MessageLabs looks out for IM nasties

June 19, 2009:Symantec has announced the launch of MessageLabs Instant Messaging Security Service (IMSS), with capabilities including anti-malware, URL filtering, content control, message logging and reporting.

All instant messages are logged and can be sent to an existing archiving solution to aid the traceability of all public IM communications, equipping organizations to satisfy legal discovery requirements and archive compliance with relevant regulations.

MessageLabs claims threats over IM are on the rise, especially through URL links included within an instant message that lead to malicious websites. In late 2008, one in every 200 URLs included in an instant message led to a website supporting malicious content, such as a virus, Trojan or spyware. Today, one in every 78 URLs on IM is malicious.

“More immediate than email, more versatile than the telephone, organizations are increasingly forgetting Instant Messaging’s legacy as a consumer tool and accept it and its benefits as a credible business tool,” said Adrian Chamberlain, Senior Vice President, SaaS Group, Symantec.

“The Instant Messaging Security Service provides protection and control functionality to the public IM services, making them viable enterprise tools with the necessary visibility and accountability for today’s regulatory needs.”