A Columbia company that invented what it calls the world's most widely deployed technology to detect computer hackers announced yesterday that it received $7.6 million in venture capital to develop and market a commercial version of its product. Sourcefire, a 30-employee, privately held company, uses Snort, a detection technology developed by the company's founder, Martin Roesch.. . .
A Columbia company that invented what it calls the world's most widely deployed technology to detect computer hackers announced yesterday that it received $7.6 million in venture capital to develop and market a commercial version of its product. Sourcefire, a 30-employee, privately held company, uses Snort, a detection technology developed by the company's founder, Martin Roesch.

Even before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, network security was a major concern, exacerbated by outbreaks of computer viruses. Microsoft Corp.'s biggest software launch last year, that of its Internet-based XP product, was undercut by accounts that it allowed intruders into computer files through the Web.

Unlike data security systems developed by a corporate team of engineers, Snort is an open system, available for free via the Internet. Its Web site continually receives feedback on patterns of abuse or peculiarities in network traffic. Tens of thousands of technicians use the system and offer input.

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