InfrastructureEU selects Symantec for WOMBAT project
WOMBAT aims to provide new means for understanding the existing and emerging threats which are targeting the Internet economy and its users; EU selects Symantec to do research for the project
The European Commission has awarded funding to Symantec for
collaborative research in Internet threats. The three-year project, known as
the Worldwide Observatory of Malicious Behaviors
and Attack Threats (WOMBAT), aims to provide new means for understanding
the existing and emerging threats which are targeting the Internet economy and
its users. Symantec’s new Symantec Research Lab-Europe at Sophia Antipolis in
the south of France will work in
collaboration with the WOMBAT consortium to gain better insight into Internet
threats and malicious code trends. The WOMBAT project will rely on Symantec’s
Global Intelligence Network, explore new sensor technologies in wireless and
crawler systems, enhance collaboration between experts, explore new techniques
to characterize the observed attacks, and develop new models that help security advisers choose the correct countermeasure to defend against the latest threat.
WOMBAT marks the third long-term
research project since 2004 for which Symantec has received funding in the
European Commission’s competitive selection process. Symantec is also currently
working with research institutions, leading technology companies, and European
telecommunications providers on the European Commission’s three-year AntiPhish
project and recently completed the European Commission’s 33-month-long research
Project LOBSTER for security protection of European broadband. Symantec’s new
research facility in France will work on projects
with external government agencies, universities, and businesses — projects
which include both long-term studies and shorter term innovations. Past
commercialized technologies from Symantec Research Labs include the company’s
first anti-spam technology, generic exploit blocking technology to stop
fast-spreading network threats, technology to improve the performance of
Symantec’s backup products and technology to help protect critical
infrastructure. Symantec Research Labs-Europe will be led by Marc Dacier,
Ph.D., an expert in computer security.
