VirusScan Beta Stops Buffer Overflows

McAfee released a beta version of VirusScan 10.5 earlier this week, becoming the first company to offer intrusion protection with application-specific "Buffer Overflow Protection." The software would monitor specific processes for possible exploit activities, and alert the user if an attack is underway. Buffer overflows are a common attack method where a program attempts to fill a buffer with more data than it can hold.

"BOP will serve as an automatic shut-off, killing the exploiting process before the overflow occurs and protecting the user’s system," McAfee told BetaNews. "This technology will reduce the system’s exposure to vulnerabilities, therefore minimizing the need to update the product each time a new exploit is detected." The 10.5 beta can be downloaded now from FileForum.