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Google Buys Anti-Malware Security Startup
J Tomas writes "Google has quietly made its first anti-malware acquisition, snapping up GreenBorder Technologies, a venture-backed company that sells browser virtualization security software. GreenBorder's software creates a DMZ (demilitarized zone) between the Windows desktop and programs downloaded from Web pages or opened from e-mail messages in Microsoft Outlook. The early speculation is that Google will add the sandbox technology to the Google Toolbar or release a rebranded version as a standalone download."
A firewall, however, would block it. DMZs are areas inside the first firewall to keep the majority of the intruders out, but outside the second, more locked down, firewall that protects the internal network. Technically the area inside the first firewall isn't "safe," it's just "safer." DMZs can still be subject to malicious traffic because boxes inside DMZs, like webservers, by design have to keep certain known ports open.
I think the ideal term for what Google picked up is sandbox, where stuff can run and it doesn't impact the rest of the system so you can see what it is beforehand, but DMZ looks like it could apply.
Interesting idea if it does what I think, at least. Would have figured a sandbox for a plugin was rather intensive processor wise.
Well I was asked to evaluate this product 2 years ago. At the time it was not very useful as there were some problems. But last year when they did their update it was a good improvement on speed and memory foot print. For what it does the product works well. And with Googles money and resources behind it, it can only get better.
Read about this ealier, and as nice as it is, i'll probably stick with Sandboxie. Does the same thing as this, but also protects other programs.
If you donate to the project, you can unlock a few more features that allow you to start any program under sandbox ALL the time, even without it being started before the protected program. (well, the main program, not the service)
Its pretty good, but the file browser that comes with it could do some with some work... tends to lock up sometimes in large directories.
Although, with this, if Google does find malware and crap like that, they could easily tag a site and alert a user/kill connection whenever it comes up, killing a connection only on cases where there isn't really a site to go to.
Still don't want that horrible green border, sorry, that is just plain ugly. (Sandboxie just does [#] Window Title [#] on any sandboxed windows FYI)