RE: Antivirus- A Corrective Control?

["David Gillett" <gillettdavid () fhda edu>]

  I think these days most AV packages operate in two modes -- three if you
count "Installed but not running".

  They include a Corrective "Scan" mode, where the AV package searches the
system looking for infections  in order to quarantine or remove them.  The
usual case isn't that the infection arrived before the AV software was
installed, but that the AV software has been updated and can now recognize
infections that it would previously have ignored.
  Modern AV packages also operate in a preventive mode, attempting to
recognize infections (a) as they arrive over a connection, (b) as they add
files to the file system, and/or (c) as they attempt to do something
suspicious (e.g. modify a system executable).

  So I would say that "Modern AV packages include both Preventive and
Corrective Control modes."  The effectiveness of signature-based controls is
subject to some debate, but threats that can be detected and dealt with by
such tools remain common.

David Gillett, CISSP CCNP


-----Original Message-----
From: kartik.netsec () gmail com [mailto:kartik.netsec () gmail com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 00:15
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Antivirus- A Corrective Control?

Hi, I have a confusion whether Antivirus is a Preventive control or a
Corrective control? I am preparing for CISSP and somewhere I have read that
AV is a corrective control. I somehow disagree with this point.

I believe AV can only be a corrctive control if the machine (without AV)
gets infected and then AV software is installed on it.

On the other hand, a machine already having an AV installed should be taken
as a Preventive control.

Any inputs please?

Thanks,
Kartik

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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Securing Apache Web Server with thawte Digital Certificate
In this guide we examine the importance of Apache-SSL and who needs an SSL certificate.  We look at how SSL works, how 
it benefits your company and how your customers can tell if a site is secure. You will find out how to test, purchase, 
install and use a thawte Digital Certificate on your Apache web server. Throughout, best practices for set-up are 
highlighted to help you ensure efficient ongoing management of your encryption keys and digital certificates.

http://www.dinclinx.com/Redirect.aspx?36;4175;25;1371;0;5;946;e13b6be442f727d1
------------------------------------------------------------------------