The new version 2.2 draws on the experience of the community of Internet users with previous versions of the solution, and includes new features designed to protect personal data. Similarly, Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.2 includes a new area specifically set up for more advanced users, called Community Labs, where Internet users can access new features of the program for free during the pilot phase.

New Features in Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.2

The new features included in the Community Labs area are strongly focused towards the security of users’ personal data, as well as safer browsing for children and the disinfection capabilities of the computers, thanks to Panda Cloud Cleaner technology.

• Data Shield, which enables Panda Cloud Antivirus to prevent malware from accessing users’ personal data. Should any new malware overcome all layers of protection and infiltrate a user’s computer, this new version will prevent the theft or encryption of personal data.
• Parental Control, to keep kids safe from inappropriate Web content. This feature lets users block access to a range of Web content, classified into 59 different categories. Parents can also get a quick view of children’s activity through a dashboard with filters by date, website or category.
• Rescue Boot, a highly useful tool in the event of emergencies caused by malware infections that block computers. This can boot the system from a USB or from a rescue option on the computer and remove any virus that blocks the system thanks to Panda Cloud Cleaner technology.

Alberto Añón, Product Manager for Panda Cloud Antivirus at Panda Security, explains: “This version is, more than ever, focused on our Community. It is thanks to them that we have been able to include these continuous innovations in Panda Cloud Antivirus, and we have decided to launch a new area integrated in the product designed especially for this user community. We have also improved our behavioral and anti-exploit technologies and expanded our capabilities to detect potentially unwanted programs”.

Optimized Protection

In short, Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.2 includes a series of improvements that will increase its detection capabilities, while bearing in mind the needs of Internet users. That’s why this new version includes two features widely requested by the community of users: Access control and safe mode scanning and installation. Access Control means that Panda Cloud Antivirus can be password-protected against unauthorized access. And now, Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.2 can be installed in Safe Mode, scanning the computer for all types of malware.

“We will continue to listen to our user community to ensure we improve Panda Cloud Antivirus, which in turn helps us to guarantee maximum security with a minimal impact on performance. Panda Cloud Antivirus still stands out for being one of the lightest solutions on the market, and we will strive to ensure that remains the case”, concludes Añón.

More information here

VB100 certification is granted to products that prove a 100% detection rate for malware samples listed as “In the Wild” by the WildList Organization with zero false positives. The comparative review was conducted on a system running Windows XP SP3. Testing was made up of three main parts: on-demand tests, on-access tests, and false positive tests. Panda Cloud Antivirus Free obtained a 100% perfect result in the on-demand and on-access tests, as well as zero false positives.

Lightweight, Fast scanning with Minimum Consumption

The tests showed that Panda Cloud Antivirus Free was one of the best-performing free antivirus products available, outperforming other solutions from Avast, AVG and Microsoft. Virus Bulletin also praised the product’s high scanning speed, and recognized it as the free solution with the lowest CPU and memory consumption and one of the lightest of all tested products.

In addition, Virus Bulletin highlighted the product’s straightforward interface, the wide variety of features it offers despite being free, and the ease of use provided by its cloud-based technologies.

Commenting on achieving the VB100 certification, Alberto Añón, Panda Cloud Antivirus Product Manager, said, “We are delighted to have obtained three VB100 certification on different Windows platforms in less than a year. This new certification showcases the high quality of our products, and recognizes Panda Security’s efforts and success in offering lightweight solutions with maximum protection capabilities like Panda Cloud Antivirus”.

More information on those tests is available here

Internet Security Tools and Information

In particular, Internet in Safe Hands offers families information and resources ranging from top tips for safer Internet use (Mums on the Web Guide, Silvers Surfers and the Web Guide, Parents Guide, Guide to Safe Online Shopping, Social Media Best Practices, Internet Threat File, etc.), to free downloads of every product in Panda Security’s 2013 consumer line.

Social Media

Internet in Safe Hands dedicates a specific section to raising awareness of the risks and promoting good practice for the safe use of social media. Never share personal information on social networking sites, use strong passwords, be selective about who you accept as a friend on social media, never accept files or anything else from strangers, never provide more information than is necessary and be wary of websites that request personal information – these are some of the basic rules and tips offered by Panda Security.

