This issue of SunbeltSecurityNews contains:

Editor's Dossier

Greeting SSNers,

When is a security suite not a suite? When it says VIPRE. The new VIPRE V4 is not your daddy's security software suite by any means. It is a completely new breed of product that fully integrates antivirus, antispyware and with the introduction of VIPRE Premium, breakthrough firewall protection. It does not bloat. It will float. This suite is sweet!

Therefore, it is with the greatest pleasure that we announce the release of VIPRE 4.0 and VIPRE 4.0 Premium. We have made incredible strides in our technology so VIPRE can protect you even better. More details available below, but in short: what is the difference between the two new flavors? VIPRE 4.0 is our latest upgrade that has major technical improvements. VIPRE 4.0 Premium incorporates our newest firewall, which has advanced protection features. Here is a graph with a quick overview:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-VIPRE-Features

First of all, here are the highlights in three easy points:

If you own VIPRE and have a valid subscription, the upgrade to version 4 is free.

If you own VIPRE and also the Sunbelt Personal Firewall, with a valid subscription, the upgrade to VIPRE Premium is free.

If you own VIPRE and use another, or (GASP!) no firewall, you can upgrade to VIPRE Premium for just 10 bucks, and we strongly recommend you do upgrade, because this firewall comes with a 'Rottweiler'.

As this is a special edition dedicated to the new release, we will not have our normal topic sectors. We have an exclusive interview with Sunbelt Software CEO Alex Eckelberry, where he explains about the 'Rottweiler' in the new VIPRE Premium firewall. Like all of us, Alex is extremely enthusiastic about this next step in our technology and lays out how VIPRE 4.0 fits into the scheme of things.

We also show you how easy it is to upgrade. Plus we have a new video about VIPRE 4.0 Premium for your enjoyment and education.
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-VIPRE-Premium-Demo

And don't forget our unlimited home license (see below).

Enjoy the latest issue of SunbeltSecurityNews. And remember stay safe out there!

Best,

Larry Jaffe
Editor SunbeltSecurityNews
Follow us on Twitter: @SSNtweet
SSN Forums:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-Forum-Discussion

P.S. You can write to me at any time, I want to know how you feel about Internet security and if you have any ideas for articles or subjects you would like us to cover. Email me feedback@SunbeltSecurityNews.com

Did you know that Sunbelt Security News has three sister publications that arrive once-a-week? If you run Windows XP, subscribe to WXPnews and get the latest on keeping XP up & running, hints, tips and techniques to keep it fast and secure. You can subscribe here, and tell your friends: http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-WXPNews If you run Vista or Windows 7, subscribe to Win7News and get the latest on keeping Win7 up & running, hints, tips and techniques to keep it fast and secure. You can subscribe here: http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-Win7News Run Windows Server? WServerNews is the world's largest newsletter focused on system admin and security issues for Microsoft Windows Servers. Subscribe here, and tell your admin friends: http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-WserverNews

Upgrading to VIPRE 4.0/VIPRE 4.0 Premium

The most wonderful Laura Lewis heads up the Sunbelt Customer Service Department. We asked her how tough it will be for our customers to upgrade to the new product. She replied that it could not be easier and put it down step by step for you.

SSN: Exciting times at Sunbelt, wouldn't you say Laura?

LL: Yes! Last week was the much anticipated release of our VIPRE 4.0 Antivirus and VIPRE 4.0 Premium (VIPRE + Firewall).

SSN: I understand upgrading is a pretty simple affair, tell our readers what they need to do.

LL: Over the next couple of weeks your VIPRE or CounterSpy software will automatically prompt you to install a new version.

If you select "Now" on the prompt, you will be directed to the Sunbelt website upgrade page. There you will find your current subscription registration key as well as an option to enter a Sunbelt Personal Firewall key if you have one.

On this page you have the option to either upgrade to VIPRE Antivirus Premium or choose to keep your current VIPRE in place and get the newest version 4. Sunbelt strongly recommends you upgrade to the Premium version. It's just 10 bucks and you need the advanced protection.

SSN: Sometimes it happens that a user misses the prompt to upgrade. What should they do in that case?

LL: Simple. They can just go to the dedicated upgrade page on our website and they will get information on how to upgrade right there; they should just click on this link:
http://shop.sunbelt-software.com/upgrade/

SSN: And what about our new users, I imagine they should have a pretty easy time of it too.

