Anti virus reviews and independent testing centre AV-Test.org has issued its latest set of quarterly results. They tested 19 products within their multi-layered certification scheme.

One of the most surprising conclusions from the antivirus reviews and testing procedures this time, was that some of the major companies and their products did not meet the required standard.

Two notable examples of products failing to reach the grade were McAfee’s Internet Security and Microsoft’s Security Essentials, which is a free-for-home-use application. This was the second quarter running that the McAfee application was denied certification.

On the plus side, Trend Micro upped its performance from a poor showing in the last test and achieved its first certification.

The testing scheme, which was launched earlier this year, is made up of a number of key testing components which balances protection against live threats, and then how they are handled, including clean-up and usability issues. Also, impact upon computer speed and the number of false positives are also considered.

For a product to be granted certified status, a minimum score is needed from the complete range of tests.

Both the McAfee and Microsoft applications had problems in the protection and removal categories, although they did score well in other parts of the test.

Another poor shower was Norman’s Security Suite which also managed to not get an award for the second quarter in a row.

In contrast a number of companies and their applications did achieve passes. Norton, developed by Symantec, got the highest score overall, with successes from Webroot, PC Tools, Panda, Kaspersky, GData, F-Secure, ESET, BitDefender, Avira, AVG and Avast.

Anti virus reviews are commonplace these days, but for the large security software companies to fail to score highly with their products, especially given their resources and the money they cost, is somewhat embarrassing for two of the largest players named in this review.

It would be interesting to hear if the companies concerned are happy with the testing criteria and methods used.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

The computer security industry may continue to encourage users to buy anti virus software, but the words might take on a greater significance if Microsoft decides to bid for massive bug catcher Symantec.

Internet security is essential to the wellbeing of computer users everywhere and the corporate world appear to be getting excited about its future potential. Not only has Intel snapped up McAfee for north of seven billion dollars, but news has just come of the purchase by Hewlett Packard of another computer security company, ArcSight, although for the lesser figure of $1.5 billion.

Hence the reasons for the bid rumours re Microsoft and Symantec. City dealers work on gossip, rumours and trends (some say like sheep), so the jump from two major bids, to talk of a third, is not unsurprising.

And it’s a persuasive theory. What worries many companies in any given sector is the size of the competition and their ability to lever their cash resources. McAfee and Symantec are both giants in that sector, with Symantec – the creators and developers of the Norton range of products – recognised as being the largest player. Now suddenly their main rival has the likes of Intel looking after them. This means that McAfee will have the financial muscle to step up research and development, and, should they so choose, implement an aggressive sales strategy with wholesalers and retailers. Symantec will now wonder how Intel’s big pockets will affect their competitive and technology standing.

The theory therefore goes, that Symantec might welcome a move from a larger company to offer it the same kind of weight that Intel now offers McAfee. And shareholders of Symantec might think that payday is around the corner with such a bid from a company like Microsoft. And Symantec’s recent near 10% rise in its share price suggests that the markets are hoping for a suitor for the internet security giant in the near future.

What’s more, many wags suggest that given Microsoft’s arguably terrible reputation when it comes to being the hacker’s favourite target, the Seattle company could do with a helping hand on the inside to help repel boarders.

But investment analysts aren’t convinced that Microsoft is ready to make such a move. They point to Microsoft’s better security record and their development of their own range of antivirus products, including anti-malware programmes and effective firewall solutions. Does it need Symantec to improve this area for them – maybe not? Nor would Symantec’s reputation for its Norton products to hog processor power like a jealous lover, endear it to the geeks in Seattle.

And nor would Symantec be cheap. Microsoft certainly has the deep pockets needed to acquire such a large company, but it may not give its own investors a reasonable return. A smaller computer security company might just do the trick instead. So many investors are taking the slide rule to other credible players, which have the technology, but not the premium price tag.

So, buy anti virus might just be the corporate buzz phrase for the end of 2010, and even if Microsoft don’t want to swallow Symantec, expect some smaller players to be targeted by other general computer companies.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Following on from the massive Intel and McAfee deal, another deal involving a software antivirus company has been announced, albeit on a far smaller scale.

Czech software antivirus company Avast has been given a $100 million shot-in-the-arm following the purchase of a minority stake by equity investor Summit Partners. After being formed in 1991, the security company was once Alvil Software, but is now more memorably known as Avast, sharing its name with the security products it produces.

