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Mac Security The Intego Way - Interview - Laurent Marteau, CEO
Threats from the Internet are constantly evolving, and Intego's security solutions protect users against the full range of current threats: hackers, vandals, viruses, offensive content and much more. But as soon as new threats appear, Intego focuses on providing efficient, easy-to-use solutions to protect against them. We're planning to release several new programs in 2004 to enhance security for Mac users.
How do Intego's products integrate with Apple's various 'offerings' under OS X Panther, namely the in-built IPFW. Would you say that they complement them or compete with them?
While Apple includes a firewall in Mac OS X, this firewall, IPFW, is very limited in scope, at least for the average user. It's easy to turn on basic protection against intruders on specific ports, but any more complex rules or protection requires knowledge of the command line. Configuring IPFW is not for the faint of heart; there is no simple user interface for configuring IPFW and any detailed configuration requires that users know which ports they want to block. IPFW is simply confusing for average users. Intego NetBarrier X3 is much more than a simple port-blocking firewall: its firewall is highly configurable, but even novices can choose from a number of preset configurations that fit most needs. NetBarrier records a complete log of all incoming and outgoing activity. It offers antivandal functions to block other types of intrusions (starting with the detection and blocking of port scans, excessive pings, which could lead to denial of service attacks, and much more). Its Stop List and Trusted Group allow users to specify individual friendly or hostile IP addresses. Its application-blocking feature ensures that only the programs you want can access the Internet. Its privacy, data and ad banner filters protect users' data and personal information, allow users to delete and edit cookie files and helps them clean out their browser cache and history files. Finally, NetBarrier X3's network monitoring features give users real-time information on their network usage and allow users to see exactly what network connections their Macs have made.
Many would say that the Mac OS is now ultimately an extremely safe and stable base for the network environment, whether you compare it to Windows or not. What real place is there for Intego's products under such circumstances?
While Mac OS X is much safer than Windows, there are nevertheless many risks inherent in any computer platform. You merely have to look at the number of security updates that Apple releases - while Mac OS X may be the most secure, no operating system is totally secure. Users of Intego NetBarrier X3 who have permanent Internet connections (cable, DSL, etc.) regularly find that NetBarrier blocks intrusion attempts. VirusBarrier X3 protects against Word and Excel macro viruses, some of which can delete files even on Macs. VirusBarrier even protects against viruses being forwarded from Mac e-mail clients to other users. This ensures that Mac users cannot spread viruses, even those that do no harm to the Mac.
I recently read that computer users are 700 times more likely to be infected on a Windows PC than a Macintosh and in more than a decade that I have been using the Macintosh and been online, I have never suffered the ill-fate of being hit by an intruder or by a virus on the platform. mi2g declared OSX to be one of the safest OS' in the online environment. Isn't it simply a matter of being aware and conscious of the potential threat, whether you have installed security applications or not?
A lot depends on the type of Internet connection you have. If you have a permanent connection, such as a cable or DSL connection, it is very possible that intruders have scanned your Mac's ports without your awareness. NetBarrier X3 spots all such attacks and, as I said earlier, many NetBarrier users see alerts to this effect. Certainly, awareness has a lot to do with it - if you know not to open e-mail attachments, you have less of a chance of getting viruses, including Word and Excel macro viruses. But computer security is much more than merely blocking attacks. Intego software also takes a proactive approach, providing privacy filters, application blocking
and more.
Does Intego offer any solutions on the Macintosh to secure Mac users personal details from identity theft? What about tools to protect children?
The family market is very important. Of course. Intego NetBarrier X3 offers powerful data and privacy filters, and users can configure these filters to protect their personal data and files. NetBarrier's intrusion protection prevents hackers and vandals from infiltrating users' Macs and stealing their files.
Regarding the family market, Intego ContentBarrier X3 is the most powerful content filter and the easiest to use. Not only does it protect children from offensive content, but it also allows parents to set up individual configurations for children of different ages. ContentBarrier lets parents choose which days and times children can access the Internet, what types of content they are allowed to access, and blocks offensive content from the web, newsgroups and from instant messaging sessions. ContentBarrier helps protect against paedophiles, which often prowl in chat rooms, looking for easily influenced children. There have been many cases where adults have "picked up" children and teenagers in chat rooms. ContentBarrier can make it safe for children to chat with their friends.
Surely in the work place and the home, security is more than simply about the threat from the Internet. Whether it is the theft of data in the work place or the loss of a laptop in a burglary. How is Intego attempting to battle such potential threats?
The most important protection you can have against theft is regular backups. Intego Personal Backup provides a full range of backup, synchronization, restoration and cloning functions so users can be sure to always have backups of their file and of their Mac OS X start-up volume. Regular backups help ensure that if your computer is lost or stolen you still have your important files.
With hardware firewalls from Netgear and other network hardware suppliers falling in price does Intego really have enough competitive edge to survive? A recent report forecast hardware firewall sales to skyrocket by 2006. What really gives Intego that edge against both direct and so-called indirect competitors? Does Intego have any plans for expansion and/or acquisition of potential competitors? Any possible strategic partnerships with other companies on either software or hardware?
The main problem is not whether users have firewalls, but whether these firewalls are correctly configured. In fact, many companies with hardware firewalls are attacked, in spite of these firewalls, simply because administrators don't configure the firewalls correctly. NetBarrier X3 is designed so novices and experts alike can easily configure it. Its set-up assistant allows for simple configuration even by users with no network knowledge.
An increasing number of companies use desktop firewall software in addition to gateway firewalls. This may seem like a belt-and-suspenders solution, but the role of a desktop firewall is different from that of a gateway firewall. A gateway firewall only protects against attacks from outside a network. In educational settings, or in large corporate environments, it is just as important to protect against internal intruders as it is to block external intruders.
Currently, Intego has no major acquisition targets. Nevertheless, we are always attentive to any new opportunities to expand our market. We have already acquired products from other companies in the past when we were certain that these products would be a positive contribution to our product line. Regarding strategic partnerships, if such possibilities arise and if we consider that they can result in better products for our users, we will certainly consider them.
Where does Intego really see its core market? Is it in the consumer market, the enterprise, the educational or a bit of all three? How is it developing these core markets further? How does Intego plan to compete with products that offer the same - some might say better - for free, and that may seem exceedingly more attractive to individuals and cash strapped institutions? Carbon Copy Cloner is a good example of this.
Initially, Intego focused on individuals and the education market, but enterprise markets are increasingly important. Intego is developing new products specifically for this market. At the same time, Intego is working hard to develop new products that offer the best possible value. Free is not always free. Freeware always has its limits; individual developers cannot innovate in the same manner as companies like Intego can, and our products offer many features that freeware programs do not provide.
Carbon Copy Cloner is a good example. It is an excellent program for cloning a Mac OS X start-up volume, but it doesn't have all the backup, synchronization and restoration features that Personal Backup X offers. In addition, Personal Backup X lets you update a cloned volume, copying only those files that have changed since the previous clone. This saves a lot of time, about 30 minutes for each clone.
Another difference is multilingual software and support. Intego's software is available in 6 languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese) and our support teams are always ready to help users with any problems they have. Individual developers cannot provide the same level of reactivity to its customers as we can.
Finally, Intego offers high reactivity in updating its software against new threats, especially against the latest viruses. All Intego programs use Intego NetUpdate, which provides instant product, content filter and virus definition updates via the Internet, ensuring that users always have the best level of protection.
With all the hours spent protecting everyone else, how does Intego protect its own interests? Does Intego software protect and secure its own network and its assets? How is Intego protecting itself from problem of software piracy? Does Intego feel that this is simply a problem that can be controlled, managed and minimized, or will it only get worse?
Intego develops and sells desktop security software; all of Intego's computers use our products for full protection in the office, on the road
and at home. Intego uses appropriate software and hardware to protect its corporate network.
As for software piracy, this is a huge problem for the software industry. If all users paid for their software, these programs would be much less expensive. We encourage all users to regularize their licenses, since software sales lead to greater choice and a larger number of programs. If Intego has the widest range of products, it is because software sales help maintain innovation.
What are the focuses driving development at Intego? Will we see a very similar company in the medium to long-term future?
Intego is continuing to innovate, and will be releasing 4 new products in 2004, the first of which will ship at the end of March. We currently have the most Mac security products in the industry and our product portfolio will continue to increase over the medium to long term. Intego offers 4 programs and 3 bundles and I'm happy to point out that Intego programs regularly receive the best ratings from the Macintosh press.
As for the future, Intego is hard at work on several new products to enhance security for its one million plus users and in the coming months will be releasing some truly innovative new programs that protect against emerging threats.
Check the Intego web site regularly to find out more about these new products. We are strongly committed to Mac OS X and the Macintosh platform in general, and plan to continue offering new, innovative products to ensure the security and privacy of Mac users around the world.
Laurent Marteau, CEO, Intego
Laurent, Many thanks for your time and we wish you and Intego every success with your future plans.
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