OpenSoft/WebTrends Offer Free Web-Based Security Scans

OpenSoft Communications has teamed with WebTrends to offer
a free security check of the server system that Web users are
connected to for Internet access.

The service, which requires users to tap in their e-mail details, for
example, into the OpenSoft site at http://www.opensoft.co.uk , takes
the IP (Internet Protocol) address from the Web server the user is
originating their Internet session from.

This means that the service, as well as being useful to companies
maintaining their own server connected to the Internet, can also be
used by Internet users wanting to get the lowdown on their own
Internet service provider's inadequacies.

Les Ferrington, OpenSoft's managing director, told Newsbytes that the
service has been very popular in the US, and is now being extended to
UK and European companies.

"We don't get a copy of the report, for obvious security reasons," he
said, adding that the service is designed to highlight security
weaknesses in company server e-mail systems.

Ferrington said that the security scan is performed remotely by
OpenSoft and WebTrends, and previous experience suggests that many
company server/e-mail users will be surprised when they see the
potential weaknesses of the system.

"A critical part of optimizing a company's e-business initiatives is
ensuring their e-commerce and Web-enabled applications remain
available and secure," he said.

Ferrington went on to say that, while the service is being offered
free of charge to visitors to the OpenSoft Web site, and without any
obligation, the firm hopes to increase its sales of WebTrends'
Security Analyser software.

This is the software that runs on the WebTrends' servers and is
accessed when the user goes to the security check Web page. OpenSoft says that the WebTrends Security Analyzer software, now into
version 3.0, detects and recommends fixes for over 650 of the most
potentially damaging vulnerabilities.

OpenSoft is also offering a free trial of the software for download
on its Web site at http://www.opensoft.co.uk.

Reported by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com.