LL: Yes they simply go to our web site and can download a trial version or buy it right there!
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-VIPRE-Antivirus-Premium

VIPRE Antivirus Premium has many compelling new features to secure your computer against the tens of thousands of threats released daily, including an integrated 2-way firewall. Don't forget about our Exclusive VIPRE Unlimited Home License further down. Get VIPRE Antivirus Premium 4.0 Today.
SSN: The introduction of VIPRE represented a milestone in Sunbelt Software history. VIPRE 4.0 and VIPRE 4.0 Premium appear to represent a similar step forward. Can you briefly explain why this is such an important product breakthrough?

AE: Let's first talk about VIPRE Antivirus V4, the new version of the company's original VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware. It includes extensive under-the-hood improvements. Important enhancements include the improved Active Protection, improved support for removable drives; enhanced support for 64-bit environments, including a 64-bit boot cleaner and 64-bit rootkit scanner; support for Firefox Scan Extensions, and other overall quality improvements to improve the efficiency and performance of the VIPRE product. Additionally, the new Premium Version with firewall, adds a number of totally new features:

• Basic 2-way Firewall protection
• Advanced Intrusion Protection
• Boot-time firewall protection
• Web Filtering of specific content
• Bad URL blocking
• 3rd Party Ad blocking
• Anti-phishing

SSN: Can you tell me what this means to the average consumer? And tell me about that 'Rottweiler'.

AE: With the new VIPRE Antivirus Premium version you get a 2-way desktop firewall, and additional, more advanced intrusion protection.

See it like this. The firewall is like having all your doors and windows upgraded and equipped with new state-of-the art locks. But a burglar could throw a brick through the back window and wreak havoc inside. That's why people have burglar alarms, often with motion detectors. VIPRE's firewall is like your PC's new strong doors, windows and locks. But Internet traffic does need to get through, because you want to browse the web. So that is why the advanced intrusion protection is there as super burglar alarm that has the added benefit that it can stop an attacker in their tracks. Think 'Rottweiler in the house'.

And if you just want a firewall and not worry about anything else, all you need to do is keep the firewall enabled in the default 'Simple Mode'.

SSN: How does the introduction of 4.0 etc. affect Sunbelt, i.e. what does it represent in terms of manpower and R&D to develop such a product innovation?

AE: We have 60 people in R&D that live, breathe and test the VIPRE code, and 20 more full time malware researchers. It takes many, many man-years to build a product like this. We aim to create one major release per year.

SSN: With the introduction of VIPRE, Sunbelt is continuously developing not just a best of breed but a new breed of product - how did this product philosophy come about?

AE: Honestly, it simply was what our customers told us they wanted. No other company gave them small, next-generation security software that did not slow down their computer. We definitely think that VIPRE is best-of-breed, but you are right, what we did is create something totally new from the ground up, which gave us the advantage to build the software with all the years of background we had in removing malware since 2004 when we started with CounterSpy.

SSN: Why does VIPRE not appear in many reviews and roundups?

AE: Good question. Up to now it has not really fit well in the existing categories. It's not just antivirus, it's not stand-alone antispyware. But it's not a traditional 'security suite' either. So it's hard to pigeonhole and we were left out of reviews. The new premium version holds its own in the Internet Security category so we'll see how the reviews go in the future!

Additional VIPRE Notes

VIPRE is the first security product to provide an "unlimited home license"(*). For an annual subscription price of $69.95, all the PCs in your house can be protected with this single 'home license'. This license is for residential use, and includes your home office. All the PC's in your home are covered. For example, that would include a laptop in use by a child in college. (Small businesses should not use this license, they should use VIPRE Enterprise). All annual subscriptions include one year of threat definition updates, software upgrades, and live US-based toll-free technical support. Get VIPRE Antivirus Premium and there's only one toll-free number to call for all your PC security tech support.
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-VIPRE-Antivirus-Premium
Before installing VIPRE Antivirus Premium please uninstall any other antivirus and/or firewall software you may have installed. It is impossible to run more than one antivirus and firewall on a computer. VIPRE will automatically disable the Windows Firewall that is included in Windows.

Zone - Cool Products & Other Stuff

I am always looking for some hot stuff to share with our readers maybe you are too. Hit me back at feedback@SunbeltSecurityNews.com

Convert your SUV into an all-terrain snow vehicle - the Russian way:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-SUV-Conversion
A Labrador Retriever with table manners. This is hilarious!
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-Dinner-For-One
A flood is no obstacle for this passenger train in Buenos Aires. That train driver's got guts. How does he know the rails are still there?
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/100303-Train-vs-Flood