Putting a number on it – the Norton CyberCrime Index

One of the questions that I am asked regularly is this: ‘are they hackers winning or are we winning?’ A simple question, but it can be a long and involved answer. Well, now I should be able to answer it in a short and effective way. I can now tell you if Cybercrime is ‘up’ or ‘down’, much as I could if we were discussing the stock-market or the value of the pound versus the dollar. Today, we announced the Norton CyberCrime Index.

The Norton Cybercrime Index consists of one number that updates daily indicating today’s threat level. The number is based on an algorithm that calculates data from three sources. The primary source is the Symantec Global Intelligence Network, one of the industry’s most comprehensive sources of intelligence about online threats, which monitors more than 130 million servers worldwide to keep track of new threats and attacks. In addition, consumer risk management firm ID Analytics, and DataLossDB, a research project from the Open Security Foundation, provide data about identity fraud and data loss, respectively.

In addition we can give more contextual information about the nature and type of cyber threats that are active on a daily basis. Much as all of us benefit from watching the weather, allowing us to be ready for the day, the Norton CyberCrime Index will allow people to be informed and prepared to meet the daily challenge of cybercrime. As is often said: knowledge is power.

February 16, 2011 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment 

Norton Everywhere – new products

This week saw some noteworthy updates to the ‘Norton Everywhere’ vision. This follows on from the initial announcement made in May, 2010. We really have started the work on positioning Norton in a ‘post-PC’ context. We have announced the availability of Norton Mobile Security (NMS) v1.5. With this release, for the Android OS, we have added in remote ‘locate’ in addition to ‘wipe’ and ‘lock’.  With regards to the anti-malware capabilities of the product, we have now added in the ability to scan the SD card for malware and rogue apps. Furthermore, for those first generation of Android tablets out there, e.g. Galaxy Tab etc, NMS 1.5 has been optimized to render in these larger resolution and screens. You can still download and install the NMS BETA from the Android Market - but only if you are quick!

With any new hardware platform, or OS,  people start to look for utilities to help them manage and navigate this new experience. Android is no different. So, we have just posted a BETA of Norton Mobile Utilities (NMU). This is a kind of ‘back to future’ moment for us.  We built a business and company on this, back in the day courtesy of Peter Norton. NMU offers a selection of useful utilities that will help you install and manage the apps on your device. Additionally, it has as really nice ‘dashboard’ showing you the status of your device and how it is being used. You can track your data/voice plan and be alerted when you are approaching your monthly limit etc.

In the next few days we also intend to put into BETA, Norton DNS v1.5. We have had an excellent reaction to the Norton DNS service. The new BETA will allow users of the service to classify the web sites and therefore content, that can be accessed. This comes in addition to the security overlay that Norton provides in checking web sites for malware hosting or anti-phishing. In effect, a user of the service can then establish a ‘household’  policy for the device, or for that matter, the router that is used in their home to connect to the internet.  I am aware that many parents are concerned to ensure that irrespective of what device their kids are using to connect to the internet (PC, game-console, tablet etc), that they can manage what sites and content they have access to.

So, Norton Everywhere, continue to roll and build momentum. More to come…..

February 10, 2011 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment