Threatlab offers early warning system

Antivirus facility offers advanced warning

Security software vendor Baltimore has claimed that its Threatlab antivirus facility offers channel partners advanced warning of security threats.

The company formed Threatlab to provide information on content security threats and trends, explained Alyn Hockey, head of research at ThreatLab.

"Our aim is to be proactive rather than reactive in terms of getting information out to our channel partners," he said. Companies are not threatened by viruses alone, but by other hidden threats contained in ordinary-looking files, he added.

Resellers subscribe to the Threatlab service via Baltimore's website and receive regular emails warning of the latest threats to online businesses. "The number of subscribers using the service has already passed the 10,000 mark," Hockey said.

According to analyst IDC, spending on IT security in western Europe will grow to over $4bn (£2.7m) in 2004.

Raj Panesar, Baltimore's northern European marketing manager, said that new security threats are always developing, providing new business opportunities for resellers.

"Our partners are always going to be the first to know of threats because of Threatlab, and the information provided will let them go back to their customers and deliver the full range of security solutions," he said.