Astaro protects Customers from Worms that exploit the Plug and Play Flaw on Windows

Astaro Security Linux V6 stops worms that spread rapidly and damage Windows 2000 systems.

BURLINGTON, Mass. - August 18, 2005 – Astaro Corporation reports that Astaro Security Gateway appliances and other systems running its Astaro Security Linux V6 software are now protecting customers from worms that exploit a flaw in Windows 2000 systems. The worms can steal information, cause severe performance degradation on infected systems, delete files, and launch denial of service attacks against web servers.

These worms have already struck major corporations and the United States Congress and pose a severe threat to computer networks throughout the world.

The worms and variants are known by various names including Zotob.a through Zotob.f, WORM_RBOT.CBQ, IRCBot.Worm, Tpbot-A, Net-Worm.Win32.Bozori.a and others. The worms exploit the Plug and Play features of Microsoft Windows 2000.

Astaro’s technology detects and blocks these worms with its Virus Protection and Intrusion Protection applications. Signatures were made available to Astaro customers yesterday, August 17, within hours of the detection of the latest variations of the worms.

"All IT managers and business owners should be concerned about new threats, but Astaro customers can be assured that our products are updated quickly and automatically, ensuring an effective defense against constantly changing threats," said Jan Hichert, CEO of Astaro. "The best offense is a good defense and we endeavor to make sure that threats do not get past our customer's perimeter and into their network."

Microsoft has more details in Security Bulletin # MS05-039 at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS05-039.mspx

About Astaro Products
The Astaro Security Gateway software and appliances sit between the corporate network and the outside world and provide protection for all types of networks and all types of computer systems, including Windows, Linux and Unix-based PCs and servers.

Protection includes:

• Firewall - with stateful packet inspection and application proxies guards Internet communications traffic in and out of the organization.
• Virtual Private Network (VPN) gateway - assures secure communications with remote offices, "road warriors," and telecommuters.
• Virus Protection - defends computers from both email and web-borne viruses.
• Intrusion Protection - detects and stops hostile probes and application-based attacks.
• Spam Protection - eliminates the productivity drain of opening and deleting unsolicited emails.
• Surf Protection (Content Filtering) - improves productivity by blocking inappropriate activities on the web.
• Spyware Protection - detects and blocks spyware infection attempts as well as spyware communication from already infected systems.

About Astaro - www.astaro.com
Astaro Corporation is headquartered in Burlington, Mass. and with facilities in Karlsruhe, Germany. Astaro's software has won numerous industry awards, and is protecting over 20,000 networks in 60 countries, including such organizations as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Los Alamos National Labs, Stanford University and Watsco, Inc. Astaro products are distributed by a worldwide network of 350 solutions partners who offer local support and services.

All trademarks are owned by their respective companies.

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Contact:
Bill Baker
Baker Communications Group
wbaker@bakercg.com
860-350-9100