The Mac Security Blog
With iPhones becoming more popular, one important aspect of whether companies adopt the device is how they can manage and secure such phones. A Macworld article examines the possibilities for doing such things in an enterprise environment, and discusses the new security features added to iOS 4. It covers native security features, but also looks at third-party management servers that can be used with the iPhone. This is a long, fairly complex article, but those who are faced with the challenge of integrating the iPhone into a broader corporate security policy will find that it offers many answers, as well as suggestions for how to go further and solve this problem.
Pundits are always ready to discuss whether the latest gadget is “ready for the enterprise,” and an article published by InfoWorld shortly after the release of the iPad said that “some analysts say the iPad deserves an “F” for security readiness.”
But another article published by InfoWorld suggests that the conclusions of the first are just a sign of double-standards, hypocrisy, and “Neanderthal IT.” Author Galen Gruman discusses a “flawed premise” that many “analysts” take for granted, “that mobile devices must meet military-grade security needs or, at least, financial-services-grade security needs.” He points out that laptops don’t meet these standards, and says that “the issue is not security but resistance to change — a reluctance to accept new technologies that are user-oriented.”
The points made in this article are valid, and IT managers should first assess the real needs of their companies before rejecting devices. In most cases, the businesses they run don’t have needs that require iron-clad security, or, at a minimum, devices such as the iPad won’t be used with data that needs to be secure. If employees want to use the iPad for surfing the web, browsing PDFs or checking for non-confidential e-mail, there’s no reason to reject it, just as there’s no reason to reject Android phones or netbooks. It all depends on what the employees are planning to do with the devices.
Intego has released VirusBarrier Server 3, the latest version of its robust anti-malware and network protection software for Macs running as servers. With the best anti-malware protection available for Mac, and powerful network protection features, VirusBarrier Server 3 now provides comprehensive protection from both malware and network threats.
VirusBarrier Server 3, the latest version of Intego’s network and malware security program, based on VirusBarrier X6, includes new threat-detection techniques, improved methods of detection, and combined detection protocols to keep Mac OS X servers free of malware. VirusBarrier Server 3 is the only program for Mac servers that includes full antivirus and anti-malware protection together with a two-way firewall, anti-intrusion, network protection features and more.
Servers running Mac OS X need strong protection from malware, both to ensure that the servers don’t get infected, but also to protect file repositories where users freely exchange files. Whether in Mac-only or heterogeneous environments, VirusBarrier Server 3, with its detection of Mac OS X, Windows, Unix and Linux malware, ensures that files on the server will be safe.
This powerful program helps businesses, administrations and educational institutions ensure that their servers are protected from viruses, malware and network attacks.
New and improved features:
In addition to being the best defense against viruses and malware for Macs, VirusBarrier Server 3 adds more than 100 new features that provide hardened security and help protect against the latest threats. Here are some of them:
- Remote GUI administration: VirusBarrier Server 3 allows administrators to manage the program remotely, with full access to all settings and configurations. Administrators can manage multiple servers from a single GUI console and the program can also be administered locally. With VirusBarrier Server Admin, administrators get a bird’s-eye view of all the servers they are responsible for.
- Two-way firewall: VirusBarrier Server 3 now includes a powerful two-way firewall, extending the program’s protection beyond detecting and eradicating malware. This firewall offers preset configurations, for basic situations, and customizable, rule-based settings for advanced users, to protect Mac OS X servers from dangerous network traffic.
- Antivandal: VirusBarrier Server 3 protects servers from intrusions and network attacks. A full range of features is included to protect against the many new types of threats facing Internet users.
- New types of malware detected: VirusBarrier Server 3 detects a wide range of new types of malware, such as scareware (software that tries to trick users into thinking their Mac is infected, in order to get them to pay for software), spyware (including commercial software used as keyloggers or monitoring tools), hacking tools, dialers (software that initiates phone calls to premium-rate phone numbers), proof-of-concept malware (software designed to show how to exploit a vulnerability, which is not circulating “in the wild”), and more.
- E-mail server protection: VirusBarrier Server 3 integrates with the Mac OS X Server’s e-mail server to scan incoming and outgoing e-mails for malicious attachments. When infected e-mails are found, they are quarantined until an administrator can check them.
- Fine-tuned scanning and security policies: users can choose from a number of detailed options to determine exactly what is scanned and when, and the type of threats that VirusBarrier Server 3 scans for.
- Performance control: users can choose a level of CPU time to be allocated to background scans, in order to optimize CPU and disk priorities for malware scans.
- Updates: virus definition and threat filter updates can be applied automatically without restarting the server. Updates can also be served from a specific local folder; all computers using VirusBarrier Server 3 can be set to check for updates in that local folder. This means that servers with no Internet access can get their updates easily.
- 64-bit software: VirusBarrier Server 3, like all of Intego’s software, is now provided with 64-bit code, fully compatible with Snow Leopard, and ready for the future.
For more information about VirusBarrier 3, visit the Intego web site.