Antivirus software only catches 45% of attacks, Symantec expert says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Antivirus software is unable to catch over half of attacks, according to a Symantec security expert, Digital Spy said.

The company's senior vice president Brian Dye has revealed that antivirus "is dead" as hackers use more advanced bugs that software is unable to fend off.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Dye said that antivirus only catches about 45% of attacks, leading Symantec to renew its Norton Antivirus software to focus on detecting attacks and minimising the damage.

"We don't think of antivirus as a moneymaker in any way," Dye explained.

Competitors such as Kaspersky and McAfee have already moved on to the 'detect and respond' sector, which is considered the only way forward to manage cyber attacks.

New software focuses on better password management, spam blocking and even a tool that scans for malicious links distributed on social media.

Despite the shift, antivirus software still makes up 40% of Symantec's revenue.

"If customers are shifting from protect to detect and respond, the growth is going to come from detect and respond," Dye added.