“Most everyone has relatives or friends who use social media sites like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to post and share family and holiday photos, funny moments, strange and crazy pics, etc. Many of us are subscribed to different websites, or simply like commenting on posts from known –and sometimes unknown people–, or sharing all types of content. But despite the enormous communication and information possibilities offered by social media, there are also risks, especially for young children, teenagers and older people with little or no knowledge about new technologies. Observing some basic precautions, along with a little dose of common sense, is key to enjoying social media securely and responsibly”, explained Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs.

The Entire 2013 Consumer Line, Free

As part of the resources offered by Panda Security through its new Internet in Safe Hands campaign, users can download, free of charge, every product belonging to Panda Security’s 2013 consumer line, and enjoy immediate protection with the collective knowledge of millions of users, best-of-breed antivirus, anti-malware and anti-spam technologies, a personal firewall and parental controls, among other features.

The solutions included in this line are Panda Global Protection 2013, Panda Internet Security 2013 and Panda Antivirus Pro 2013.

The beta can be downloaded for free at http://www.pandasecurity.com/spain/promotions/betatest/

Along with the release of the beta, Panda also announced the launch of a beta testing competition. All users testing the solution will receive a 50 percent discount on the purchase of the final product, and the ten beta testers suggesting the most helpful improvements will each receive a $200 Amazon.com gift certificate.

Even More Security

Panda Global Protection 2014 is the most comprehensive solution in Panda Security’s new retail product lineup to be launched in the next few months. The product continues to improve upon previous versions, providing even better real-time protection against all kinds of threats. The product leverages Panda’s unique Collective Intelligence technology to collect threat intelligence from millions of computer users and deliver automated, instantaneous protection against known and unknown malware from the cloud.

“The new version of Panda Global Protection 2014 is specifically designed for highly-active users with the most demanding protection needs in multi-platform, multi-device environments. The solution preserves user security and privacy on the Internet and specifically social networking sites. In addition, the Panda Global Protection 2014 Beta prevents identity theft as it lets users encrypt private files and folders with valuable information”, explained Hervé Lambert, Retail Product Marketing Manager at Panda Security.  

Panda Global Protection 2014 includes a new disinfection kit for infected computers that allows users to create a safe boot point on the computer to be able to boot it and disinfect it in emergency situations where it has become so infected that it won’t start. Users can also create a bootable USB drive they can share to boot and disinfect any computer, even without a Panda Security product installed.

Multi-Platform, Multi-Device Protection

Another major benefit of the Panda Global Protection 2014 Beta is its new multi-platform and multi-device protection that offers unified security for PCs, Mac, Android, smartphones and tablets.

In short, the new features and improvements of the Panda Global Protection 2014 Beta include:

• Multi-platform, multi-device protection.
• New user interface look and feel, making it easier than ever to use the tools included in the 2014 lineup.
• Improved antivirus engine with better detection and disinfection capabilities.
• New installer that makes installation easier and faster than ever.
• New disinfection kit that allows users to create a safe boot point on infected computers to boot and disinfect them.

To download the free beta and get more information about the contest, please visit: http://www.pandasecurity.com/spain/promotions/betatest/

The latest scam takes advantage of email. Criminals gain access to the victim’s email account and send a message to every person in their contact list to extort money from them.

The message subject is “Muy Urgente” (“Very Urgent”) and always comes from a sender who has the victim in their email contacts. The message text explains that the sender is on vacation and has had their purse stolen with their credit cards and airline ticket inside, and needs money to get home. However, if the recipient falls for the scam and transfers the money as indicated in the email they will be contributing to filling the cyber-crook’s bank account.

“There are many variations of this type of scam. In this particular case, the message has been circulating the Internet for months now and is beginning to fade away”, said Luis Corrons, Technical Director of PandaLabs.

These fraudulent messages allow cyber-criminals not only to profit from victims, but also harvest addresses from personal and organization email accounts.

“One of the major problems victims of this type of attack face is the fact that the first thing cyber-criminals do is change the account’s password, preventing its legitimate owner from accessing it”, explained Corrons. “The problem can get even worse as many users use the same password for their Facebook or Twitter accounts, allowing cyber-criminal to control them and impersonate the victim”.

 Always Protected

PandaLabs advises users to always use their common sense to avoid falling victim to this type of attack. In addition, consumers should have an effective security solution installed, or make use of free malware scanners like Panda Cloud Antivirus.

“Be wary of messages with these characteristics. Should you receive one, contact the sender directly by telephone, for example, and make sure the message is genuine,” said Corrons. 

