Kaspersky Lab announces Internet Security 2012 and Anti-Virus 2012

Kaspersky Lab's home user products are distinguished by the comprehensive protection that they provide regardless of the types of files you are working with, how often you use the Internet, or where you connect from - at home, or via a public access point.

Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and co-founder of Kaspersky Lab, says: "The new 2012 versions continue the long tradition of excellence that our home user products have come to be known for. They feature integrated, world-class protection technologies designed to combat even the most complex of threats. At the same time, these products are now simpler and more user-friendly than ever before. We have taken yet another huge step in protecting Internet users against the most dangerous, unknown threats out there. Many of the modules featured in Kaspersky Internet Security 2012, such as web-antivirus, heuristics, the threat rating sub-system and anti-rootkit components, have been made easier to update and now interact more effectively with cloud technologies."

The all-new Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 incorporate the most advanced and effective protection technologies: a sandbox for launching suspicious applications, a program activity monitoring module, a script emulator, a cloud-based reputation database and a virtual keyboard plus more. Kaspersky Lab strives to continually improve the technologies they use to successfully counter the ever more complex computer threats that appear daily. That is why Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 feature a whole host of new and improved features.

• First-rate protection against unknown threats
New malware appears at an extremely rapid rate these days - roughly 35 000 new malicious programs each day. There are no signatures for these new threats, meaning innovative methods are required to detect them. Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 effectively neutralise new threats using non-signature-based behavioural analysis of suspicious programs. Kaspersky Lab's latest products are capable of tracking program activity during present and previous work sessions.

Monitoring program activity uses data from other components, such as the proactive protection module, email, web and IM antivirus components, the firewall, etc. The monitoring module tracks complete chains of events that could impact security, and literally pieces together an entire picture of program operations or even groups of operations affected by malware. If there have been a number of related incidents on your computer, all the monitoring module needs is to detect one of them in order to find all of the others. Importantly, it is now possible to cancel and roll back all of the actions executed by a program not only in the current working session, as was the case with Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012, but in previous working sessions too. Furthermore, the list of actions that can be cancelled has been expanded to include the creation, renaming and modification of files, as well as changes to or new entries in the system registry, etc.

Malicious activity detection has also taken a step forward with the use of behavioural templates. Kaspersky Lab data about malicious programs is incorporated into these behavioural templates, and a centralised template database helps to quickly locate unknown malicious code with complex behavioural patterns.

• Improved protection from the cloud
In the 2012 versions of Kaspersky Lab's home user products, cloud-based technologies, the cutting-edge of antivirus development, have been improved. By regularly exchanging information between products installed on users' machines and the centralised databases in the cloud, the most up-to-date threat information is made available for the protection of users. Now, in addition to superior protection from the cloud, the new product versions also demonstrate how they do it. The main program window provides users with in-depth information about which cloud components are active and how they are protecting users' computers and personal data.

With just one click, users of Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 can find out about the reputation of any file on a local computer and make an informed decision as to whether or not to use it. All users need to do is right-click on the file's icon and select the 'View file reputation in KSN' menu option. Users will then be shown the file's threat rating as determined by the Kaspersky Security Network cloud service, which has been greatly improved since its inception and development three years ago. In addition to a file's rating, users can also find out about the geographical distribution of the file, the level of trust attributed to it by other users and other similar information stored by Kaspersky Lab's cloud tracking and rapid response systems.

The 2012 versions of Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti-Virus warn Internet users of links that pose a threat and which will redirect users to fraudulent, malicious and spammer websites. Kaspersky Lab's latest products receive the most up-to-date information available about undesirable Internet resources directly from the cloud, including websites with adult, violent and other similarly unsavoury content. Users can rest assured that they will not find themselves entering websites designed to steal their personal information or infect their computers.

Cloud technologies have even improved protection against spam. Databases located in the cloud provide templates for new spam emails in real time. This helps Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 to quickly adapt to ever-changing spammer tactics and be able to provide proper protective measures. Users do not have to fine-tune the new, user-friendly Anti-Spam module before getting down to work - the cloud already has all of the latest available data on spam mailings.

Furthermore, Kaspersky Lab believes that the combination of cloud protection and security software running on users' computers is an ideal way of ensuring multilayered protection. At present, this hybrid approach is the best option in terms of combating the wide range of threats out there in the wild. That is why both of the new product versions feature improved cloud technologies and enhanced program capabilities.

• Convenience and speed
Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 are both high-performance products designed for minimal impact on your computer's running speed and program operations. Kaspersky Lab's products have been streamlined for optimal day-to-day use when surfing the Internet, searching for and viewing web pages, making VoIP calls, watching HD videos and playing online games, etc.

The intelligent update system downloads updates for active product components only and launches them immediately after they have been plugged in. That means that antivirus database components are kept right up-to-date and download traffic is minimised. The update launch mode has been adapted to suit typical laptop and desktop work modes and will not slow down performance when operating system activity is resumed or a user launches programs.

The Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 interfaces have been improved and now feature 3D and animated graphics, yet remain straightforward and user-friendly. The animated area of the main window contains intuitive icons for key actions, including disk scans, database updates, etc.

"The latest versions of Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 can now be used with touch-screen devices. Product installation has also been optimised, minimising any conflicts with incompatible security software. Additionally, the steps for activating and purchasing licenses can now all be found in one convenient window. Our 2012 products deliver a powerful, faster and more effective response to today's complex, ever-evolving threats," concludes Kaspersky.

Note:

Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 is now available locally at a recommended retail price starting from R399.99. To learn more about the Kaspersky Lab 2012 products, please visit: http://www.kaspersky.co.za/internet-security-2012?icid=bnnr_mhp_kis_sfe_area