Security software

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The virus scanner “ClamWin Free Antivirus” works with the Eicar test file .

The term security software stands for a large number of programs that are used to maintain the operational readiness of a computer or network for the desired purpose, to ensure or limit the availability of data and to secure access rights to the system. The essential points here are the so-called technical protection goals or security goals :

Security software can only provide comprehensive and reliable protection if it is updated regularly to protect the computer user from new threats at all times. This not only affects the actuality of the program code itself, but also the actuality of the data used by the programs.

Since security software must be deeply integrated into the operating system in order to implement the protective functions, it must be installed and maintained by a user with system administrator rights. However, the automatic maintenance when updating software and signatures is usually done automatically, for example by a utility in the background , without the user or an administrator having to intervene.

Types of security programs

These points include malware from virus scanners and similar programs, intrusion detection systems or honeypots , securing the connection through firewalls or personal firewalls , filtering out unwanted content through spam filters and child protection or content filters , protection against data loss through data backup and protection against unauthorized access to data through encryption software . In addition, so-called vulnerability scanners can be used to discover weak points; In addition, there are tests to check the functionality of security software , such as the EICAR test file for virus scanners or the GTUBE string for spam filters.

Security packages

Often several protection programs are combined into security packages (English: Security Suites or Security Packs ). Most of these packages contain an anti-virus program and a personal firewall. Different providers enrich their safety packages in addition to other protection features such as anti-spam , anti- phishing and parental control off. Anti- spyware can already be integrated in the anti-virus function, but is also often advertised as an additional product. Special functions for monitoring radio networks are also offered. The advantage of security packages is usually that the various functions and feedback under a single user interface integrated are.

Security packages with single license for operators of local networks , such as in families , shared apartments or small businesses , or for owners of workstations and notebooks with multi-user licenses distributed .

Market shares

According to Gartner Inc. , software manufacturers' revenues for security software increased to 22.1 billion US dollars in 2015.

Overview of market shares worldwide
Companies country revenues Market share
Symantec United StatesUnited States United States $ 3.35 billion 15.2%
Intel United StatesUnited States United States $ 1.75 billion 7.9%
Trend Micro JapanJapan Japan $ 0.99 billion 4.5%
IBM United StatesUnited States United States $ 1.45 billion 6.6%
EMC Corporation United StatesUnited States United States $ 0.76 billion 3.4%
Other providers $ 13.77 billion 62.4%

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Internet Security: Protect these programs . test.de, April 17, 2009; accessed on May 13, 2014
  2. ↑ a b How to surf safely . test.de, January 18, 2007; accessed on May 13, 2014
  3. ↑ Internet Security : Protect these programs . test.de, April 17, 2009; accessed on May 13, 2014
  4. ↑ Patrick Brauch: Anti-Spyware . In: c't , 18/2003, p. 63
  5. ↑ a b Internet security. test.de, January 18, 2007; accessed on May 13, 2014
  6. ↑ The global security software market grew by 3.7 percent in 2015 . ap-verlag.de. Retrieved June 15, 2017.