Avalanche Roots out the Rootkits

April 11, 2007: Avalanche Technology Group have released the AVG Anti-Rootkit for detecting and removing ‘rootkits,’ otherwise known as a nasty form of malware hiding out in the back of a computer or application’s operating system kernel.

The Australasian GRISOFT distributor says Rootkits are more destructive then traditional forms of malware as conventional antivirus solutions often fail to detect them. With the malware embedding itself in applications within operating systems, distinguishing between malicious rootkits and legitimately hidden processes can be difficult.

GRISOFT undertook six months of open beta program testing to ensure the AVG Anti-Rootkit effectively roots out the rootkits, the security vendor says it has also worked to weave of the hassle of false alarms.

Larry Bridwell, global security strategist for AVG, says the computer code that makes up rootkits attempts to hide its actions and process. “AVG-Rootkit is developed to detect and destroy rootkits effectively, without bothering users with false alarms,” he says.

According to Avalanche, rootkits were once used by hackers to cover there tracks after unauthorised access to computers. Spammers have sort to redesign these techniques in order to mask malware used to gather and exploit personal information.

The AVG Anti-Rootkit is offered to users as a free of charge with regular updates available.

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