AVAR Conference

Three years ago a small group of Anti-Virus researchers met in Hong Kong and linked hands for a photograph. This was the inaugural event of the Association of anti-Virus Asia Researchers, an independent and not-for-profit organization that is oriented in Asia Pacific region. AVAR was the brainchild of Seiji Murakami. Murakami is a leader in Japanese Anti-Virus, developing the first local anti-virus in 1990. After his company was acquired by Network Associates in March 1997, Seiji founded Japan Computer Security Research center (JCSR) and Japan Computer Security Association (JCSA) in July 1997 in order to spend more time on promoting anti-virus activities. He also realized that there was a need for non-profit and independent anti-virus organization in Asia, and contacted other researchers around the region to form AVAR. The mission of the AVAR is to prevent the spread and damage caused by computer virus, and to develop cooperative relationship among anti-virus researchers in Asia, and, with that in mind, AVAR has organised a growing annual conference. The second, in Korea attracted fifty participants, and the third, in Tokyo, one hundred and eighty. This year it is back in Hong Kong, at the New World Renaissance Hotel, on the 4 and 5 of December.

Widely Supported

The conference is being co-organised by the Information Security Special Interest Group (IS-SIG) of the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS). The Hong Kong Computer Society was founded in 1970 as a non-profit making professional body with the primary objective to promote the uses of IT in Hong Kong. The IS-SIG was established in June 2000 focuses research and discussion on security related subjects.

Many other organisations are backing the conference. Network Associates is the Platinum Sponsor, and the Information Technology Services Department (ITSD) of the Hong Kong Government is the Gold Sponsor. Symantec and Ahnlab are Silver sponsors and the Bronze Sponsors are Virus Buster (Hungary) and HAURI. Supporting Organisations include the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, the Computing Services Centre of City University of Hong Kong, the Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SingCERT), Hong Kong CERT and Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).

Government Involvement

One special feature of the AVAR conference has been government involvement, with previous years speakers including the Korean Information Security Agency (KISA), the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI, now renamed to Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore and the Chinese Tianjin Quality Testing and Inspection Service. This year government topics will include Information Security Policy in Japan and the introduction of a National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center in China.

The Art of War

However, the techies will not feel left out - two papers look at the future of virus detection in new Office versions. Other papers consider using Intrusion Detection Systems for catching viruses; and the security of Java mobile phones. Sun Tze recommended knowing the enemy and yourself, so the papers on how Worms can be successful and how best to compare AV software are entirely appropriate.

For the Corporate Security Manager, the presentation on a major corporation's virus checking service, and the one on grassroots exchange of anti-virus information will be of special interest. Anti-Virus industry leaders will make the keynote and honorary speeches. However, as the Conference Chairman, I would not like to suggest that this short list of topics are the conference highlights because that judgement should be left to the delegates, I hope you will be among them. Full details of the programme and the participation details will be on the AVAR website.