Finjan Software Awarded Second U.S. Patent for Proactive Security Against Active Web Content and E-Mail Attacks

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 1, 2001– Finjan Software, Inc., the leader in proactive Internet security software for active Web content, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded Finjan patent 6,167,520 for the code-inspection technology in its personal computer (PC) security product, SurfinShield Corporate. Active Web content, including ActiveX, Java, scripts and executables, presents a security risk due to its ability to transparently steal, damage or erase files of unsuspecting computer users.

SurfinShield monitors the actual behavior of downloaded active content to protect PC users inside organizations. SurfinShield protects against malicious code that may be downloaded, knowingly or unknowingly, as well as dangerous code that may emerge from e-mail attachments when they are opened. The company’s second patent in a matter of months reaffirms Finjan’s position as the leader in next-generation Internet security.

“Active content is an integral part of the Internet’s commercial usefulness and Finjan’s patented technology allows employees to access active content without compromising security,” said Phil Kantz, Finjan Software’s CEO. “Static and reactive tools, such as firewalls and anti-virus software, are insufficient to protect organizations from potentially devastating attacks. These traditional security measures must be supplemented by proactive tools, such as SurfinShield Corporate, to protect against new threats and modified viruses that are unleashed for the first time.”

The patent covers methods for receiving a downloadable program from the Internet, monitoring the code in real time, applying a security policy to the downloaded program, and then blocking the program if a security policy has been violated (e.g., attempting to delete a file on a recipient’s PC).

Active Content Threats

Finjan’s Malicious Code Research Center’s (MCRC) “Test Your Security” section lets users see first-hand how vulnerable they may be to new active content threats, including ActiveX, scripts and executable attack demonstrations. The MCRC is accessible on the Finjan Web site in the “Security Lab” section (www.finjan.com/mcrc), and serves as a valuable resource for security-conscious organizations and consumers.

About SurfinShield Corporate

SurfinShield is a centrally-managed PC-security solution that monitors the actual behavior of downloaded active content proactively, including executables, scripts, ActiveX and Java. By monitoring code behavior in its protected “SafeZone”, SurfinShield enforces its security policy and blocks malicious activity automatically before damage can be inflicted.

Unlike traditional anti-virus technology that relies on static signature recognition of known viruses, SurfinShield represents a new way to combat Trojans, Internet worms and hostile Web pages based on actual code behavior. SurfinShield does not rely on database updates; it defends against new variants, unknown and “yet-to-be-created” attacks the first time they strike.

About Finjan Software

Finjan Software is the leader in proactive security software, delivering security solutions that monitor the actual behavior of active Web content and protect companies and computer users from malicious code attacks. Finjan’s products enable companies to conduct e-business safely with best-of-breed security features that protect critical resources and data. Finjan Software is a privately held company based in San Jose, Calif. For more information, visit www.finjan.com.

Don't miss