Web and email security provider Commtouch has finalized the acquisition of Authentium's Command antivirus division, therefore adding an anti-malware solution to its portfolio.

The Command antivirus line of products was created by Command Software, a security company dating back to 1984 and acquired in 2002 by Authentium.

Command Anti-Malware protects against viruses, trojans, spyware and other threats. It is certified by ICSA Labs and has received the VB100 award on multiple occasions.

“With this acquisition, Commtouch is uniquely positioned to provide a comprehensive Internet security suite to vendors and service providers, including messaging, Web security and antivirus technologies,” said Gideon Mantel, Commtouch’s CEO.

“We are excited to welcome the Command team into the Commtouch family and integrate its technology into our portfolio. The dedication of Command’s employees has helped the company to flourish and forge strong relationships with top-tier customers,” he added.

The deal was valued at $4.6 million in cash and could reach a total of $8 million with additional bonuses if revenue targets are met until December of next year.

Authentium's SafeCentral division which develops identity-theft protection solutions was not part of the deal and has branched off into a separate entity.

The Command team will continue to operate from Authentium's former headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, which has now become Commtouch's new Florida office.

Commtouch has a global network of over 150 OEM partners, including some reputed antivirus vendors like F-Secure or Panda Security, which integrate its solutions into their own products. Meanwhile, Command's customer base included companies such as Google, McAfee and Microsoft.

“Since announcing the agreement, we have received a great deal of positive feedback from both Commtouch’s and Command’s customer base. This acquisition is an important step forward in Commtouch’s strategy of expanding its leadership in the Internet security solution market,” concluded Mr. Mantel.