Three of the world’s leading cybersecurity groups are to unite in a new security initiative to try and stem the rising tide of malware.
Set up by the Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC), National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and StopBadware.org, the Chain of Trust Initiative will link together security vendors, researchers, government agencies, internet companies, network providers, advocacy and education groups.
In computer security, a chain of trust is established by validating that each and every component of the hardware and software stack is secure from the bottom up. In the same way, the Chain of Trust programme is intended to ensure that all organisations and individuals that play a role in securing the internet are part of a security effort that is systemic.
“Strong security in any one organisation or sector is not enough to combat malware, which exploits security breakdowns between entities, said Ari Schwartz, of the ASC.
The plan is to map the network of organisations and individuals that make up the chain, identify all the vulnerable links, and then further the development of anti-malware tools and promote good internet behaviour.
ASC, NCSA and StopBadware.org will lead the mapping effort and jointly develop ideas and initiatives to form stronger bonds between links on the chain. “Understanding how they connect to one another can malware fighters get a handle on the problem and begin to develop consensus solutions” the group said in a statement.
