Bytware, the i5/OS security software vendor, has launched a new marketing campaign based on what it says are vulnerabilities to System i security inherent in enabling PHP on the IBM midrange server.

The campaign is in the form of a mystery investigation in which System i users first watch a YouTube video that purports to follow undercover agents on a quest around the world for clues leading to information about who hacked into the system of fictitious Silic Financial. After uncovering clues and visiting several Web sites to recover bits of information, players can be entered into a prize drawing for a computer game system or music gift card.

The marketing campaign is similar to one the Reno, Nev.-based software company ran several years ago for which it won an International Silver Davey Award for "The Great Security Caper." In that game, research data from a fictitious Houston technology company was stolen.

The point of this year's mystery game appears to be to familiarize System i users with the vulnerabilities inherent with a networked System i, particularly one that is running PHP natively on the server. PHP, while a secure environment, can access data directly on the System i, and has a number of known vulnerabilities that should be taken into account in configuring the server. The Bytware campaign is an effort to bring users' attention to the issue of security and, presumably, solutions that are—or soon may become available—to the System i community.

Users who wish to participate can do so by visiting www.i5virus.com, the URL being named after the new Bytware game.

About Bytware

Founded in 1986, Bytware has been a technological leader in iSeries/System i solutions for nearly two decades and is an Advanced Business Partner with IBM. As a pioneer of automated monitoring/notification technology in the 1980s and the platform's first anti-virus solution, Bytware works with iSeries managers to make their systems productive and secure with its line-up of award-winning, ServerProven solutions, network of international resellers covering more than 20 countries and renowned 24/7/365 support. At least one division of every Fortune 100 company relies on Bytware's Messenger for smooth operations, and Bytware's StandGuard Anti-Virus and Recycle Bin solutions both ship with IBM's i5/OS.