CyberSoft News For November 2005
SafeInternetEmail Turbo Released
- SafeInternetEmail (SIE) Turbo Released October 31
- Virus Definition QA Process at CyberSoft
- CyberSoft will exhibit at Trade Shows in December
SafeInternetEmail (SIE) Turbo Released October 31
SafeInternetEmail (SIE) Turbo is an upgrade from the CyberSoft SIE tool currently available. In addition to blocking spam using VDL and Bayesian technology, SIE Turbo also provides effective discretionary e-mail blocking by allowing customers to create their own patterns. The uniqueness of SIE Turbo is that it uses the VFind Daemon. This improves overall performance and reduces memory requirements simultaneously, resulting in better throughput, especially for larger volume customers. SIE Turbo provides access to the new VDL Update system, similar to the VSTK products. These new features highlight CyberSoft’s commitment to continuous improvement in our products.
As CyberSoft releases new versions of SIE, prior versions will gradually become unsupported. All current SIE customers with an up-to-date Maintenance & Support agreement will receive an SIE Turbo upgrade at no cost.
Virus Definition QA Process at CyberSoft
Very few people know what the quality assurance (QA) program is for virus definitions at CyberSoft. This article will just skim the surface and discuss some of the formalized test processes that are in place. QA is an ever evolving process with constant need for improvement. Generally, QA systems are very taxing on a computer and multiple dedicated systems and custom software are involved.
When a new virus definition (VDL) is created, either by an automated process or by hand, it is reviewed by a trained Virus Analyst. The Virus Analyst will always compare the completed definition against the actual sample. The virus definition update is then added to the VDL library and submitted for batch processing by CyberSoft's Automated Quality Testing (AQT) system. The AQT system tests for parse errors, false hits and wild viruses for multiple versions of VFind. If the definitions pass the AQT system, they are submitted to CyberSoft's Automated VDL Posting (AVP) system. The AVP system assures that the definitions are accurately posted for download. It also generates cryptographic MD5 hash signatures so customers can verify the integrity of the download at their site. Every night, our VDL Testing process (VDT) downloads the definitions from CyberSoft’s update site and runs a full test. The results are automatically sent to senior management, engineering management and the Senior Virus Analyst.
In addition to these internal tests, there are two different third party testing organizations that perform formal testing. Both of these organizations are recognized experts in the field of anti-virus testing. One organization performs formal testing every two weeks. Results are sent to CyberSoft's senior management, engineering management and the Senior Virus Analyst. The second organization, West Coast Labs, performs Checkmark Level One testing and publishes results at http://www.westcoastlabs.org. To quote their web site, “Checkmark is a system, which certifies information security products to real-world standards. The Checkmark System is a quality testing and certification service with established, independent standards on product effectiveness. It is a global service, which benefits both technology developers and information security buyers and decision-makers. Checkmark standards are continuously being developed to ensure that they are an accurate reflection of real-world situations and changing technology advances. Products registered in the Checkmark System are tested at regular intervals against the published test criteria.”
CyberSoft will exhibit at Trade Shows in December
After two successful trade shows in October at the National Security Agency’s FANX 3 and National Business Park 1 Buildings, CyberSoft will be exhibiting again. The trade shows will be in early December at two different NSA locations.
NSA OPS1 Building Day 2
Fort Meade, MD
NSA Research & Engineering Building Day 1
Fort Meade, MD
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