Agnitum
Encyclopedia
Agnitum Ltd was founded in 1999 in St. Petersburg, Russia
as software company. In 2000 Agnitum hired 2 developers and increased the number of staff people to 20 until 2002. Agnitum was originally focused on anti-trojan and PC connections monitoring solutions targeted on Windows PCs users. The company is now known mostly as a personal firewall
and Internet security
products provider.
Outpost Firewall Pro, the flagship product of the company, was released in 2002 altogether with its freeware
solution (updated once in 2009). Agnitum's products are mostly consumer-oriented, taking into account licensing Agnitum's products technologies to several national security software publishers.
.
Distributing own software online as shareware
, Agnitum has sold their niche software. After entering in 2002 to the PC's firewalls market Agnitum software has become rather popular.
In 2002 Agnitum began to formally implement an international distribution strategy, putting in place agreements with partners for the major European markets as well as Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland. Between 2003 and 2006 Agnitum strengthened its European, American and Far East market positions.
The personal firewall
engine of the company became the basis of company's products and thus it was integrated into several other firms' security solutions. Partnering with IT security vendors to provide them personal firewall
and anti-spyware technologies, in 2003-2006 Agnitum has announced contracts with anti-virus solutions vendors (as whole re-branded software or part of the vendor's suite): Sophos
(UK, USA), Lavasoft
(Sweden), Novell
(USA), VirusBuster
(Hungary) and others.
In 2006 http://www.securitypronews.com/news/securitynews/spn-45-20060630AgnitumCriticizesOneCareFirewall.htmlAgnitum had criticized Microsoft
OneCare Firewall] - Agnitum claimed it leaks when faced with all but the simplest attacks by programs that test firewalls for leaks. Agnitum's Chief Software Acrhitect posted its less-than-glowing assessment of Microsoft's Windows Firewall, part of the company's entry into the security software business.
in 2006 Agnitum has entered in strategic allicance with VirusBuster
, experienced anti-virus vendor from Hungary
. Agnitum have aimed to enter the market of Internet Security
suite solutions to compete with anti-virus vendors (Kaspersky, ZoneLabs, etc.) who already had integrated personal firewalls into their personal security solutions (mostly they were personal anti-viruses with additional spyware, adware, spam and web content filtering engines).
In 2007-2008 Agnitum finally entered the market of anti-virus solutions. Its anti-virus products began participating of international and domestic test labs tests as Virus Bulletin
's VB100 and Anti-Malware.ru's anti-virus tests, and Outpost Firewall Pro was tested by the leaktests and killtests at independent research portals.
In 2009 and 2010 Agnitum released 2 freeware
editions for its Outpost software - Outpost Firewall Pro (Free edition) and Outpost Security Suite
Free to continue competition with well-known ZoneAlarm, Comodo
and other free PC firewall vendors.
Anti-trojan software, Tauscan, has occasionally achieved attention of the media and received some awards. Jammer was focused on detecting and blocking attacks from hackers; so it was a prototype for the Outpost Personal Firewall, launched simultaneously in “Free” and “Pro” versions in March 2002.
Free Firewall product has significantly influenced for the awareness of Agnitum's solutions, and Outpost Firewall Pro began to pick up awards very soon after its launch.
Users and reviewers alike commend the Agnitum for offering a range of optional extras in the way of third-party plug-ins that enabled users to customize Outpost protection to their particular needs (Outpost had open architecture until 4.0 version release in autumn, 2006).
In 2005, the company launched its first networked product which added network support and central management controls to the Outpost Firewall Pro technology.
In March, 2007 Agnitum has developed and released free anti-spam plug-in for filtering Microsoft Outlook
and Outlook Express
mail (supports The BAT!
since 2008).
In May 2007 Agnitum has released combined Internet Security
suite solution — Outpost Security Suite Pro (OSSP). It was proactive solution on the basis of Outpost Firewall, Agnitum Anti-Spam and licensed Anti-Virus combined with Agnitum's Anti-Spyware.
In October, 2007 Agnitum has released Microsoft Vista-compatible Outpost "2008" products. Outpost Firewall Pro began to pass leak-tests and kill-tests in Matousec Transparent Security Firewall Challenge project, independent project for Proactive Security Software testing.
