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Stonesoft: Gauss is a part of global cyber warfare
Helsinki, Finland - 13 August 2012 - The Gauss malware discovered in the Middle East has been one of the hottest topics in the media recently. Mr. Jarno Limnéll, Dr. of Military Science, Director, Cyber Security at Stonesoft is not at all surprised about the discovery.
"Gauss is just another example of the cyber espionage that is going on all the time. As the information is stored in computers and networks, digital espionage is a significant threat both in politics and business globally. Because of this, it is crucial that organizations protect themselves by using security systems that are dynamic and flexible enough to meet the ever evolving threats", said Dr. Limnell.
The Russian security company Kaspersky Lab announced the discovery of the Gauss malware at the end of last week. The virus has been compared to Flame and Stuxnet, both nation-state sponsored espionage malware. Limnéll believes this is also the case with Gauss.
"I believe that the purpose of Gauss is to spy on bank transactions in the Middle East. More than two third of the infections have been discovered in Lebanon, the home base of the political and military Hezbollah organization. In a state of war, Hezbollah would represent Iran, so it would attack against Israel. Information about bank transactions in Lebanon would naturally be beneficial in that situation, for example to evaluate the arms trades", Limnéll said.
Dr. Limnéll says that the likelihood of a severe cyber conflict is constantly growing, and Gauss just backs up this trend.
"Stuxnet, Duqu, Flame and Gauss are just a peek into the future. More and increasingly sophisticated malware is constantly being developed around the world. It is quite interesting that Kaspersky has discovered all the most significant malware that has recently been featured in the media. It is also quite likely that all four have been developed at the same location. President Obama has already announced that Stuxnet was produced by the United States. This may be the case also with regard to Gauss. Kaspersky is a Russian company - could it be that their discoveries are part of the cyber war between United States and Russia, where US cyber weapons are being revealed?" Limnéll speculates.
Contact:
For more information, please contact:
Jarno Limnéll
Director, Cyber Security
Stonesoft Corporation
Tel.+358 40 527 6173
E-mail: jarno.limnell(AT)stonesoft.com
About Stonesoft
Stonesoft Corporation (NASDAQ OMX: SFT1V) delivers software based, dynamic and cus tomer driven network security solutions that secure the information flow and simplify security management. The company's product portfolio consists of the industry's first transformable Security Engine , standalone next generation firewalls and intrusion prevention systems, and SSL VPN solutions. At the core lies Stonesoft's Management Center which unifies the management of entire networks.
Stonesoft serves private and public sector organizations requiring high availability, ease of management, compliance, dynamic security and protection of their critical digital assets and business continuity against today's rapidly evolving cyber threats. Stonesoft is a recognized researcher of advanced evasion techniques used in targeted cyber attacks to bypass security.
Stonesoft has the highest customer retention rate in the industry due to low TCO, ease of management, and overall customer excellence. Stonesoft's customer base covers more than 6,500 mid- or large-sized organizations across various industries and geographical markets.
Founded in 1990, the company's track record is well recognized by certifiers, industry analysts and demanding customers. The company's corporate headquarters are based in Helsinki, Finland and North American headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit www.stonesoft.com .
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