What are the highlights of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 ?
For the time being it is only Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 that has a full-scale Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) embracing in itself functionality of proactive defense and firewall. HIPS controls specific system events (for example, file creation or deletion), and each time these events occur, HIPS checks with its table of rules, and acts according to the rules set in the table – the action is either allowed or blocked, or HIPS prompts the user for action. As a result requests to the user from Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 are reduced since trusted applications are granted full freedom and non-trusted applications are fully restricted. Virtual keyboard feature (presented only in KIS2009) ensures no data entered via keyboard is being compromised. Besides Kaspersky Lab was the first antivirus company to include a vulnerability scanner in its personal products. The scanner detects vulnerable applications and files on the computer and prompts the user to take action to eliminate these problems. It is extremely important to realize that vulnerabilities can be detected not only in Microsoft Windows, which has a built-in updating system, but in third-party applications as well.
Does an integrated suite undermine PC performance because of larger memory requirements? How is it with Kaspersky’s latest products?
The difference in RAM usage between KIS2009 and KAV2009 is only slightly different. On the average it takes about 10% more memory if we use KIS2009 instead of KAV2009.
What is Kaspersky’s approach to SAAS? Can endpoint security be offered as a service?
Software itself is unlikely a service unless in a narrow technical meaning of an application as a local process . It is platforms of different types that make it a basis for or a part of particular services, delivered to end users, such as managed services , subscription services, software on demand, etc…
The latter is also called SAAS, and “the most limited sense of this business is that of providing access to a particular application program (such as customer relationship management) using a standard protocol such as HTTP” as Wikipedia puts it.
If to consider security software from a point in what services it may or should be used then for SAAS platforms Online-scanners for detection and patching vulnerabilities, removal of malicious codes for example may prove themselves to be required.
At the same time online scanners can be only complimentary, not substitution to an end point solution for security software should be run locally to safeguard system it is installed on from various types of threats, coming not only form Internet, but also from any kind of connections via Bluetooth, USB ports, etc.
Thus answering the question – can endpoint security be offered as a service, definitely yes – as managed/subscription services while as a software on demand – probably not.
Do your integrated product suites offer the facility of turning off a module if not required by home or corporate users?
All the components used in our products are closely interconnected, they all operate like layers. Such joint use of many technologies within one antivirus solution results in a more powerful effect. Still if you don’t need any specific feature/component of the KAV/KIS2009 product be used you may choose to disable it.
RWME speaks with Dmitry Ustyuzhanin, Director, Product Marketing Consumer Business Division at Kaspersky
