Iran again – but this time the country seen prohibiting import of foreign computer security software and moreover even started building its own anti-virus software – Strange act but true – as even if seen earlier times Iran is one such good nation who had prohibited/banned sites for quite some time.
Reza Taghipour, Iran’s Information and Communications Technology Minister stressed that no foreign software for computer security will be imported into the country, adding that Iran will rely on its own software, made by local developers. He added that domestic security programs have been improving, and Iran will use them, instead of foreign security software, which cannot be trusted.
Mohammad Hossein Sheikhi, Assistant Professor of Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Shiraz, said: The software is being developed by Iranian experts from Shiraz Computer Emergency Response Team of APA (Academic Protection and Awareness) of Iran. APA centers started operation in 2007 with the intention of providing service in the fields of network security and network disorders.
Sheikhi added that the team which has been working on the antivirus project consists of five Electronic and Computer Engineering faculty students, 20 doctoral graduate students, and five students with master’s degree in computer engineering. The work has been financed by Iranian president’s special committee on information and communication technologies. Sheikhi also said that a special virus-analysing lab has been set up, along with a virus database. All of this has been done in Iran for the first time.