Trojans set a new record, causing nearly 80 percent of all computer infections worldwide. Despite their inability to replicate, Trojans are capable of triggering massive infections through compromised Web sites that exploit vulnerabilities in browser plug-ins like Java, Adobe Reader, etc. This attack method allows hackers to infect thousands of computers in just a few minutes with the same Trojan or different ones, as attackers have the ability to change the Trojan they use based on multiple parameters such as the victim’s location, the operating system used, etc.

“Trojans are cyber-crooks’ weapon of choice, which explains why they account for most new specimens in circulation and infections triggered in the first quarter of the year,” explained Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs. 

NEW MALWARE DISTRIBUTION IN Q1 2013 (PandaLabs)           

MALWARE INFECTIONS BY TYPE IN Q1 2013 (PandaLabs)

COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST INFECTED COMPUTERS

The average number of infected PCs across the globe stands at 31.13 percent. The countries leading the list of most infections are China (the only nation with more than 50 percent of computers infected), followed by Ecuador (41.01 percent of infected PCs) and Turkey (40.38 percent). The top ten list of malware-infected countries is completed with Argentina (37.77 percent), Peru (37.43 percent), Taiwan (36.48 percent), Russia (36.21 percent), Poland (33.79 percent), Spain (33.58 percent) and Brazil (33.45 percent). These are joined by another four countries with above-average infection rates: Chile (33.37 percent), Colombia (32.01 percent), Italy (31.97 percent) and Venezuela (31.45 percent).

LEAST MALWARE-INFECTED COUNTRIES

The list of least infected countries is dominated by European nations. The country with the fewest infections is Finland (17 percent of infected PCs), followed by Sweden (20 percent), and Switzerland (20.99 percent). The other countries with the lowest infection rates are: United Kingdom (21.89 percent), Norway (22.57 percent), Japan (22.82 percent), Germany (22.94 percent), Belgium (23.89 percent), Holland (23.92 percent) and Australia (24.32 percent).

Finally, here is a list of countries that did not make the top ten list, but which had a malware infection rate below the worldwide average: Canada (24.89 percent), Denmark (25.72 percent), Portugal (26.91 percent), Costa Rica (27.22 percent), France (27.43 percent), United States (27.79 percent), Mexico (29.91 percent) and Hungary (30.69 percent).

Panda Cloud Office Protection 6.5 improves business productivity by adding Internet access control to its Advanced edition. Additionally, the solution enhances corporate security by detecting malware and phishing URLs before they can infect users’ computers. Also, and thanks to Panda Security’s cloud-based technologies, Panda Cloud Office Protection 6.5 can be managed remotely from anywhere in the world.

“We aim to help companies increase their productivity with a solution that allows businesses to monitor and control employees’ use of the Internet, while protecting them when they browse the Web or download contents,” said Manuel Santamaría, Global Product Manager at Panda Security. “Our new solution facilitates security management and provides an additional layer of protection against malicious Internet links and exploits that take advantage of system vulnerabilities”.

URL Filtering

Panda Cloud Office Protection 6.5 Advanced helps increase employee productivity by controlling Web access. It incorporates URL monitoring and filtering on workstations, and allows administrators to define profile-based whitelists and blacklists.

The solution’s URL filtering feature provides maximum protection for users against malware and phishing URLs over HTTP and HTTPS, adding an additional layer of security to their Web browsing. This way, if a URL is cataloged as malicious, any attempt to access it or download any content from it will be automatically blocked by the system.

Protection Against Unknown Attacks

The growing proliferation of malware threats has shown that traditional, signature-based protection is no longer enough. Panda Cloud Office Protection 6.5 leverages Panda Security’s Collective Intelligence System and incorporates new unmatched anti-exploit technologies which detect and neutralize malware that exploits zero-day vulnerabilities. 

More precisely, Panda Security’s new anti-exploit technologies are capable of detecting malware like Blackhole or Redkit that exploits zero-day vulnerabilities in Java, Adobe or Microsoft Office, among others, before it infects users’ computers. The solution’s major differentiating factor lies in its ability to identify new, unknown malware variants capable of infecting thousands of computers around the world, like the infamous “Police Virus”.

Other Major Improvements

The new Panda Cloud Office Protection 6.5 incorporates other significant improvements from the previous version. These include:

• Compatibility with Exchange 2013 and the most popular Linux distributions (SUSE, RedHat, Debian and Ubuntu), plus scheduled and on-deman scanning.
•  Scheduled updates for users of both Panda Cloud Office Protection and Panda Cloud Office Protection Advanced.
• Ability to schedule reports from the Panda Cloud Office Protection console. Up to now, scheduled reports were only available to partners using Panda Cloud Partner Center.

