Is antivirus dead? Startup launches first 'exploit blocking' program

[Jack]

​

Silicon Valley startup ZeroVulnerabilityLabs has made available a free program it claims stops malware from exploiting a wide range of software vulnerabilities regardless of whether these flaws are publically known or not.

Available now in a beta version for consumers and non-profits (the business version requires a license), ExploitShield Browser Edition is designed to be "install and forget," the company said.

Once installed, the software named 17 applications as being protected, including the most common and troublesome ones such as Adobe Reader and Flash, Java, Microsoft Office, various browsers and a number of video players. Others may be added in future.

Security innovations pop up from time to time and this one represents a lateral approach to what has become a major - possibly the major issue - for consumers and businesses alike; how to secure PCs when software flaws crop up on an almost daily basis.

The overwhelming majority of Windows malware attacks now hook into common flaws as a way of infecting their targets with many automated using commercial exploit kits serving attacks from compromised websites. Patching is one answer but this can be exhausting. The number of flaws has become a major overhead even for single consumers.

At the same time it has become apparent that conventional antivirus software isn't stopping all or even most of this kind of malware which raises an obvious question: what is ExploitShield doing that is different?

Read more: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/100212-is-antivirus-dead-startup-launches-262956.html

 

[NSG001]

Undecided
Will await further.

 

[InternetChicken]

Also Undecided

 

[Plexx]

Will pass for now.

 

[ZeroDay]

I tried it. I'll wait until it matures before I re-install

 

[imsoadude]

Looks interesting but for now I'm going to wait but could be an addition to my arsenal

 

[arsenaloyal]

Not the browser edition,but they claim they have a corporate edition (closed beta),which blocks exploits in applications,that would be an interesting bet.

I voted no on exploit shield browser edition because i use sandboxie and all my browsers are sandboxed and set to delete the content automatically after closure.

 

[jim lin]

if it works like thay say it would be great for the novice

i'v put Sandboxie on friend's and Family computers that i
work on and most doin't like it or understand how to work
with it

so if it do's work and don't interfere with a AV then it
could be very useful for a lot of people i know anyway's

 

[Gnosis]

There are all kinds of security games we can play, but I am very content with TF L5 complementing Sandboxie, and using mostly HitMan Pro for on-demand scans. It is an excellent trio.

 

[Littlebits]

I tried it. I'll wait until it matures before I re-install

I also tried it and I could find any exploits that it would block since my browsers and Avast already blocked all listed on their forums and MDL.

Of coarse if my browsers and my AV start to not block exploits then I might give it a second chance if it remains to be freeware after it goes final.

Thanks.