Security vendors leaving 'old school' malware detection methods behind

NetworkWorld, By Ellen Messmer 

Signature-based virus scanning losing prominence as use of behavior-based detection and reputation analysis grows.

Step 1: Identify a computer virus specimen. Step 2: Create a "signature" to detect and eradicate the virus, and push the signature file out to a computer. Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 again and again for new viruses and their variants.

That's how virus fighting has been done for decades in the antivirus software industry. But now some of the industry's biggest players say this methodology will be in decline in 2009 due to the rapidly multiplying malware epidemic. Read more.