Early Warning System Supported by Major Organizations

Braeside, ON - Feb. 6, 2001 - Segura Solutions Inc. announced today that organizations representing more than 1.5 million users have signed on to the Segura Virus Early Warning System (EWS).

The Segura EWS was formed as a result of discussions amongst security professionals working in major organizations world-wide concerning the need to warn each other of virus threats in a timely fashion. All of these organizations already receive warnings about new virus threats from Anti-Virus developers and vendors. These vendor warnings, while valuable, often arrive after some of their machines have already been hit by a new virus.

The intent of the Segura-based EWS was to provide each other information on new threats and potential issues before they are filtered through the virus labs and public relations arms at anti-virus companies.

"For the first time ever, I know about some viruses before the vendors do. This enables me to devise Defence strategies which stop the viruses dead in their tracks, even before our vendors can publish new definition files." said Paul L. Schmehl, Supervisor, Support Services, The University of Texas at Dallas.

The EWS was one of the first projects put in place by the Anti-Virus Information Exchange Network. The AVIEN was formed late last year and comprises security specialists at major organizations world-wide. Members of the AVIEN share information about viruses,  anti-virus software, and real-world solutions to virus issues.

"This is the first time that the user community has banded together  to discuss and deal with these problems. The people in AVIEN are all from the user side of the virus equation, dealing with this  problem every day. There is an enormous wealth of knowledge about viruses and anti-virus software that was previously untapped; the AVIEN embodies that knowledge." said Robert Vibert, Moderator of AVIEN.

The Segura EWS is not designed to replace existing services from commercial security organizations, but acts as a supplementary source of information on fast-breaking threats.