PC Security Checks on Deck From AOL

FYI…

- http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3611261
June 5, 2006
"AOL is about to get into the Internet security arms race with a new product that helps check the security health of users' PCs, internetnews.com has learned. Active Security Monitor will be a free downloadable program that will continuously check the security programs on a user's computer, such as antivirus, firewall, spyware protection, wireless security, and Windows/browser updates, according to details obtained by internetnews.com. The program is designed to check the user's PC then provide a Security Score and make recommendations to improve it. A spokesperson for AOL refused to comment… Last year, AOL's own research along with the National Cyber Security Alliance found that 81 percent of home PCs in the U.S. lacked either updated computer virus software, spyware protection, or a secure firewall. AOL's hope is that users will rely on Active Security Monitor to know when and what to update. By releasing the Active Security Monitor product, which is expected later this week, AOL is joining a crowded field of security providers…"

FYI…

- http://www.techweb.com/article/printableAr…_section=700028
June 08, 2006
"…Active Security Monitor tracks in-place anti-virus and spyware protection, looks for a firewall and wireless security, and verifies that Windows and the browser is up-to-date. It then generates a numeric score for each PC on the home network and makes recommendations to fix flaws. "Most people don't have all of the core security protections they need and, worse, don't realize how vulnerable they are," said John McKinley, president of AOL's security group, in a statement. "Not having updated virus, spyware, and firewall protection is like locking your front door, but leaving your windows and back door wide open. "Active Security Monitor regularly checks to ensure that all of the core protections are active and up to date." The approach is similar to what Windows XP provides in its Security Center, or the control/status panel that security-specific vendors such as Symantec and McAfee include with their software suites. The tool, which was created in conjunction with Jersey City, N.J.-based developer Sereniti Inc., can be downloaded from this Web site* free of charge. Users don't have to be subscribers to AOL to download or run the software. The utility is only the beginning of an AOL summer of security. According to stories by BusinessWeek and the Associated Press, AOL is working on a security suite to compete with Microsoft's Windows Live OneCare, McAfee's upcoming Falcon services, and Symantec's farther-in-the-future Norton 360…"

* http://free.aol.com/tryaolfree/index3.adp?…187&service=asm

! ???