In late 2007 Outpost Anti-Malware engine (Anti-virus + Anti-spyware
) was integrated with scan boost technology SmartScan, which improved scanning speed after first scans if no signature update occurred. Agnitum's solutions also started passing Virus Bulletin
tests obtaining VB100 certifications.
In March, 2008 standalone Outpost Antivirus Pro was released.
Outpost Pro product line has also 4 major releases since July 2008 - 6.5 ("2009 release"), 6.7 (Windows 7 compatible edition) in July 2009, 7.0 in May 2010 and 7.1 in February 2011.
In 2009 Agnitum has released updated freeware solution for Outpost Firewall Pro and centrally managed solution for SMB with integrated anti-virus and USB block engines.
In 2010 Agnitum has released an extension for its freeware
solution - Outpost Security Suite Free
to include anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-spam as free Internet Security
suite.
At the moment, Agnitum's security products are available in the following languages: English, German, French, Spanish and Russian (by default). There are also lot of localized Outpost software versions like Italian, Polish, Hungarian, Japanese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean, Turkish, Dutch and Brazilian Portuguese.
- Novell
(for Novell OS client security agent)
- Sophos
(for corporate edition's client agent)
- Bullguard
(for Internet Security solution)
- Lavasoft
(for personal firewall's client agent)
- CAT/QuickHeal (Indian anti-virus solutions vendor, for Total Security solution)
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
as software company. In 2000 Agnitum hired 2 developers and increased the number of staff people to 20 until 2002. Agnitum was originally focused on anti-trojan and PC connections monitoring solutions targeted on Windows PCs users. The company is now known mostly as a personal firewall
Personal firewall
A personal firewall is an application which controls network traffic to and from a computer, permitting or denying communications based on a security policy. Typically it works as an application layer firewall....
and Internet security
Internet security
Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically related to the Internet. Its objective is to establish rules and measures to use against attacks over the Internet. The Internet represents an insecure channel for exchanging information leading to a high risk of intrusion or fraud,...
products provider.
Outpost Firewall Pro, the flagship product of the company, was released in 2002 altogether with its freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
solution (updated once in 2009). Agnitum's products are mostly consumer-oriented, taking into account licensing Agnitum's products technologies to several national security software publishers.
History
Agnitum was established as software producer in 1999 in St. Petersburg, Russia by two students of Baltic State Technical UniversityBaltic State Technical University
Baltic State Technical University "Voenmeh" D.F.Ustinov is a major Russian military technical university situated in Saint Petersburg. Previously it was known as the Leningrad Mechanical Institute and Military Mechanical Institute .-Faculties:...
.
Distributing own software online as shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
, Agnitum has sold their niche software. After entering in 2002 to the PC's firewalls market Agnitum software has become rather popular.
In 2002 Agnitum began to formally implement an international distribution strategy, putting in place agreements with partners for the major European markets as well as Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland. Between 2003 and 2006 Agnitum strengthened its European, American and Far East market positions.
The personal firewall
Personal firewall
A personal firewall is an application which controls network traffic to and from a computer, permitting or denying communications based on a security policy. Typically it works as an application layer firewall....
engine of the company became the basis of company's products and thus it was integrated into several other firms' security solutions. Partnering with IT security vendors to provide them personal firewall
Firewall (computing)
A firewall is a device or set of devices designed to permit or deny network transmissions based upon a set of rules and is frequently used to protect networks from unauthorized access while permitting legitimate communications to pass....
and anti-spyware technologies, in 2003-2006 Agnitum has announced contracts with anti-virus solutions vendors (as whole re-branded software or part of the vendor's suite): Sophos
Sophos
Sophos is a developer and vendor of security software and hardware, including anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, network access control, encryption software and data loss prevention for desktops, servers, email systems and other network gateways....
(UK, USA), Lavasoft
Lavasoft
Lavasoft is a software development company that produces anti‐spyware software, including Ad‐Aware.The company offers a free, downloadable version of Ad‐Aware titled Ad‐Aware Free Internet Security and three commercial versions called Ad-Aware Total Security, Ad‐Aware Pro Internet Security, and...
