Trend Micro Earns Patent for Active Content Security Technology

Enables real-time defense against hostile Java applets, script commands and Active X controls Tokyo, JAPAN – September 5, 2001 – Trend Micro Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange :4704; Nasdaq: TMIC), a leader in antivirus and Internet content security solutions, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded it Patent No. 6,272,641 for technology which manages the security risks of “applications” received through the Web, including Java applets and Active X controls. The multi-tiered process involves server-based scanning and malicious code filtering at the Internet gateway, followed when necessary by real-time behaviour analysis at the client browser. In that final step, a suspect application is wrapped in security monitoring code, which causes it to terminate immediately upon any forbidden behaviour.

“We’re pleased that the patent office recognized the innovation of our R&D team,” said Trend Micro CTO Eva Chiang. “Ensuring the safety of Java applets and other mobile code is an important part of Internet security.” In addition to its widespread use on the World Wide Web, Java technology is now gaining momentum as the foundation for interactive wireless services. Java-enabled handsets, already available in Japan, will reach other major markets later this year. Cahners In Stat, a digital communications research organization, forecasts worldwide shipments of Java-enabled mobile units to rise rapidly in 2002, and projects the Java VM (Virtual Machine) market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 83.5% from 2000 to 2005. The CEO of Nokia has predicted that his company will sell 100 million Java-enabled cell phones by 2003. While it may be too early to predict the impact of Java on wireless Internet security, it is clear that new initiatives in this area will be required.

As the patent indicates, Trend Micro has steadily expanded the scope of its enterprise security products beyond traditional antivirus scanning to address a broader range of content security threats. This has entailed the development of new approaches and technologies, such as proactive rule-based and behavior-based virus detection, content filtering and the real-time behavior analysis of mobile code described above, which is now a feature of Trend Micro’s InterScan AppletTrap.

“With the nature of viruses and other security threats constantly evolving, we certainly can’t afford to stand still,” says Ms. Chiang. “To protect our customers, we need to keep developing innovative, proactive security solutions”.

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro, Inc. is a leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services. The Tokyo-based corporation has business units worldwide. Trend Micro products are sold directly, through corporate value-added resellers, and through managed service providers. For additional information and evaluation copies of all Trend Micro products, visit http://www.antivirus.com or http://www.trendmicro.com.

InterScan and AppletTrap are registered trademarks of Trend Micro Inc. in the United States and trademarks in other countries.

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