Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/01/2012 -- M86 Security, the global authority in malware prevention and content security, today announced its strategy to deploy its core malware and threat-research capabilities for Web and email into the cloud – beginning with the launch of the company’s new cloud-based Targetted Attacks Service in the M86 MailMarshal Secure Email Gateway (SEG). The new blended-threats technology protects organisations from targetted attacks that use malicious embedded URL links in emails as the initial infection method. Harnessing the same award-winning malware-detection technology used in the M86 Secure Web Gateway (SWG), M86 Security’s Targetted Attacks Service scans emails for embedded URL links to potentially malicious websites as they are accessed.

This new cloud technology will provide M86 MailMarshal Secure Email Gateway (SEG) customers with real-time protection against targetted attacks that occur through a combination of email and Web use. It will also represent an initial step in fulfilling the company’s new strategy, which includes distributing its proprietary anti-malware and content-security technologies across core Web and email security solutions, as well as offering cloud-based offerings that will protect nearly every device.

“Targetted attacks are a growing, significant problem for organisations and for the industry overall,” notes Michael Osterman, President, Osterman Research. “Though many solutions can block mass attacks, targetted attacks are difficult to detect and prevent because they are specifically designed to circumvent traditional reactive-security measures. M86 Security is the vendor with technology sophisticated enough to prevent this variety of attacks proactively and should be on the short list.”

M86 Security’s new cloud-based Targetted Attacks Service scans email links as they are accessed by the user, even if the message is continually forwarded to other recipients and regardless of the device used to access the email. M86 MailMarshal SEG version 7 substitutes URL links in an email message in order to redirect them through the Targetted Attacks Service when a user clicks on the link. With this approach, Web pages will be proactively scanned for malicious code as the user is trying to access them, differentiating it from other solutions that only scan physical email attachments at the gateway with signature-based AV scanners.

“M86’s core strength in malware prevention and content security has us poised for a move to the cloud that is unprecedented,” said John Vigouroux, Chief Executive Officer, M86 Security. “The latest M86 MailMarshal SEG release with the integrated Targetted Attacks Service marks the first step of our execution against our strategy by deploying these technologies to the cloud for use in all of our core security solutions. It’s a compelling move that will provide our customers with the highest level of defence against today’s complex targetted attacks."

Organisations recognise that malware is a significant and costly problem as users require open access to the Web, including social media.

However, cybercriminals also target victims by embedding malware links and attachments in emails, making content security a critical component for an email solution. M86 Security’s content-security technology is capable of understanding a file structure, unpacking files and uncovering any deeply embedded malware. It also enables organisations to filter, monitor and track company assets to comply with regulations, prevent data loss and ensure customer and staff privacy. Combining the company’s robust anti-malware technology with its content-security capabilities in M86 MailMarshal SEG makes the solution extremely effective against targetted attacks and other Web and email driven threats.

Version 7 of M86 MailMarshal SEG will be available through authorised channel partners and distributors in April 2012.

About M86 Security
M86 Security is the global authority in malware prevention and content security. The company's appliance, software, and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions for Web and email security protect more than 25,000 customers and 26 million users worldwide. M86 products use patented real-time code analysis and behaviour-based malware detection technologies, as well as threat intelligence from M86 Security Labs, to protect networks against new and advanced threats, secure confidential information, and ensure regulatory compliance. The company is based in Irvine, California with international headquarters in London and development centres in California, Israel, and New Zealand. For more information about M86 Security, please visit: http://www.m86security.com.

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