OPSWAT Releases Complimentary Technology to Strip Common Documents Of Potential Cyber Threats
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) December 14, 2016 -- OPSWAT today released data sanitization (CDR) for all web and API users of their cloud-based threat intelligence platform, Metadefender Cloud, allowing them to sanitize common document types to remove potential threats. Available as a Metadefender Core technology since 2010, OPSWAT's data sanitization (CDR) technology will now be available on a limited basis to free users.
Tomas Hertus, Engineering Product Manager for Metadefender Cloud, explained that, “Content disarm and reconstruction (CDR), or data sanitization, includes a family of technologies designed to remove embedded objects, exploits, and zero-day attacks while preserving the usability of a file. The need is dire; SMBs, large enterprises, and government agencies are all under attack from document-based exploits, often sent via spear phishing attack. Sometimes called Threat Extraction or 'cleanse safe for use,' data sanitization is usually accomplished in one of three ways: altering the internal structure of a file, removing content, or converting a file to a different format.”
The technology is easily accessed by selecting “Analyze a File” on Metadefender Cloud’s homepage. Users simply drag and drop or upload a file to have it stripped of potential threats. Once sanitized, a clean version of the file is provided for download. Free users may sanitize the following document types: PDF, DOC(X), XLS(X), PPT(X), RTF, BMP, JPG, EPS, BMP, and TIFF files. To try this technology, please click here.
Hertus also remarked on the timing of this release, stating, “Document-based malware attacks have become increasingly popular, so we wanted to create a free service for anyone to check suspicious email attachments or files. We think this service will be especially useful during the holidays when there is a large quantity of promotional emails in circulation, some of which may trigger an infection if attachments within are opened. It’s important to check any attachment from an external source.”
Using data sanitization (CDR) to strip out embedded objects in document files provides an extra level of protection against zero-day attacks without affecting the usability of the files. Some targeted attacks may not be detected by traditional anti-malware engines; therefore, data sanitization should be performed on document files. For example, 15 threats were detected in this Word document before sanitization. By comparison, the sanitized file was stripped of all threats.
Metadefender Cloud is a threat intelligence platform powered by OPSWAT’s Metadefender Core technology. Metadefender Cloud sanitizes files, scans for malware, and checks binaries for vulnerabilities. Please view platform licensing options for more information.
About OPSWAT
OPSWAT is a San Francisco-based cyber security software company that provides solutions to secure and manage IT infrastructure. Founded in 2002, OPSWAT has delivered solutions and technologies that protect organizations from threats and secure digital data for over a decade. OPSWAT combines next-generation Content Disarm and Reconstruction technology, its cutting-edge Vulnerability Engine, and multi-scanning with over 30 anti-malware engines in its Metadefender products, and its OESIS Framework endpoint security SDK has helped secure over 200 million endpoints. To learn more about OPSWAT, visit http://www.opswat.com.
Lauren Sporck, OPSWAT, http://www.opswat.com, +1 5418489996, [email protected]
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