Akonix Secures Enterprise IM Users against AIM Vulnerability
L7 Enterprise Customers Are Protected with Industry's Only Automatic Instant Messaging Security Update Service
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 11, 2004--Akonix Systems, Inc., the premier provider of business solutions for secure, managed and integrated multi-network enterprise instant messaging (IM), announces it has protected its customers from the AOL(R) Instant Messenger (AIM) security flaw disclosed earlier this week. Akonix safeguarded users in July, when this threat was initially discovered by the company's security team, and will continue to protect its customers in advance of the security patch that AOL plans to release.
AIM's software was confirmed to have a critical security problem that potentially enables hackers to transmit malicious code on users' computers. An attacker is able to initiate a buffer overflow using AIM's "Away" response feature if a user clicks on a malicious link sent via an instant message. The "Away" function allows AIM users to send automatic messages telling buddies they are unavailable.
Leveraging the industry's only dynamic update capability and Akonix's unique IM security expertise, the Akonix L7 Enterprise Spim and Malware Filter automatically -- and without any IT intervention -- downloads and installs policies to prevent new threats as they are discovered. Akonix's team of IM security experts constantly monitors public and enterprise IM systems for emerging threats and creates new filters that are automatically downloaded and installed to all customer L7 Enterprise deployments, providing immediate protection.
Industry analyst research confirms that more than 80% of all corporate networks host public IM systems, with AOL having a large portion of these enterprise users. While IM offers businesses significant benefits when it comes to communicating with co-workers, customers and partners, these public IM networks lack the security, management and control required to protect against threats such as the AIM vulnerability.
"This isn't the first attack using public IM networks and it definitely won't be the last, proving that companies need a preventative security solution to protect their corporate networks," said Dmitry Shapiro, chief technology officer at Akonix Systems. "Businesses have to worry about the effects that IM threats can cause, including decreased productivity, high support costs and damaged customer and partner relationships. It's essential that companies adopt an IM management solution to ensure safe, productive use of IM. Akonix addresses customer concerns by proactively monitoring IM networks and protecting Akonix L7 Enterprise gateway users against threats before they can spread."
For more information on how Akonix solutions ensure networks are protected against the AIM flaw or other risks from unmanaged IM use, or to try a free 30 day trial of Akonix's L7 Enterprise, please visit http://www.akonix.com, or contact Akonix's sales group at sales@akonix.com/619-615-9415.
About Akonix
Akonix is the leading provider of enterprise-class business solutions for leveraging the power of multi-network enterprise instant messaging. Akonix's award-winning products leverage patent-pending core technology, an advanced IM application development platform, and certified strategic partnerships to deliver multi-network management, security, integration and compliance capabilities across all major IM systems, including America Online AIM and ICQ, Microsoft MSN, Yahoo!(R) Messenger, Microsoft(R) Live Communications Server, Reuters Messaging, IBM/Lotus SameTime and Jabber.
More than 250 customers in Financial Services, Telecommunications, Energy, Technology, Healthcare and Entertainment depend on Akonix to manage, secure and enable IM for over 300,000 enterprise users. Akonix is the preferred IM management solution of some of the world's largest companies, including Cingular Wireless, Qualcomm, EMC and ING.
Akonix is widely recognized as the technology and market innovator with awards for its L7 Enterprise IM gateway from Windows & .NET Magazine, Network World, eWeek, SC Magazine, PC Magazine and UCSD Connect. Akonix is backed by leading venture capital firms Menlo Ventures, Mission Ventures, Palomar Ventures and Windward Ventures, who collectively manage over $3 billion in capital.
To enable secure and productive use of multi-network instant messaging in your organization, visit www.akonix.com for a free trial or to request more information.
Contacts
LEWIS PR
Katie Assar/Noah Dye
619-516-2559
akonix@lewispr.com
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