Microsoft buys antivirus company

By MattWhipp

Posted on 12 Jun 2003 at 10:40

Microsoft has bought Romanian antivirus company GeCAD with a view to offering an 'antivirus solution'.

No financial details or further information about product plans, pricing or availability were made available, but the company does say it will be using the technology to provide 'antivirus solutions for Microsoft products and services'.

Microsoft says it will also use the technology to improve support for third-party antivirus software and 'increase today's limited percentage of customers that are protected with updated antivirus signatures'.

'Customers told us they needed a safer, more trustworthy computing experience to help combat the threats posed by those who write viruses and malicious code,' said Mike Nash, corporate vice president of the Security Business Unit at Microsoft. 'This acquisition will help us and our partner antivirus providers further mitigate risks from these threats.'

This work follows on from further announcements made earlier this year of Microsoft's teaming up with other industry leaders and creating a new File System Filter Manager Architecture, to make it easier for antivirus vendors to develop Windows-compatible products. It will of course also be an aid in developing its own AV products.

Buying GeCAD gives Microsoft the company's key product RAV AntiVirus, which is designed for Windows and Linux desktops, as well as mail or file servers. It is also available for free for use with instant messaging services

Currently MSN and Hotmail email accounts use McAfee software to scan mail for viruses, and although Microsoft is keeping mum on the roadmap with GeCAD, there is certainly room to plug it into Windows alongside the built-in firewall, as well as its online services.

Will developing antivirus protection for Windows create another example of Microsoft being anti-competitive, or is it simply giving the customer what they want? Have you say by commenting on this story below.