Experts from Saxony-Anhalt stand up to computer viruses

From the 16th until the 20th March, Saxony-Anhalt is presenting itself at the CeBIT 2015 as a successful IT location with attractive employers. In hall 9, stand C06, Saxony-Anhalt will offer an insight into its potential as a continuously growing location for IT in Germany. Global IT companies have made the state their home. At the same time, the sector is increasingly characterised by highly innovative small and medium sized companies. Numerous companies have long since become established which stand for IT solutions that are in demand worldwide. One such company is AV-Test, the world's leading provider of services in IT security and antivirus research.

On hard disks with a storage volume of a good 1,000 terabytes, computer viruses are archived in Magdeburg that originate from all over the world. Andreas Marx is only able to hazard a guess at the total number of these parasites, which he believes to be around 335 million. The managing director of AV-Test GmbH tells us that around 390,000 new viruses currently appear every day. Those responsible for developing the viruses are mostly criminals and are busy at work, having long since discovered the global data networks as a business opportunity.

And they have long since turned their attention to other areas apart from Windows, the most widespread operating system. They are increasingly targeting smartphones. "Being available all the time also means being vulnerable to attack all the time," summarizes Andreas. Each day, an average of 5,000 new viruses seek out weak points in the current models of Android smartphone. And the Mac also lost its virus-free halo long ago.

The Magdeburg-based virus hunters have now been tracking down computer bugs for eleven years. In Saxony-Anhalt they gather data, test security software and advise software developers. Business is booming and the AV-TEST office will soon be bursting at the seams. A team of 30 staff – seven more than just three years ago – use 300 client and server systems to stand up to Trojans, worms, phishing attacks and viruses. AV-TEST continues to benefit from its proximity to Otto-von-Guericke-University in the town on the Elbe, and also cooperates with Stralsund Technical University.

The specialists at AV-Test are testing the effectiveness of antivirus software for 50 manufacturers, primarily from the USA and China, but also from Scandinavia, Germany and the UK. Major Chinese companies such as Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent and Qihoo 360 are being advised. Microsoft is also taking soundings from the Magdeburg specialists. AV-TEST have long since been the world's leading independent experts on computer viruses. They are joined by around dozen competitors who check the technical solutions, sometimes simultaneously, in order to ensure the highest possible level of security. New approaches and test logs are necessities for being able to stand up to the cyber criminals, who operate on the basis of a kind of separation of powers. The developers of the malicious tools, those who sell and gather the data, as well as the buyers of these individual components mostly work separately in the scope of an organised network.

Their sophisticated tactics mean there is no such thing as the typical computer virus. Viruses can come in any number of different disguises and continually change their "appearance". This is yet another reason why their number is increasing all the time. Andreas explains that the antivirus sector has got used to this: they have learnt that they have to uncover every level of the malware – like peeling an onion. All of the new versions of antivirus software respond to changes in programs and recognise suspicious actions very quickly. The virus specialist therefore advises users to "change to the latest programs under all circumstances". To this end, all of the manufacturers have central databases which are updated by the minute. The response times have become much better. A "defence mechanism" is generally available in two to three hours.

"Virus scanners have long since become multi-taskers" highlights Andreas Marx. They now have additional functions that prevent attacks from hackers, manage backups, and free computers from data trash. Andreas' company draws on this, provides tips on the functioning of the overall packages and tests how the passwords are saved. Their customer proximity also counts. Visitors from the companies they assist frequently drop by for a look behind the scenes at the Magdeburg company. Since 2011 the firm has also issued its own AV-TEST Award for Protection, Performance and Usability. It also issues an award for the best product in the Mobile Security category (Android).

Andreas Marx has been committed to fighting computer viruses since 1991. He started by programming an antivirus program himself. At school when, as a teenager, he developed a tool to provide the classroom PCs with password protection. In 1996 he participated in the German "Youth Research" competition, and came fifth in the nation. He now admits that his early virus protection software might have been good in terms of its functionality – but wasn't easy to use. He then moved across to testing antivirus programs because it was getting more and more difficult to be on call to provide support and updates for his software 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

He founded his first company as an 18-year-old in 1996, and divided his university years between successfully studying for his degree in computer sciences and tending to his growing company.

Saxony-Anhalt's strategy for information and communication technologies not only includes the development of the broadband network and the development of public services, it also encompasses the provision of products and services for the economy. In a highly dynamic market, this segment offers great chances for growth. AV-TEST is proof of the sustainability of this approach, which is also attracting international interest.

Visit Saxony-Anhalt in hall 9, stand C06 at the CeBIT.

Further information on the joint stand for the state presentation as well as the detailed program for the three theme days with the focal points of innovation, entrepreneurs and skilled staff is available here: www.invest-in-saxony-anhalt.com/cebit-2015

Image caption:

"Virus scanners have long since become multi-taskers" highlights Andreas Marx, managing director of AV-TEST GmbH, with conviction.