Security Expert Joins Webroot to Head Spyware Research
Senior Analyst to Lead Effort to Detect Growing Spyware Threats; Cites Management, Technology and Future Growth of Foremost Independent Anti-Spyware Software Provider
BOULDER, CO, August 17, 2004 Webroot Software, Inc., a producer of award-winning privacy, protection and performance software, today extended its position as the leading independent provider of anti-spyware solutions with the appointment of Richard D. Stiennon, vice president of research and a top security industry analyst at Gartner Inc., to the newly created position of Vice President of Threat Research.
Mr. Stiennon led much of the coverage on security topics including firewalls, intrusion detection, intrusion prevention, security consulting and services for the Networking group at Gartner and was a holder of Gartner's Thought Leadership award for 2003. He was also named "One of the 50 most powerful people in Networking" by NetworkWorld Magazine.
At Webroot, Mr. Stiennon will apply his 20 years of experience in the industry to identify emerging spyware and other security threats and work closely with the companys development team to deliver comprehensive prevention and removal strategies.
Richard Stiennons prescient prediction that intrusion prevention would outpace other security approaches was a clarion call for anti-spyware solutions and the future strength of this industry, said David Moll, CEO of Webroot. By joining Webroot, one of the leading voices in the entire security technology industry has taken another seemingly contrarian position that the ultimate leaders in this space will not only survive, but thrive as independent companies and define the future of overall security technology.
Prior to joining Gartner, Mr. Stiennon was a manager in PricewaterhouseCooper's Technical Risk Services group where he led security assessment engagements, wrote industry best practices for Internet and firewall security, and did PKI consulting. Mr. Stiennon joined PwC from Netrex, now a division of ISS, where he was director of business development and was instrumental in bringing Checkpoint software into the IPsec standards for VPN.
Webroot has an inimitable combination of management, technology and corporate infrastructure that sets it apart from traditional security vendors who lack this technology and from other anti-spyware start-ups who lack the team or structures required to succeed as independent companies, said Mr. Stiennon. Webroot is well positioned to defy the theories that anti-spyware will be subsumed and indeed demonstrate that these approaches to security may in fact dominate all effective future security strategies.
Spyware represents one of the fastest growing threats to computer users. By industry estimations, 90% of all Internet-connected PCs are infected with some type of spyware, and the number of spies has grown 50% or more every year for the last 10 years. By 2005, Webroot predicts the number of spies will be growing faster than computer viruses.
Spyware has also begun to infect corporate networks at an alarming pace. A recent poll from Harris Survey found that 92 percent of IT managers believe their organizations have been infected with spyware, and that an average of 29 percent of their corporate PCs have been infected. In June, Webroot introduced a comprehensive, centrally-managed anti-spyware solution for corporations, offering the first enterprise version of its award winning Spy Sweeper software.
About Webroot Software
Webroot Software, a privately held company based in Boulder, Colorado, creates innovative privacy, protection and performance products and services for millions of users around the world, ranging from enterprises, Internet service providers, government agencies and higher education institutions, to small businesses and individuals. The company provides a suite of high-quality, easy-to-use software that guides and empowers consumers as they surf the Web, protecting personal information and returning control over computing environments. Webroot's software consistently receives top ratings and recommendations by respected third-party media and product reviewers. In addition to buying these products online at www.webroot.com, Webroot products are found on the shelves of leading retailers around the world, including: Wal-Mart, Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, Fry's, Staples and MicroCenter. To find out more about Webroot, visit www.webroot.com or call 1-800-772-9383.
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