Symantec claims antivirus software has hit a dead end

Speaking to the WSJ, Symantec senior vice president of information security Brian Dye revealed the company no longer sees antivirus software as a moneymaker in any way. Quite a remarkable statement considering antivirus and other products that run on individual devices account for over 40 percent of the company's revenue.

Symantec pioneered antivirus software in the 1980s but now the company claims antivirus is dead because it catches just 45 percent of cyberattacks and that new methods are needed to fend off attacks. The new paradigm seems to be that security software needs to evolve towards detection and responding to attacks, rather than simply trying to protect against them.

Network-equipment maker Juniper Networks Inc wants customers to place fake data inside their firewalls to distract hackers. Shape Security Inc., a Silicon Valley startup, assumes that hackers will steal passwords and credit-card numbers so seeks to make it difficult to use the pilfered information. FireEye Inc. created technology that scans networks for malicious-looking computer code that made it past the first line of defense. FireEye recently paid $1 billion for Mandiant, a small firm led by former Air Force investigators who act like cyber-Ghostbusters after a data breach.

Symantec seeks to join the fray this week. It is creating its own response team to help hacked businesses. Within six months, the Mountain View, Calif., company plans to sell intelligence briefings on specific threats so clients can learn not just that they are getting hacked, but why as well. Symantec also is developing technology to look for more-advanced malicious software inside a network that mimics offerings from its rivals.