(Sweden), Novell
Novell
Novell, Inc. is a multinational software and services company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Attachmate Group. It specializes in network operating systems, such as Novell NetWare; systems management solutions, such as Novell ZENworks; and collaboration solutions, such as Novell Groupwise...
(USA), VirusBuster
VirusBuster
VirusBuster Ltd. is one of the few Hungarian it-security software vendors. The fully Hungarian owned company develops products – under the same brand name: "VirusBuster" – for the Hungarian and international market to protect users' computers from malware programs and various other IT-security...
(Hungary) and others.
In 2006 http://www.securitypronews.com/news/securitynews/spn-45-20060630AgnitumCriticizesOneCareFirewall.htmlAgnitum had criticized Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
OneCare Firewall] - Agnitum claimed it leaks when faced with all but the simplest attacks by programs that test firewalls for leaks. Agnitum's Chief Software Acrhitect posted its less-than-glowing assessment of Microsoft's Windows Firewall, part of the company's entry into the security software business.
in 2006 Agnitum has entered in strategic allicance with VirusBuster
VirusBuster
VirusBuster Ltd. is one of the few Hungarian it-security software vendors. The fully Hungarian owned company develops products – under the same brand name: "VirusBuster" – for the Hungarian and international market to protect users' computers from malware programs and various other IT-security...
, experienced anti-virus vendor from Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Agnitum have aimed to enter the market of Internet Security
Internet security
Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically related to the Internet. Its objective is to establish rules and measures to use against attacks over the Internet. The Internet represents an insecure channel for exchanging information leading to a high risk of intrusion or fraud,...
suite solutions to compete with anti-virus vendors (Kaspersky, ZoneLabs, etc.) who already had integrated personal firewalls into their personal security solutions (mostly they were personal anti-viruses with additional spyware, adware, spam and web content filtering engines).
In 2007-2008 Agnitum finally entered the market of anti-virus solutions. Its anti-virus products began participating of international and domestic test labs tests as Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin is a magazine about the prevention, detection and removal of malware and spam. It regularly features analyses of the latest virus threats, articles exploring new developments in the fight against viruses, interviews with anti-virus experts, and evaluations of current anti-malware...
's VB100 and Anti-Malware.ru's anti-virus tests, and Outpost Firewall Pro was tested by the leaktests and killtests at independent research portals.
In 2009 and 2010 Agnitum released 2 freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
editions for its Outpost software - Outpost Firewall Pro (Free edition) and Outpost Security Suite
Outpost Security Suite
Outpost Security Suite is an Internet security suite package for Windows PCs. Its personal firewall, anti-spyware, Intrusion prevention system and Internet Security tools components developed by the Agnitum since 2002. After adding anti-virus and anti-spam to the product, known as Outpost Firewall...
Free to continue competition with well-known ZoneAlarm, Comodo
Comodo
Comodo Group, Inc. is a privately held group of companies providing computer software and SSL digital certificates, based in Jersey City, New Jersey, in the United States...
and other free PC firewall vendors.
Products
First Agnitum's software were anti-trojan tool Tauscan and PC connections monitoring tool Jammer.Anti-trojan software, Tauscan, has occasionally achieved attention of the media and received some awards. Jammer was focused on detecting and blocking attacks from hackers; so it was a prototype for the Outpost Personal Firewall, launched simultaneously in “Free” and “Pro” versions in March 2002.
Free Firewall product has significantly influenced for the awareness of Agnitum's solutions, and Outpost Firewall Pro began to pick up awards very soon after its launch.
Users and reviewers alike commend the Agnitum for offering a range of optional extras in the way of third-party plug-ins that enabled users to customize Outpost protection to their particular needs (Outpost had open architecture until 4.0 version release in autumn, 2006).
In 2005, the company launched its first networked product which added network support and central management controls to the Outpost Firewall Pro technology.
In March, 2007 Agnitum has developed and released free anti-spam plug-in for filtering Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
and Outlook Express
Outlook Express
Outlook Express is an email and news client that is included with Internet Explorer versions 4.0 through 6.0. As such, it is also bundled with several versions of Microsoft Windows, from Windows 98 to Windows Server 2003, and is available for Windows 3.x, Windows NT 3.51, Windows 95 and Mac OS 9...
mail (supports The BAT!
