Twitter acquires Dasient in security buying spree, Android platform focus

Twitter hasacquired Web-based antimalware vendor Dasient in a deal that will integrate the firms securityscanning technology into Twitters network.

Dasient said its Web antimalware platform, launched in 2009, is capable of quickly scanning URLsand websites for the presence of malicious code. The company launched a service in 2010 to protectad networks and publishers from malware spreading through Web banners and otheradvertisements.

Over the last year, we have been very active in securing the ads and content of the some of theindustrys largest ad networks and websites, the company said in a blog post announcing theTwitter acquisition. By joining Twitter, Dasient will be able to apply its technology and team tothe worlds largest real-time information network.

The company said it is immediately shutting down its business and is no longer accepting newcustomers. The acquisition is the second security deal that Twitter has struck in recent months. InNovember, Twitteracquired Whisper Systems, a security firm that specializes in creating a hardened version ofthe Android platform.

Android platform focus at Black Hat 2011

In an interview with SearchSecurity.com at the Black Hat 2011 conference, Neil Daswani, CTO andco-founder of Dasient, talked about his teams Androidsmartphone research. Dasient demonstrated a drive-byattack on Google Android smartphones using a Webkit vulnerability and coding error in Skype.The attack took complete control of the device. The Dasient research team also conducted behavioralanalysis of more than 10,000 Android applications and found widespread privacy leaks.

Chief security officers and IT admins should absolutely be paying attention to these thingsgoing on in the mobile space, Daswani told Searchsecurity.com.

While security features have been built into mobile platforms, Daswani said additionalsafeguards are needed to protect them. Security technologies for smartphones need to be differentthan traditional antivirus and antimalware software used on desktops, he said.

When we look at mobile devices I think its going to be more important to take advantage ofcloud-based scanning techniques to continue to keep devices safe but not incur any performancepenalties on them, Daswani said.