New consumer Internet browser security solution utilizes precision virtualization to uniquely guard against Web-based 'Super Attacks'

Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd., the worldwide leader in securing the Internet,announced the general availability of ZoneAlarm® ForceField™, the industry's first comprehensive, virtualized browser security solution enabling consumers to bank and shop online, or surf the Internet without fear or limitation.

Virtualized browsing places an impenetrable two-way "bubble of security" around the browser, preventing drive-by-downloads, unwanted malware and other Web threats from damaging users' PCs or from stealing users' private information.

"Surfing the Web remains a very dangerous endeavor as criminal hackers and bot herders increasingly corrupt websites, planting Web browser-based attacks used to steal personal information or plant malware on an unsuspecting public," said Charles Kolodgy, research director at IDC. "At this advance stage of proliferation tens of thousands of Web sites are infected by some form of malware, making consumers exceptionally vulnerable."

Malicious Web sites or good sites that have been successfully compromised by hackers take advantage of browser vulnerabilities to silently install malware.

The virtualization technology in ForceField forms a "bubble of security" around the Web browser so that all unknown or unwanted changes from these silent installs, or drive-by downloads, are made to a virtualized file system and disappear completely once the user is finished surfing. ForceField's virtualization offers additional security by protecting the browser session from any malware that might be on the PC.

"Hackers today are exploiting widespread browser vulnerabilities to steal consumers' personal information, utilizing techniques that are unstoppable by traditional PC-based security products," said Laura Yecies, vice president and general manager of Check Point's ZoneAlarm consumer division. "By virtualizing the browser, and adding active security layers, ZoneAlarm ForceField provides the highest level of technology needed to stop Web attacks, without interfering with users' browsing experience."

First released as a public beta last September, ZoneAlarm ForceField virtualizes only those parts of the user's operating system that interact with the Internet, making it the first emulation system that adapts to how users surf rather than asking users to understand and adapt to the duplicate file systems and associated maintenance required of a traditional virtual machine. "The browsing experience is sacrosanct" continued Yecies, "with ForceField, no behavior change is required. Users can browse the Web as they always have though now with peace of mind."

Built from the ground-up specifically to fight the emerging classes of browser-based "super attacks," ZoneAlarm ForceField includes additional security layers that augment its virtualization capability. These active security layers provide critical protections making ZoneAlarm ForceField the only comprehensive browser security solution on the market. ForceField also includes an optional "Privacy Mode" that erases all personal information from the local PC after a Web browsing session to further protect consumer privacy.

Features include:

• Two-way virtualization stops drive-by, malicious downloads from infecting the PC
• Anti-phishing – powerful best-of-breed signature and heuristic methods providing the most comprehensive fraud protection
• Spyware site blocking - prevents users from accidentally visiting known spyware distribution sites (also found in the award-winning ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite) http://www.zonealarm.com/zaiss
• Site rating - provides important security information about any site
• Dangerous download protection - scans downloads and alerts user of danger
• Keylogger and screen grabber jamming - prevents spyware already on the PC from seeing what the user does online
• Temporary file encryption & memory scan - secures local Web files from spyware, protects the session
• Private browser mode - keeps user's personal information private and secure

ZoneAlarm ForceField integrates seamlessly with Internet Explorer or Firefox Web browsers. ForceField downloads quickly (less than 4mb) and installs immediately without requiring a system reboot. The product works in conjunction with any brand of antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall and security suite product including the complete line of ZoneAlarm solutions. ZoneAlarm ForceField is PC-only compatible and supports Windows XP and Windows Vista platforms

Concluded Yecies, "ZoneAlarm ForceField is the only product on the market today that can offer consumers the protection they need to keep their private information and identities safe whenever and wherever they go online."

For more information or to download ZoneAlarm ForceField, visit http://www.zonealarm.com/zaff

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is the leader in securing the Internet. Check Point offers total security solutions featuring a unified gateway, single endpoint agent and single management architecture, customized to fit customers’ dynamic business needs. We are unique in this offering as a result of our leadership and innovation in the enterprise firewall, personal firewall/endpoint, data security and VPN markets.