11 MAY 2009 - New AVG 8.5 for Linux combines e-mail and file server protection; adds free workstation protection AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, distributor for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific of the award-winning AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security products, has announced the release of significantly improved and updated implementations of the AVG anti-malware solutions for Linux platforms.

AVG 8.5 for Linux, available in both server and free workstation editions, offers streamlined scanning capabilities, new anti-virus filtering and improved performance and ease of use for Linux-based users.

Though not as prevalent as on Windows operating systems, Windows malware can and does impact Linux systems. Additionally, Windows-based workstations are frequently attached to Linux-based servers in the network. AVG 8.5 for Linux provides centralised anti-malware protection for those systems.

AVG Server Edition 8.5 for Linux/Free BSD provides protection for both e-mail and file servers in a single distribution package. It is robust enough to support millions of e-mails a day, thereby suitable for use by even large enterprises and ISPs. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5 for Linux/FreeBSD provides basic anti-malware protection for Linux workstations.

AVG 8.5 for Linux offers both network managers and workstation users: A streamlined scanning engine that detects and removes viruses, worms, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers and other malware in a single pass Heuristic emulation for improved detection of new and unknown malware types New avflt anti-virus filter!

A RedirFS-based on-access scanner for improved performance, along with simplified installation and deployment. Improved system resource handling through shared memory usage Increased scalability through support for 64-bit and multi-CPU architecture, new multi-core CPUs A fully modular solution, further reducing the number of necessary restarts RedirFS, or redirecting filesystem, is a new layer between virtual filesystem switch (VFS) and filesystem drivers.

It is implemented as an out-of-kernel module for Linux 2.6.25 and provides a framework to allow modification of filesystem calls in the VFS layer. "We are particularly proud of the RedirFS element in AVG 8.5 for Linux," said AVG Technologies CTO Karel Obluk.

"The original intention was to discover possible ways of implementing an on-access scanner for the Linux kernel as an alternative to the Dazuko project. Since that time, the RedirFS project has evolved to the general framework of Linux 2.6. We have released the RedirFS as open source. This will enable much broader functionality than on-access scanning."

AVG 8.5 for Linux is distribution-independent. It has been tested to run under FreeBSD, Mandrake, Mandriva, Fedora Core, DebIan, SUSE, Red Hat, Red Flag, Ubuntu, and other distributions using Debian packaging. Licensing for AVG Server Edition 8.5 for Linux/FreeBSD is per connection, with pricing on a tiered basis.

One and two year licence subscriptions are available. The product is available directly for purchase and download direct from www.avg.com.au, or through one of AVG (AU/NZ)'s more than 2200 resellers throughout Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5 for Linux/FreeBSD workstation product may be downloaded from www.avgfree.com.au/downloads/.

Support for existing versions of AVG for Linux will be phased out on 15 May 2009. Users are encouraged to contact their reseller or AVG (AU/NZ) to upgrade their protection as soon as possible.