Week In Security: Strong Market Forecast, Cyber Attack Study

• The Internet security software market will more than double by 2006, growing to $14.6 billion by 2006 from $6 billion in 2001, according to market-research firm IDC. Key drivers are enterprises allowing increased access to more data by employees, customers and partners as well as corporate interest in centrally managed solutions, IDC said.

• Other than the United States, South Korea was the source of the most cyberattacks of any country in the fourth quarter of 2001, according to a study released by Predictive Systems, a New York-based network and security consulting firm. The study looked at more than 12 million events from 54 geographically distinct sensors monitoring worldwide network traffic for malicious activity.

• Alcatel, Calabasas, Calif., unveiled the OmniAccess 210, the first in a series of security appliances the vendor plans to roll out for the enterprise market. The VPN device supports standards-based authentication systems, including shared secret, RADIUS, LDAP, and x.509 PKI certificates and smart cards. The appliance evolved from the 7100 Series of security appliances developed by TimeStep, which was acquired by Alcatel, company executives said. The OmniAccess 210, which will be available in April, includes management software and the option of a 20-user or unlimited VPN client software license. Pricing starts at $3,995.

• Tripwire, Portland, Ore., said it secured $9.3 million in additional funding. Institutional Venture Partners led the funding. Also participating in the funding were two new partners, Comcast Interactive Capital and Visa International and Tripwire's existing investors.

• Network Associates, Santa Clara, Calif., said it plans to acquire all outstanding publicly held shares of McAfee.com, a security ASP in Sunnyvale, Calif. The company owns 75 percent of McAfee.com. Executives said combining the companies would eliminate market confusion and streamline business operations. Network Associates spun off McAfee.com as a publicly traded company in December 1999.

• Symantec, Cupertino, Calif., said it was granted a patent on antivirus heuristic technology by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. The technology detects new and unknown viruses by examining files for suspicious behavior rather than the traditional virus fingerprints, Symantec said.

• Neoteris, a provider of instant virtual extranet technology based in Mountain View, Calif., added two members to its advisory board: Larry Sonsini, chairman and CEO of the law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati, and Kenneth Goldman, senior vice president of finance and administration at Siebel Systems.