Akonix Security Center Publishes IM Threat Watch for July 2006.

SAN DIEGO -- Akonix Systems, the provider of the most deployed instant messaging (IM) security and compliance products in the world, today announced its Security Center (www.imsecuritycenter.com) researchers tracked 16 attacks against IM networks in July, bringing the total number of attacks during 2006 to 127.

New worms identified in July include Dozic, Semsy and Aimbot. The most common attack was Oscarbot/Opanki, which had three variants, followed by Chode, with two variants. Overall, Akonix security analysts issued a total of seven new policy updates, using the industry's only dynamic IM malware, spim and protocol update system. This automatically pushes updates to customers and blocks spyware, worms and viruses in real time at the network perimeter. Akonix customers were secure on day zero from each new threat with the deep protection and containment features of Akonix's 360 degree Security for Real-Time Communications(TM).

"We continue to see a wide gap between the number of companies that have deployed email security and compliance products versus those with IM security and compliance rules and policies in place," said Don Montgomery, VP of marketing at Akonix. "IT departments have not exerted the same control over the corporate use of IM as they have for email and Web browsing, even in the face of evidence that IM is now used by employees at 90% of organizations around the world."

The Akonix Security Center is a collaborative effort between Akonix's internal security group, enterprise customer security teams and industry leading partners in IM infrastructure and security. It focuses on the emerging security threats posed by IM and P2P applications in the corporate environment, and is the foundation of the early detection layer of 360 degree Security. Detailed information about the July 2006 IM Threat Report can be found at www.imsecuritycenter.com.

For more information on how 360 degree Security from Akonix ensures networks guard against the security risks of unmanaged IM and P2P use, please visit www.akonix.com/360, call 619-615-9415 or email [e-mail]. Companies interested in putting Akonix products to work protecting their networks can receive a free 30-day evaluation of A6000 and A1000 IM security appliances at eval.akonix.com.

About Akonix

Akonix is the most deployed IM security product in the world, enabling Global 1000 companies to deploy productive, enterprise-wide IM that is secure, compliant and managed.

Worldwide over one million people across hundreds of organizations in the Financial Services, Telecommunications, Energy, Technology, Healthcare and Entertainment industries use Akonix products. With more than 20 patent applications, Akonix's 360 degree Security provides the industry's only automatically-updated protection to block viruses and malware for both enterprise and public IM systems. Akonix has certified partnerships with all leading IM and presence providers including America Online(R), Microsoft, Yahoo!, Reuters, IBM, Jabber Inc., Parlano, Antepo, and Bloomberg.

An IM industry first, the Akonix IM Security Center (http://www.imsecuritycenter.com) provides real-time information about worms, viruses and other vulnerabilities that target IM and P2P networks. The company issues monthly and quarterly IM threat watch reports to track key trends and vulnerabilities.

For further information on the company, please visit http://www.akonix.com.