryption and tamperproof housing for the ultimate in security.
Check out our comparison chart to determine which Kanguru Defender is right for your organization.
Data Security, 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
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