Week in Security: Slammer's Damage, New Products

Researchers at mi2g, a London-based security firm, estimated the worldwide economic damage from the SQL Slammer worm at more than $1 billion. The worm ranked ninth, just below the Melissa virus, in terms of estimated economic damage from malicious code. Security experts said tracking down whoever was responsible for Slammer was unlikely.

SonicWall, Sunnyvale, Calif., reported fourth-quarter revenue of $23 million, down from revenue of $33.1 million for the same quarter last year. The company said it recorded a charge of $87.6 million for the impairment of its goodwill. Excluding the goodwill, amortization and other items, SonicWall posted pro forma income of $250,000, or nothing per share.

Symantec announced ManHunt Smart Agent for Symantec Host IDS, which allows companies to manage their host-based and network-based intrusion-detection systems from a single console. Designed for medium and large enterprises, the new product allows administrators to send events from Symantec Host IDS 4.0 to the ManHunt network-based IDS, and manage events from the ManHunt administration console. The product has an estimated retail price of $495.

ActivCard, a maker of identity management software based in Fremont, Calif., unveiled Trinity, single sign-on software with native multi-factor authentication, including biometrics, smart cards, and tokens. The product can manage multiple methods of authentication. ActivCard is targeting Trinity at large U.S. federal agencies, financial-services firms, and other large enterprises.

DeepNines Technologies, a Dallas-based security software maker, said it is teaming up with McAfee Security, a division of Network Associates, to integrate its Sleuth9 intrusion prevention system with McAfee?s antivirus protection.

CyberGuard, a maker of firewall/VPN appliances based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., said it agreed to acquire certain assets of NetOctave, a maker of security processors and accelerator boards and cards for the SSL and IPSec markets. CyberGuard said the deal, worth approximately $1.5 million in cash and stock, will boost the speed of its appliances and adds SSL expertise to the product line.