The security software industry has taken the first steps
towards forming a standard fortesting anti-malware
products.
More than 40 security software firms and anti-malware testers
from around the world recently met in Bilbao, Spain to formalise
the charter of the fledgling
Anti-Malware Testing Standards
Organisation, or AMTSO.
The formation of AMTSO has been driven by industry-wide concern
about the increasing mismatch between what anti-malware
technologies actually do, and the testing methodologies used to
evaluate them.
As anti-malware systems become more complex, many existing tests
are unable to evaluate product effectiveness properly, resulting in
"product reviews that are sometimes incomplete, inaccurate and
misleading," claimed AMTSO.
AMTSO is focused on addressing the "global need for improvement
in the objectivity, quality and relevance of testing
methodologies".
The organisation also aims to promulgate universally adopted
standards and guidelines for anti-malware testing.
Hosted by Panda Security, the meeting in Bilbao included
representatives from leading companies and testing organisations,
including:
- ALWIL Software
- AV-Comparatives
- AV-Test.org
- AVG Technologies
- Avira GmbH
- Bit9
- BitDefender
- Dr. Web, Ltd.
- ESET
- F-Secure Corporation
- G DATA Software
- Hispasec Sistemas
- International Business Machines Corporation
- Kaspersky Lab
- McAfee, Inc.
- Microsoft Corp.
- Norman ASA
- Panda Security
- PC Tools
- Sana Security
- Secure Computing
- Sophos Plc
- Symantec Corporation
- Trend Micro Incorporated
- Virusbuster Ltd.