Raz-Lee Gives Away IBM i Antivirus Software

Published: January 24, 2012

by Alex Woodie

You can't beat free. Earlier this month, Raz-Lee Security announced that it's giving away copies of its IBM i antivirus software, which is based on the open source ClamAV engine. The free version doesn't include some of the more advanced features that are available in the enterprise version of the software, but it will help IBM i shops detect and eliminate Windows malware that can infect and be distributed via the Integrated File System (IFS).

The IBM i OS is rightfully hailed as one of the most secure, commercially available operating systems ever created. Properly configured, the OS will thwart most hackers' attempts to gain unauthorized access, while its object-based security system practically eliminates the possibility of unauthorized malware executing programs without the owner's consent.

But there is one major catch to IBM i security when it comes to viruses. While there has never been a documented case of an IBM i (or OS/400 or i5/OS) virus infecting a system, the IBM i platform is susceptible to Windows viruses. When a file infected with a Windows virus (or other type of malware) is stored in the IFS, that virus or malware can easily spread to other Windows PCs connected to the IFS. A malware-infected PC with a high level of IBM i authorization also poses a risk to the IBM i server itself, and could conceivably lead to deleted data, crashed applications, and failed IBM i services. This phenomenon has been well documented over the last decade, and should not come as a surprise to any IBM i administrator worth his salt.

Raz-Lee addressed this architectural vulnerability in IBM i in 2005, when it launched iSecurity Anti-Virus version 1. The Raz-Lee software uses the ClamAV engine and virus signatures to scan for viruses as files sit on the IFS, as emails are sent from the IBM i server, and anytime a file is being written to memory. The software features scheduling capabilities, and GUI and green-screen interfaces.

This month, Raz-Lee announced that it's making a version of its iSecurity AV software free. Users can download the latest release of the software (iSecurity AV version 6.3, which is based on ClamAV 0.97.3 and released October) and get a permanent authorization code that unlocks the software. That's right: it's not only free, but free forever.

Last week, Raz-Lee vice president of business development Eli Spitz discussed his company's decision with IT Jungle: "We made our AV free beginning this week as a service to the AS/400 community," Spitz says in an email. "Naturally we're interested in widening our customer base and making new contacts, while also making this available to current iSecurity users as well."

Not all iSecurity AV features are available in the free version. iSecurity AV Total Security supports more advanced features, including real-time scanning, SIEM alerts (via Syslog, Twitter, or email), and object integrity checks. The Total Security version ranges in price from $2,500 to $9,500 per LPAR.

For more information or to download the free version of iSecurity AV, point your Web browser to the company's website: www.razlee.com.

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