14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, the software giant announced that it plans to buy Sybari Software Inc., a company that makes programs designed to protect business computer networks from all types of online malware, like viruses, worms and trojans.
Details about the amount of money Microsoft will spend on this aquisition were not disclosed, but that's the company's policy since all other security-related purchases Microsoft has made lately didn't carry enough details. Sybari is privately held but filed papers last year for an initial public stock offering.
Microsoft is preparing to release a suite of antivirus software products that will compete with products from companies such as Symantec Corp. and McAfee Inc.
The Sybari acquisition will materialize with Microsoft's first official separate paid antivirus offering. Sybari is just the latest company Microsoft has bought so it can make its own security products. 18 months ago, Microsoft had signed a definitive agreement to acquire the intellectual property and technology assets of GeCAD Software Srl., a Romanian provider of antivirus technology.
Microsoft's acquisition of GeCAD's technology was meant to help secure customers by providing antivirus solutions for Microsoft products and services. Last December, it bought Giant Company Software Inc., which makes tools to remove spyware, software that monitors a person's computer habits, slows down computers, triggers pop-up ads and worse.
Microsoft started early this year offerings of free software to remove viruses and spyware. More sophisticated programs will come with a price tag, though, that also being the case for spyware removal tools.