Websense targets unknown threats

There are known unknowns and there are unknown unknowns ...

Websense claims that a newly developed addition to its security suite can protect customers from unknown threats.

The company's Web Security Suite 6.3.1 uses pre-emptive classification intelligence in its ThreatSeeker technology to provide extended protection from potential web threats.

"No longer are email-borne worms and viruses the top concern," the company said. "The web continues to be the number one delivery method for malicious code designed to steal information and disrupt business operations."

The new Websense toolkit gives customers access to the Web Reputation system, which allows organisations to manage their level of web security based on risk tolerance.

Dan Hubbard, vice president of security research at Websense, said: "Today's threats are faster and more complex than ever, with easily accessible 'kits' designed to exploit software vulnerabilities available to novice hackers for less than $20.

"In 2006, there was a 100 per cent increase in sites designed to install key-loggers and other forms of crime-ware.

"The latest version of Websense Security Suite protects our customers from websites that have a high likelihood they will contain malicious content."

The new categories protect organisations from sites that are hosting known and potential exploit code, and sites likely to contain little or no useful content.

These include sites hosting spam accounts and 'domain parking' and 'click fraud' sites used primarily to generate advertising revenue.