AVG acquires HIPS vendor Sana Security

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AVG acquires HIPS vendor Sana Security

Antimalware company AVG Technologies Inc.. has added significant host-based intrusion prevention (HIPS) technology with its acquisition today of Sana Security Inc.

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Sana modeled the behavior-based technology in its Primary Response product line after the human immune system. It observes and "learns" normal application behavior and detects and blocks aberrant behavior as a threat.

"Sana's unique behavioral software, combined with AVG's existing security technology, will provide the most comprehensive online identity protection in the industry, delivering continuous real-time protection," J.R. Smith, CEO of AVG Technologies said in a statement. "At the same time, AVG will continue to maintain low PC resource utilization for optimal system performance, a critical requirement both for the individual at home and for the business user."

Five-year-old Sana Security Inc. was one of the pioneer HIPS vendors, along with Entercept and Okena, long since acquired by McAfee Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc., respectively. It was one of the few HIPS-focused vendors in the security market, along with companies like eEye Digital Security (which is known for its Retina VA scanner as well as its Blink HIPS product) and Third Brigade Inc. Most HIPS technology has been incorporated as a component in endpoint security suites.

Czech-based AVG changed its name from Grisoft last February, capitalizing on its widely recognized AVG product branding, including its popular AVG Antivirus Free Edition.

~ Neil Roiter, Senior Technology Editor, Information Security magazine