HKCS Information Security Special Interest Group (IS-SIG)

HKCS IS-SIG invited Dr. Jan Hruska, the CEO of Sophos Plc., to give a talk to its members on co-operation in the anti-virus (AV) industry on 14 November 2000.

Dr. Hruska firstly discussed the problems of computer virus. Some 60,00 different viruses are reported in the wide and more than 3 new ones detected and reported each day. The most damaging ones (e.g. the ILOVEYOU and NAVADAD) spread via MS Outlook and could corrupt the file registry of Windows. The virus codes are developed in different countries on a 24 hours basis. He emphasized that to develop an effective anti-virus software that can cure all new viruses is a difficult job.

Dr. Hruska went on to explain the AV industry has been co-operating for years. A programme called Rapid Exchange of Virus Samples (REVS) is participated by more than 50 AV companies. Whenever one company receives a sample of new virus, they will share it with all other REVS participants immediately. Sophos has set up six research centers in the world in order to analyze new samples and develop AV software upgrade on a timely manner. They can normally come up with the software upgrade within eight hours after a sample is received.

Some 25 IS-SIG members attended the talk, which was well received. Many questions such as the naming standards of viruses, security features of Windows and prosecution of ILOVEYOU and CIH were asked and satisfactorily answered by Dr. Hruska.

The Speaker:

Dr. Jan Hruska is the Chief Executive Officer of Sophos Plc. A graduate of Downing College, Cambridge, he gained his doctorate at Magdalen College, Oxford. He regularly speaks at computer security conferences. He is a co-author (with Dr. Keith Jackson) of The PC Security Guide, published by Elsevier (1988, 1989), Computer Security Solutions, published by Blackwells (1990) and Computer Security Reference Book published by Butterworth-Heinemann (1992). He is the author of Computer Viruses and Anti-Virus Warfare published by Ellis-Horwood (1990, 1992). His extra-curricular interests are flying, skiing, sub-aqua diving and piano-playing.

Presentation is ready to download:
"Co-operation in the Anti-Virus Industry - Safe Virus Exchange?"