Anti-malware body expands testing guidelines

Software testers are being offered more accurate security testing methods

The Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organisation (AMTSO) has expanded its guidelines and resources in a move designed to provide software testers with more accurate security testing methods.

AMTSO members unanimously adopted the two new testing guidelines papers at a meeting in May. The first, Whole Product Protection Testing Guidelines, advocates that testers take a more balanced approach to evaluating products.

"Too many current tests focus on individual technologies, such as on-demand scans," said AMTSO director Igor Muttik.

"Only by testing all of a product's protection capabilities in a comprehensive test can one provide a more realistic view of the security offered to computer users by contemporary security suites."

The second paper, Performance Testing Guidelines, details the complexities in conducting effective speed testing.

"There is as much art as there is science in understanding the various elements which can skew the results for the unwary tester," said F-Secure chief research officer Mikko Hyppönen.

"This document will help testers understand these issues and allow them to take the necessary steps to minimise them and take them into account."