The Bat!
The Bat! is a shareware e-mail client for the Microsoft Windows operating system, developed by RITLabs, a company based in Chişinău, Moldova.-History:...
since 2008).
In May 2007 Agnitum has released combined Internet Security
Internet security
Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically related to the Internet. Its objective is to establish rules and measures to use against attacks over the Internet. The Internet represents an insecure channel for exchanging information leading to a high risk of intrusion or fraud,...
suite solution — Outpost Security Suite Pro (OSSP). It was proactive solution on the basis of Outpost Firewall, Agnitum Anti-Spam and licensed Anti-Virus combined with Agnitum's Anti-Spyware.
In October, 2007 Agnitum has released Microsoft Vista-compatible Outpost "2008" products. Outpost Firewall Pro began to pass leak-tests and kill-tests in Matousec Transparent Security Firewall Challenge project, independent project for Proactive Security Software testing.
In late 2007 Outpost Anti-Malware engine (Anti-virus + Anti-spyware
Spyware
Spyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's...
) was integrated with scan boost technology SmartScan, which improved scanning speed after first scans if no signature update occurred. Agnitum's solutions also started passing Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin is a magazine about the prevention, detection and removal of malware and spam. It regularly features analyses of the latest virus threats, articles exploring new developments in the fight against viruses, interviews with anti-virus experts, and evaluations of current anti-malware...
tests obtaining VB100 certifications.
In March, 2008 standalone Outpost Antivirus Pro was released.
Outpost Pro product line has also 4 major releases since July 2008 - 6.5 ("2009 release"), 6.7 (Windows 7 compatible edition) in July 2009, 7.0 in May 2010 and 7.1 in February 2011.
In 2009 Agnitum has released updated freeware solution for Outpost Firewall Pro and centrally managed solution for SMB with integrated anti-virus and USB block engines.
In 2010 Agnitum has released an extension for its freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
solution - Outpost Security Suite Free
Outpost security suite free
Outpost Security Suite Free is a Internet Security freeware package for Windows PCs developed by Agnitum and released in November 2010, having English interface only and some restrictions compared to shareware paid edition.|- Features :...
to include anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-spam as free Internet Security
Internet security
Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically related to the Internet. Its objective is to establish rules and measures to use against attacks over the Internet. The Internet represents an insecure channel for exchanging information leading to a high risk of intrusion or fraud,...
suite.
At the moment, Agnitum's security products are available in the following languages: English, German, French, Spanish and Russian (by default). There are also lot of localized Outpost software versions like Italian, Polish, Hungarian, Japanese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean, Turkish, Dutch and Brazilian Portuguese.
Technology licences
Agnitum's firewall, anti-spyware and anti-virus engines became almost the independent products. Several IT security companies were licensing Agnitum's technologies, and integrate it into their own products. The list of companies who made publicity for the licensing:- Novell
Novell
Novell, Inc. is a multinational software and services company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Attachmate Group. It specializes in network operating systems, such as Novell NetWare; systems management solutions, such as Novell ZENworks; and collaboration solutions, such as Novell Groupwise...
(for Novell OS client security agent)
- Sophos
Sophos
Sophos is a developer and vendor of security software and hardware, including anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, network access control, encryption software and data loss prevention for desktops, servers, email systems and other network gateways....
(for corporate edition's client agent)
- Bullguard
BullGuard
BullGuard is a UK-based, privately held software company that produces internet security products for home users and small businesses. It has offices in Denmark, Romania, The UK, Sweden, Benelux, France, Germany, Australia and the USA....
(for Internet Security solution)
- Lavasoft
Lavasoft
Lavasoft is a software development company that produces anti‐spyware software, including Ad‐Aware.The company offers a free, downloadable version of Ad‐Aware titled Ad‐Aware Free Internet Security and three commercial versions called Ad-Aware Total Security, Ad‐Aware Pro Internet Security, and...
(for personal firewall's client agent)
- CAT/QuickHeal (Indian anti-virus solutions vendor, for Total Security solution)
External links
- Official English language website
- Official Russian language website
- Official English language weblog
- Official Russian language weblog