Secure virtual browser provides best-in-class anti-malware tools and offers new customized options and greater user experience
March 29, 2016
HERNDON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ntrepid Corporation, a provider of cutting-edge cyber security solutions, today announced several key enhancements to Passages Enterprise (Passages), its secure virtual browser that allows users to navigate and browse the Internet without fear of picking up malware. Passages v2.0 provides best-in-class anti-malware tools and new customized add-ons that strengthen the security capabilities of Passages and significantly improve the user experience.
“Passages represents a fundamentally new approach to protecting against the malware and targeted attacks that fill today’s web-based world,” explained Lance Cottrell, Chief Scientist for Passages. “This is important because effective security solutions cannot solely focus on blocking attacks, but must also provide a user-friendly experience to guarantee they are actually utilized by the end user. Passages offers a seamless transition to secure browsing for users with a near-zero learning curve; ensuring its adoption and the protection of business users regardless of whether they click on a bad link or are targeted with a web attack.”
The most noteworthy enhancements can be found in Passages Safehold, a secure web download feature of Passages that allows users to access the online files they need while keeping malware off their computers. Safehold is now faster and easier to use with a completely reconfigured user interface (UI), and has improved malware scanning capabilities through Cylance. Cylance is capable of detecting and blocking the execution of zero-day malware in both open and isolated networks without the need for continual updates. This is a perfect complement to Passages Safehold which stands between the secure browser and the user’s file system to automatically scan all files for possible malware before it is allowed near the user’s local desktop.
Specifically, Safehold ensures that malware is kept away from the user’s computer by quarantining downloaded files in a private cloud and preventing all automatic or accidental downloads. If files are shown to be safe, the user can initiate a transfer to their local computer. Only safe files that are intentionally requested by the user can make it to the local desktop. Additionally, administrators have the ability to access flagged files for further malware analysis.
In addition to more secure download options, Passages v2.0 enhances security and the user experience by eliminating the need to always transfer a file to the desktop for viewing. Passages can now open Microsoft Office and PDF documents right inside the browser. These documents never leave the safety of the isolated Passages environment, ensuring users remain protected from attacks and malicious downloads at all times. Additional customization options that increase the user experience include the ability to temporarily install “unsupported” add-ons, even add-ons which require the browser to be restarted before they become active. This includes bookmarks that can be used for both regular security profiles or profiles that require the ability to remain unidentified. As with all Passages online sessions, the add-ons are securely destroyed with the rest of the Passages virtual machine when the session is terminated.
With Passages, enterprises can also monitor their users’ activity to be aware of potentially malicious intent. Passages’ oversight tool, Insight, captures a company’s entire web activity directly from the browser, even for secure or dynamic sites – protecting enterprises from employees mistakenly, or intentionally, downloading malicious files. This comprehensive analytics and managerial suite provides full audits of all user activity to provide total visibility, and ensure companies meet HIPAA, PCI DSS, and NIST compliance standards for security and monitoring.
Passages can be deployed on 64-bit Windows and Macintosh OS endpoints with hardware virtualization support.
About Passages
Passages is a secure virtual browser that protects the enterprise from all web-based attacks, including web-delivered malware, watering hole attacks, spear phishing, passive information leakage, and drive-by downloads. Passages isolates all browsing activity from the local computer and network, allowing users to access any website and follow any link without risk to the company’s infrastructure or data. Additionally, Passages hides user identity and corporate affiliation, significantly reducing the ability of adversaries to conduct targeted social engineering attacks.
Passages leverages Ntrepid’s platform and 15-year history of protecting the national security community from the world’s most sophisticated opponents, allowing organizations to implement security at the speed of business. From corporate identity management to secure browsing, Ntrepid products empower enterprise online research and data collection, eliminating threats to an online workforce. More information can be found at: www.ntrepidcorp.com.
About Ntrepid
Ntrepid’s patented technology, leveraging a 20-year history of protecting the national security community from the world’s most sophisticated opponents, protects tens of thousands of users in some of the world’s most demanding security environments, with clients including the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Treasury, Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of State. From corporate identity management to secure browsing, Ntrepid products empower enterprise online research and data collection, eliminating threats to an online workforce.
To learn more about Ntrepid’s suite of managed attribution products, visit ntrepidcorp.com.
Contacts
Rachel Miller
(571) 612-8306
rachel.miller@ntrepidcorp.com