ESET announces security solutions for ARM processors. New product variants for corporate and end customers with macOS devices / Windows in the BETA test.
The IT security manufacturer ESET has again expanded its product range. For the increasingly popular devices with ARM processors, ESET offers variants of its products that are adapted to this. The business solution ESET Endpoint Security for Mac as well as the end-user products ESET Cybersecurity and ESET Cybersecurity Pro run on Apple devices with the M2020 processor introduced at the end of 1. These include the Mac mini M1, MacBook Air and Macbook Pro as well as the recently announced other Macs.
Mac & Windows with ARM
For Windows-based computers with ARM processors - such as the Microsoft Surface series - the security experts have already started a broad, public BETA test phase: https://www.eset.com/int/arm64-protection/. The focus here is on ESET Endpoint Antivirus and the ESET Management Agent. The latter is used to be able to administrate the new solution variants under the management console ESET PROTECT. The ARM variants of the Windows solutions are then to be published in autumn 2021.
Strong demand for ARM and security
With the new product versions, ESET is responding to the increased demand, particularly from the business sector. More and more business users have been enjoying the advantages of devices operated with ARM processors for some time. High-performance and at the same time energy-saving, they offer greater advantages than classic notebooks, especially in the mobile environment. Microsoft Surface and HP Envy or the new Apple computers are among the best-known representatives. However, many administrators have a security problem with these devices. These usually have no or only on-board malware protection, but are at the same time part of the entire network.
Since Apple released its new generation of products with the M1 processor, interest in ARM processors has exploded both in the media and among private customers. Further development is really picking up speed. The British chip developer ARM has already announced that it intends to equip servers with processors in addition to mobile devices. In addition to the advantages mentioned, the heat development with ARM processors is significantly lower than with other manufacturers. In data centers, cooling is per se a problem that requires a lot of effort and generates high electricity costs. In addition, NVIDIA recently announced that it wants to get involved in the ARM market.
Native ARM malware in the wild
One month after Apple presented its devices with the new M1 chips - a proprietary adaptation by ARM - GoSearch22 emerged as the first example of platform-specific malicious code. About two months later, a newly discovered adware called Silver Sparrow, which targets Macs and also contains a malicious M1 binary, emerged.
As for malware for Windows on ARM machines, malware authors are of course just as capable of executing traditional x86 binaries via the emulation layer, and they can recompile their malware for ARM32 or ARM64 as well. As soon as the x64 emulation layer for Windows on ARM is publicly available, the entire spectrum of x64-based malware will be able to exploit the new attack surface. While some x64 (and x86) malware binaries are hindered by emulation - or may not run at all - other malware that has only basic functionality can be expected to run without problems on the Windows on ARM platform . The same goes for malicious scripts, provided a suitable script interpreter is available.
Malicious websites, spam or phishing don't care about the operating system
Of course, there are still malicious websites, spam, phishing and scams that don't care what operating system or hardware platform the potential victims are using. Therefore, users should keep an eye on security as well as their favorite applications when using Windows on ARM64 devices.
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About ESET ESET is a European company with headquarters in Bratislava (Slovakia). ESET has been developing award-winning security software since 1987 that has already helped over 100 million users enjoy secure technology. The broad portfolio of security products covers all common platforms and offers companies and consumers worldwide the perfect balance between performance and proactive protection. The company has a global sales network in over 180 countries and branches in Jena, San Diego, Singapore and Buenos Aires. For more information, visit www.eset.de or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.