A route to accessing Windows Early Launch Antimalware (ELAM).
Anti-malware products monitor Microsoft Windows for malware. They try to notice when new, unwanted software runs, but some malware can be extra sneaky and hide. To get ahead of the game anti-malware products can start monitoring the system early, before other software applications start. The security software then watches as the various programs load during the Windows boot-up process.
SE Labs works with security companies to help develop and validate their products. When a security company works with SE Labs it gains two main benefits. If the product performs well it gains a much sought-after award. If it encountered problems the testing team will provide valuable information to help fix the issues.
See our presentation video from the AMTSO Town Hall meeting.
Network detection and response products monitor networks for attacks. They look for related information too, to help detect and recover from breaches.
Network detection and response: TESTED!
SE Labs has applied its Enterprise Advanced Security testing methods to network detection and response products. In this video we explain how and why we test the way we do.
The Enterprise Advanced Security testing programme includes new attack groups.
Our Enterprise Advanced Security (EAS) tests can assess any security software, hardware appliance, cloud service or combination thereof. Always evolving, these tests have expanded to include new attacks.
(These tests were originally called the Breach Response test. We renamed them for a number of reasons.)
Hackers and way they hack
Research on real attacker behaviour is a fundamental element of our EAS testing. Our team looks at the real-world behaviour of advanced threat groups, known as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs).
Real-world security reports don’t always reflect your real world.
What makes a real-world security test useful? Does it need to provide a full assessment of a product or service? An assessment that is directly relevant for all potential customers? Or does it need to give just a taste of how effective a product can be?
The perfect security test
Tests can vary in how they are run and the level of information that they provide. Not all tests are equally reliable or even useful. But one thing they all have in common is that they aren’t perfect. Let’s look at how tests are limited, how you can interpret them and what the future holds.
False positives are not all equal. Or always real false positives!
Security tests ought to test for ‘false positives’. It’s important to see if a security product stops something good on a customer’s system, as well as the bad stuff.
Measuring the balance in security
Almost nothing in this world can be reduced to ‘good’ or ‘bad’ accurately. There is too much subtlety: what’s good for one person is bad for another. Someone else might feel neutral about it, or slightly positive or negative. The same applies when testing security products. It’s rare to get a straightforward good/ bad result.
An anti-malware product might block all threats but also all useful programs. It might ask the user frequent and unhelpful questions like, “Do you want to run this ‘unknown’ file?” Alternatively, it might let everything run quietly. Or prevent some things from running without warning or explanation. Maybe you want to see alerts, but maybe you don’t.
We look at how to put the nuance back into security testing.
Endpoint protection against different types of attacker tested.
Our reports are based on ‘testing security from zero to Neo’. Their wide scope helps you choose the best anti-malware product, that can protect you from ransomware and other types of attack.
Targeted attacks come in all levels of sophistication
There seems to be no limit to the powers of cyber criminals. In 2021 the public became aware of the advanced capabilities of the NSO group, now infamous for helping governments spy on dissidents and others.
Archive of security product and service test results
Cyber Security DE:CODED Podcast
All of our podcast episodes and related content
About
SE Labs Ltd is a private, independently-owned and run testing company that assesses security products and services. The main laboratory is located in Wimbledon, South London. It has excellent local and international travel connections. The lab is open for prearranged client visits.