2014 Second Workshop on Anti-malware Testing Research (WATeR)

Anti malware products have become a key element of information system protection against current threats. Testing how effective these products are at protecting the end-users and their computers is therefore crucial, whether it is to improve product quality (engineering testing) or to aid users in making better decisions about their acquisition and operation (certification and comparative testing). However designing and conducting relevant anti-malware tests producing significant and accurate results is a complex question. The Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), regrouping key players from the anti-malware industry including product vendors, testers, security experts and technology publishers, fully recognizes the technical challenges posed by testing in the current context. It also acknowledges the need to re-evaluate traditional testing approaches in the current context, to potentially develop new approaches to testing, while providing an open forum for discussion on these issues including the academic community, regulatory bodies and government, and groups representing the interests of end-users. To that effect the AMTSO is sponsoring and organizing the Second Workshop on Anti-malware Testing Research. The aim of this workshop is to bring together experts from the industry in contact with academic researchers in order to identify and define the important technical problems associated with anti-malware testing methodologies, and hopefully helping to establish collaborations on potential research projects attempting to find solutions to these problems.