Antivirus software maker Trend Micro unveiled the latest version of
its "all-in-one" security software suite yesterday (18 November)
and said it planned to go head-to-head with dominant players
Symantec and Network Associates for a bigger share of the US home
user and small office/home office security software market.
PC-cillin 2003 includes features that give users advanced warning
about virus outbreaks and protect users connecting to wireless
access points, claimed Trend Micro.
The Outbreak Alert feature pushes warning messages out to
workstations running PC-cillin, prompting users to download updated
patterns to protect against viruses and worms detected.
The feature exploits one of Trend Micro's chief assets, the
worldwide TrendLabs virus research and notification organisation.
Alerts will appear in the form of either yellow or red pop-up
messages. Yellow alerts notify users of scattered appearances of a
new virus, whereas red alerts are used to inform users about a
rapidly spreading outbreak. By clicking on a button on the alert
message, users can update their virus definitions on the spot.
PC-cillin 2003's Wi-Fi Protection feature allows users to deploy a
firewall on their computer that prevents all incoming connections
to a computer equipped with a wireless access Ethernet card when it
is associated to a wireless access point.
PC-cillin is already well known in Japan, but is less so in the US.
Trend Micro will offer US customers PC-cillin for only around $50
(£32). Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2003 and NAI's McAfee
Internet Security 5.0 cost around $70.
The latest version of PC-cillin will be available later this week
for download at the Trend Micro Web site. The product will also be
available through major online and catalogue retailers as well as
through resellers of Trend Micro's small office/home products.
Trend Micro aimed to strike deals with retail software and office
product outlets across the US, aiming to have a presence by the
first quarter of next year.