Week in Security: Raid Nets Counterfeit Symantec, IT Security Market Report

%95 Law enforcement officers seized $3.2 million worth of counterfeit Symantec software in a New York City area raid that led to the arrest of six suspects: Ke Pei Ma, Kai Wu, Xia Yu, Jianbui Ye, Xi Kang Yu and Hsien-Chang Ko. The counterfeit software seized included Norton Antivirus, Ghost, and SystemWorks, and also $5.9 million worth of Microsoft software. The suspects used UPS facilities in the Bronx and Queens to distribute the counterfeit software under the names of PC Tech and Blue Media to software retailers and wholesalers throughout the U.S., officials said. Authorities estimate that they reaped approximately $15.2 million from selling the counterfeit software over the past two years. Each suspect faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of $2.25 million.

%95 Information security services continues to be a highly competitive market, according to a recent report by market-research firm IDC, which profiled a cross section of 30 security providers, ranging from systems integrators to pure-play security-services firms. Over the past year, security providers focused on broadening their service portfolio, expanding the expertise of their security professionals, and targeting verticals that fit with their core competencies, IDC said. The firm predicts the worldwide IT security-services market will grow to $23 billion by 2006.

%95 WiKID Systems, an Atlanta-based startup unveiled an authentication system that enables secure remote network access via Internet-enabled devices and advanced encryption. To log in, a user types in a PIN on a wireless device such as a RIM Blackberry, to receive a passcode. The WiKID system has two main components, a WiKID Client and an Authentication Server, which is a plug-and-play appliance. Nick Owen, WiKID CEO, said the system is more cost-effective and convenient than traditional two-factor authentication systems. The system is based on a request-response architecture that is more secure than time-synchronous systems, and generates a passcode only when the server has received the correct PIN that is validly encrypted on an active account, he said.

%95 NFR Security said it partnered with ArcSight to integrate NFR Network Intrusion Detection alerts with ArcSight 2.0 enterprise security management software.

%95 CyberGuard rolled out a new appearance for its security appliances that replaces the company's fire imagery with purple, blue and red. The company's Web site and product literature also is redesigned. Executives said the new look conveys value and functionality.

%95 TruSecure, a provider of security intelligence and services, named Bryan Gernert as its senior vice president of North American sales, and Ed Choi as vice president of sales operations. Gernert previously was senior vice president of sales and services at Digex. Choi formerly worked in the managed DNS and IP services group at VeriSign. TruSecure also named Michael Rothman, former executive vice president of Shym Technology, as vice president of marketing.

%95 GFI said its offering a server-based disclaimer module as freeware. The module, included in GFI MailEssentials for Exchange/SMTP 8, allows administrators to automatically add text to each outbound e-mail message, such as a legal disclaimer.

%95 Thor Technologies, a provider of enterprise provisioning systems, announced partnerships with two integration firms: Mycroft and Torus Technology Partners.

%95 Watchfire, a supplier of Web site management software and services, announced an alliance with the International Association of Privacy Professionals.