Early Warning System Network

 

The goal of the Segura/AVIEN Early Warning System (EWS) is to facilitate the rapid, vendor-independent alerting of members (by members) of the following threats:

  • viruses and other malware with potential major implications
  • software bugs with similar potential for disaster

To join the EWS, please fill out, print and FAX in the order form. (nothing you enter in this form is stored on this site - you must print it out and fax it to Segura, the hosting company.) For 2001, the annual fee is US$99 per two contacts per organization (billed in Canadian Dollars).

FAQ

Why Join?

  • Global Coverage -  Current members include major organizations representing more than 2 million PCs around the world. From November 2000 through April 2001, they consistently knew about and defended against new malware (viruses, worms, bandwidth-hogging holiday-ware)  faster than the alerts sent out by Anti-Virus vendors and other alerting mechanisms. Why? Because they did not have to wait for some Public Relations department to approve the information being made available. And, even more important, remember where most Anti-Virus companies get their alerts from - their customers. In this case, the customers are talking to each other first, and their vendors second.
  • Alerts and Advisories - Not only do we send out alerts, but we also inform each other about suspicious incidents before they explode into real alert-type situations. For example, the recent Homepage.vbs malware was being discussed by EWS members the day before it made its mark on the world.
  • The EWS is entirely member-driven and not designed to replace existing alert services from commercial security organizations, but acts as a supplementary source of information on fast-breaking threats. Alerts are generated by members; detailed analysis is normally provided by their security software vendors or other alerting services with analysis capabilities. Many of these alerting services are members of EWS - they want to be in on the fast-breaking action.
"For the first time ever, I know about some viruses before the vendors do. This enables me to devise defense strategies which stop the viruses dead in their tracks, even before our vendors can publish new definition files."     Paul L. Schmehl, Supervisor, Support Services, The University of Texas at Dallas
  • Peer Discussions - Once your organization joins the EWS, you get to join the virus-discussion mailing list, where you can discuss viruses with top non-vendor Anti-Virus specialists.  And, starting May 10th, 2001, we've added another discussion list on all malware topics. An important factor to remember is that discussions are always at a professional level - no flames are allowed. See the rules for more information.
  • If you meet the criteria, you also will get invited to join the Anti-Virus Information Exchange Network (AVIEN) and participate in all the discussion groups. AVIEN is a dynamic grassroots group wit real discussions on the real issues of malware. Unlike most newsgroups and public mailing lists, the information exchanged amongst members is of consistently high value.
  • Savings - Estimates of current members are that the first time they received a heads-up on a new virus that was spreading, it saved them hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in avoided downtime.

Practical details - How the EWS works

The EWS is set up to be used via e-mail (which can trigger a page at your end if you have your pager set up for this.)

If you are hooked up on a system which forwards e-mail to your pager, we can use that e-mail address. Otherwise, your normal email address will be used. Or, for more comprehensive coverage, we can send alerts to both your regular email and your email pager addresses

We don't send alerts to a pager phone number at present.

An example of how an email-to-a-pager type of service works is described here:

http://www.inconnect.com/pager.html  (example only, we aren't endorsing this company)

Once you are signed up, you'll get instructions on how to access the EWS, both for receiving and sending alerts. Remember, it is the members like yourself who generate the alerts.

Rules of order

  • E-mail addresses and other personal information about group members/organizations remain within the group, and are not to be used for private commercial gain.
  • Participants in EWS agree to a very high level of professional behavior. No flames, put downs, foul language, or name calling. It is okay to disagree, but, we do it in a respectful manner. One flame = bye-bye.
  • It is not appropriate to use it to transfer virus samples or source code.
  • Any and all information exchanged amongst members of the EWS network will not be disseminated outside the group, nor published for general release to the public.
  • Copyright material from other alert sources is not to be distributed on the EWS.

To join the EWS, please fill out, print and FAX in the order form. (nothing you enter in this form is stored on this site - you must print it out and fax it to Segura, the hosting company.) For 2001, the annual fee is US$99 per two contacts per organization (billed in Canadian Dollars).

FAQ

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