Panda Cloud Antivirus, which boasts the Windows 8 Compatible logo, is one of the best-rated free alternatives for the Microsoft operating system, according to AV-Test.org. Results from the latest comparative reviews by this prestigious laboratory rate Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition above other security products, including Windows Defender (Microsoft Security Essentials in previous versions of the OS), Microsoft’s free antivirus in Windows 8, both in terms of protection and performance.

These trials, run in January and February 2013, consider a series of factors including protection against malware infection, the ability to repair systems and eradicate malware in infected computers, as well as usability and system performance. Panda Cloud Antivirus scored 6 out of 6 in usability and returned great results in protection (4.5/6) and performance (4/6).

“Having already achieved the Windows 8 Compatible seal, now being one of the first security providers to deliver a free solution on Windows Store is truly satisfying for Panda Security,” says Alberto Añón, Consumer Product Manager at Panda Security. “It is essential for us to keep our users protected with maximum security, and Panda Cloud Antivirus has proven to be a quality product, and a better alternative to others on the market in terms of protection and performance.”

An Exciting New Release

The release of Panda Cloud Antivirus on Windows Store also includes Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro. This advanced, paid version is available with a 50 percent discount until May 15 for Windows Store users.

The Pro version of Panda Cloud Antivirus offers extra features not included in the free version, such as a firewall, WiFi network protection, automatic USB vaccine and 24×7 VIP technical support in numerous languages. It also includes all the improvements made to the new 2.1.1 version, with anti-exploit protection against zero-day vulnerabilities affecting applications like Office, Adobe or Java.

Facebook’s AV Marketplace will now allow users to enjoy Panda Security’s malicious URL protection in six languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese),  increasing the scope of the initiative.

Since the start of the promotion, six months ago, Facebook users have carried out over 10,000 activations of Panda Internet Security 2013’s free 6-month version.

“We’re extremely happy with the results obtained from our collaboration with Facebook, which now extends to six different languages. This joint initiative against malware has been extremely well received by users. In fact, during the first six months of the promotion, users have carried out a total of 10,000 activations of our solution Panda Internet Security 2013,” explained Enrique Aguilera, VP Consumer Sales and Marketing at Panda Security.

About Panda Internet Security 2013

Panda Internet Security 2013 is specifically designed to protect users’ identity while using social networking sites and other Internet services. Its powerful URL filtering engine and safe browser module are particularly useful for users who want to preserve their privacy and security. Additionally, it can encrypt and password-protect private files and folders to prevent the theft of personal, banking and financial data or valuable multimedia content.

Panda Internet Security 2013 also includes Identity Protect, a module that provides anti-phishing protection, data leak prevention, and anti-dialer protection against unauthorized charged calls. Also, it delivers real-time protection against known and unknown threats by harnessing the knowledge and experience of millions of users through Panda’s unique cloud-based Collective Intelligence technology.

Every day, PandaLabs receives nearly 206,000 new files, 73,000 of which are new malware strains that Collective Intelligence automatically analyzes, classifies and remedies in 99.6 percent of cases. These technologies gather information on malware received from each computer to continuously improve protection levels for the worldwide Panda community. The 2013 product line leverages this huge knowledge base, offering users a more rapid response to the newest and most dangerous malware attacks.

Panda Internet Security 2013 includes a more modern, intuitive interface than ever before, and is compatible with Windows 8, Microsoft’s new operating system.

Torres holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the Complutense University of Madrid, and has over 15 years of experience working in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. For more than a decade, she was the editor-in-chief of TCN (Technology Channel News), a publication concerning IT distribution channels and partnerships, as well as a regular contributor to other publications in the technology area.

Over the last few months, Torres has acted as coordinator for Samsung’s IT and Telecommunications division at the Asesores de Relaciones Públicas y Comunicación PR and communications agency.

Silvia Torres has a Master’s Degree in Community Management & Social Media Marketing from CEDECO.

“Joining Panda Security, a leading multinational company with presence in 56 countries and over 10 million users around the world, is an exciting new challenge that will allow me to grow both personally and professionally, helping develop the communication processes of a top player in the security and innovation sectors”, said Silvia Torres.