Symantec chief digs "ghost" rival Microsoft
Symantec chief digs "ghost" rival Microsoft
Feb 9, 2005: Reacting to Microsoft's plans to compete in the anti-spyware market, Symantec CEO John Thompson has challenged the software giant to provide details of what it actually plans to offer the market.
Microsoft has yet to announce whether its spyware product will be offered as part of its Windows application or as a standalone product.
Speaking at a technology investment conference in the US, Thompson remarked: "It's very challenging to compete against a ghost. So far, all we're competing against is the Microsoft press machine."
Thompson should be under no illusion that Microsoft does not intend to become a major player in the security market. Further evidence of this emerged just today with the announcement from Microsoft that it plans to acquire Sybari Software, a developer of security software for Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes environments.
"Through this acquisition, we're excited to be able to provide customers with a server-level anti-virus solution that delivers advanced file and content-filtering capabilities and the use of multiple scan engines," said Mike Nash, corporate vice president of the Security Business and Technology Unit at Microsoft.
Microsoft said the planned acquisition of Sybari Software will play a key part in its enterprise security strategy, providing anti-virus technologies that shield communications servers and supply customers with multiple-engine protection that can help with increased detection rates of malicious software.
"We've been able to provide sophisticated, comprehensive protection for millions of mailboxes worldwide, and we're excited that through the addition of Microsoft's expertise and contribution, these solutions will be available to even more businesses," said Robert Wallace, president and CEO of Sybari Software. "We're proud of the effectiveness of our antigen products in providing protection against malicious software."
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