Network Security Roundup for August 27, 2003

E-Commerce Times: New Software Self-Defends from Viruses
27-Aug-03 07:58 ET

Story Highlights:
"Who's responsible for big computer virus outbreaks, such as the recent SoBig attack? Experts say the answer is -- you. While security firms, antivirus makers and software companies still press for better user education about online security, some say to help check the rising threat, software will have to get smarter -- and possibly more intrusive."

Full Story on E-Commerce Times

Story Highlights:
"Thomas Leavitt, a system administrator and veteran of three Silicon Valley start-ups, has dealt with computer worms and viruses before. But the severity of last week's Sobig.F and MSBlast.D attacks got him thinking harder than ever about a cure. Finding and punishing their anonymous authors would be a start. But shouldn't Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) also be partly to blame?"

Full Story on MSNBC

Story Highlights:
"Romanian researchers claim to have discovered a variant of the Sobig.F virus that looks to mail and domain name servers at Time Warner Telecom for information about how to modify its behavior."

Full Story on PCWorld

Story Highlights:
"Spending on internet security is expected to soar over the next year and beyond in the wake of last week's outbreak of the Sobig.F computer virus. Big companies and software firms are preparing themselves for a surge in computer security budgets amid fears of systems breakdowns. Small businesses also voiced concern about rising costs of security."

Full Story on Times Online

Story Highlights:
"Network Associates Inc. announced network and security management software aimed at small and midsize users that tops out in price at about half of what the company's enterprise-class products cost."

Full Story on Computerworld