Akonix Protects Against Latest AIM Virus

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Akonix Protects Customers From Latest Instant Messaging Virus Targeting AOL Users; New Worm Caps One-Month Spree of IM Attacks

SAN DIEGO --(Business Wire)-- Feb. 11, 2005 -- Akonix Systems, Inc., the premier provider of business solutions for secure, managed and integrated multi-network enterprise instant messaging (IM), warns enterprises of a new worm propagating over AOL(R) Instant Messenger, Worm_Aimdes.A. The Akonix Security Center team has issued a security policy to protect its customers against attack.

This latest AIM worm sends a copy of itself to all available or online contacts in an affected user's Buddy List, but unlike previous worms spread over IM networks, this threat also sends out a message that attempts to fool targeted AOL users into thinking the file being sent is from a trusted "buddy." Not confined to IM, Worm_Aimdes.A can also be spread over email networks. By modifying various entries in a system's registry, it is capable of stopping system processes and disabling tools such as Windows Task Manager, firewall and anti-virus applications, and Windows Security update.

Through round-the-clock monitoring of IM networks, the Akonix Security Center quickly identified this latest attack and immediately issued a Spim & Malware Policy that was automatically distributed to customers worldwide. The Akonix Spim & Malware Policy Service represents the industry's only automatically-updated protection to block the real-time propagation of IM-borne viruses. A feature of Akonix L7 Enterprise, the subscription service is available to all Akonix L7 Enterprise customers to provide an additional layer of defense against IM attacks.

Delivering a layer of protection beyond what any other IM management system provides today, the Akonix Spim & Malware Policy Service -- when combined with out-of-the-box support for leading anti-virus vendors and granular control of file transfers, games, application sharing, and other IM client features -- provides enterprises with the market's most comprehensive protection against IM security threats.

"With the explosion of worms and their variants propagating over IM networks since the start of the year, virus writers are becoming far more clever in their attack methods," said Francis Costello, chief marketing officer at Akonix Systems. "We predict this trend to continue throughout the remainder of the year, making it even more critical for organizations to protect themselves against the surge of IM worms. Providing customers with the industry's only automatically updated Spim & Malware Policy, Akonix is leading the industry in providing the most comprehensive IM security solutions."

For more information on how Akonix solutions ensure networks are protected against the risks of unmanaged IM use, or to request a 30-day trial of Akonix L7 Enterprise to immediately protect networks, please visit www.akonix.com, or contact Akonix's sales group at sales@akonix.com / 619-615-9415.

About Akonix

Akonix is the leading provider of enterprise-class business solutions for leveraging the power of multi-network enterprise instant messaging. Akonix's award-winning products leverage patent-pending core technology, an advanced IM application development platform, and certified strategic partnerships to deliver multi-network management, security, integration and compliance capabilities across all major IM systems, including America Online AIM(R) and ICQ(R), Microsoft MSN, Yahoo! Messenger, Microsoft Live Communications Server, Reuters Messaging, IBM Lotus Instant Messaging (Sametime) and Jabber.

More than 500 customers in Financial Services, Telecommunications, Energy, Technology, Healthcare and Entertainment depend on Akonix to manage, secure and enable IM for over 700,000 enterprise users. Akonix is the preferred IM management solution of some of the world's largest companies, including Cingular Wireless, EMC and ING.

Akonix is widely recognized as the technology and market innovator with awards for its L7 Enterprise IM gateway from Windows & .NET Magazine, Network World, eWeek, SC Magazine, PC Magazine and Red Herring. Akonix is backed by leading venture capital firms Menlo Ventures, Mission Ventures, Palomar Ventures and Windward Ventures, who collectively manage over $3.5 billion in capital.