Unlike many other security software companies, Avast’s focus is on providing a quality free-of-charge security product for the everyday home user, as well as premium products that can be purchased alongside. Avast has always believed that it’s company will do its marketing for them; satisfied customers of the free product will recommend the premium safety product to their friends, family and colleagues. This ‘freemium’ strategy does appear to have worked, at least for Avast, with their product installed on one in five machines globally.

“For 26 years, Summit Partners has been investing in profitable, innovative leaders in the security software industry, and it is rare to find a company such as Avast that redefines how an industry does business. We are very excited about the growth prospects of this exceptional company,” says Han Sikkens, a Principal in Summit Partners’ London office.

Summit’s new investment in the Avast company will be hoped to improve growth and development at Avast, a company that have already proved to be good at thinking outside the box in providing their customers with a unique and safe computer experience through their products. Although not quite as lucrative as the recent deal with Intel and McAfee, this deal between Avast and Summit Partners demonstrates the room for growth that lies within the software antivirus market.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

The security antivirus sector has undergone a major shake-up with the news that Intel, the world’s largest computer chip manufacturer, has bought McAfee for $7.68 billion (£5 billion).

The logic behind the deal, which has come as a surprise to most investment analysts and also to many within the security antivirus sector, is to take a new approach to fighting cybercrime. Intel plans to build security features within the microprocessors that are used to power computers and smaller devices such as mobile phones.

Intel have deep pockets and have offered $48 cash per share for McAfee stock which represents a 60% premium on the McAfee pre-deal share price. Not surprisingly McAfee shares jumped 58% on the news of the bid and the price being offered.

And even though the two companies had been working together for over a year, the deal still caught many unawares. Although both company Boards approved the deal, the takeover will have to be passed by shareholders of both companies and the US regulatory authorities.

Should the deal go ahead – and few see any major problems – the first few products of the amalgamation will be introduced early in 2011.

As the bidder and the ones coughing up the cash, Intel’s shares off 4% to 18.84 US cents.

The BBC was one of many media organisations to run the story and the editor of PC Pro Magazine was one of many who were surprised at the news:

“Intel does buy a lot of companies and it does have a lot of more cash than anyone else out there. So it making a big acquisition isn’t a surprise, but you may have thought it more likely to buy another hardware firm. No doubt Intel is looking ahead and seeing that the laptop and desktop market are probably past their heyday and the big growth area is mobile.

“For a company like Intel, it’s nowhere near as strong in the mobile area as it is in the laptop and desktop areas, so it’s probably looking for new ways to get streams and revenues in the future. Perhaps that is Intel’s point of view but not everybody else’s. The reaction from investors has been quite negative.”

Experts now say that the deal will be a major re-arrangement of the computer antivirus sector, with some firms now feeling on the back foot as McAfee gets access to the sharp end of the industry.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Security software reviews are coming fast and furious at the moment, but McAfee has gone one step further by effectively issuing what it calls a “call to arms” for the computer security industry.

The media might focus on security software reviews, but the likes of McAfee wants to give the cybercriminals a kick where it hurts.

And this new report focuses on the need for the computer security industry to take a far more proactive approach when it comes tackling the threats posed by cybercriminals.

McAfee points to an increasingly cybercriminal dominated environment with incidents of cyber-espionage, the workings of major cybercrime syndicates, rings and gangs, and, the launch of sophisticated malware devices such as Stuxnet which targets key infrastructure systems. Given all the threats and the almost ‘professional’ approach adopted by many modern-day cybercriminals, McAfee is of the view that it’s about time the security industry stepped up to the plate.

Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee Labs, said:
“Cybercriminals prosper because they have very little reason to fear the consequences. As security experts, it’s time to take a hard look at what we do, how we do it, and what our ultimate goals are. The tools and techniques of cybercrime continue to grow in number and sophistication at alarming rates. Every time we release a new statistic about the rise in malware it points to our failure as an industry.”

The report is entitled “Security Takes the Offensive” and has been partly authored by international experts who have compiled strategies which are hopefully clarion calls, says McAfee, for the computer security industry. What upsets these experts is that both security companies and computer users themselves, have always played a defensive game and, figuratively speaking, is like putting armour on computers and networks. The report says that it’s about time that everyone took a more aggressive and proactive stance, bringing to bear all the forces of law and order to beat the cyber-criminals.

David Marcus, director of security research and communications for McAfee Labs, said:
“As we look at the evolution of risky domains and websites over multiple years, we can’t avoid the conclusion that the risk keeps increasing in both volume and sophistication. If we want to stop being victims, then the good guys need to advance security efforts as threats evolve.”

Guest Article by Neil Camp