IEEE-SA ICSG's Free XML plan Brings New competence to Computer-Security Industry's allocation of Malware Samples

The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Industry Connections Security Group (ICSG) today announced the accessibility of a free XML schema designed to aid the quick, cost-effective sharing of samples of malware (malicious software such as viruses, worms and spyware) by computer-security organizations. AVG Technologies, McAfee Inc., Microsoft Corp., Panda Security, Sophos, Symantec Corp. and Trend Micro have adopted the flexible ICSG solution as part of their efforts to more quickly deliver the protection that their users most urgently need.

In 2009, Symantec identified more than 240 million distinct new malicious programs. The amount of time and assets that the computer-security industry spends in researching, processing and exchanging data on these millions of malicious files is substantial, said Vincent Weafer, vice president of Symantec Security Response. ICSG's XML schema not only makes the process significantly more efficient, it also enables an organization to prioritize the threats. It all adds up to faster rollout of more relevant protection for our customers.