Microsoft to Buy Anti-Virus Software Firm

thejuggler writes "Excite News is reporting that Microsoft is planning to buy Sybari Software Inc., which makes programs designed to protect business computer networks from viruses, worms and other threats. This is Microsoft's second purchase of an anti-virus company. The article states that Microsoft is thinking about charging for their anti-virus and anti-spyware software."

Comments

Second Purchase

[ackthpt]

Evidently they wore out the first one...

windows hungry! want more!

Nothing for you to see here

[baryon351]

No Antitrust for you to see here, please move along.

Re:Nothing for you to see here

[interiot]

Eh? Antitrust laws do not simply protect against monopolies/cartels, but instead protect against anything that intentionally restrains trade (as vague as that is). There are several solid pages on vertical integration/antitrust (one, two ). Isn't payola a clear case of vertical integration? If you can control the channels of production, it doesn't matter if you have lots of competitors who will sell at a lower price than you; the customer doesn't have access to their product.

Microsoft Business Plan

[Anonymous Coward]

1. Make bad software 2. Acquire and sell software to repair original bad software 3. PROFIT!!!

Wouldn't it be better?

[Russ Nelson]

Wouldn't it be better if Microsoft was to fix their bloody insecure software instead??
-russ

Re:Wouldn't it be better?

[Metteyya]

You obviously haven't read the summary:
The article states that Microsoft is thinking about charging for their anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

Re:Wouldn't it be better?

[benjamindees]

It leaves you with a free market of people who *do* know various implementations of C and are willing to help you at a market rate.

With Windows, you're stuck with a binary that you can't decompile, and a single company with the source and little motivation to fix your bug.

Well, of course.

[Faust7]

The article states that Microsoft is thinking about charging for their anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

I don't see how they couldn't, without risking further anti-trust-related accusations.

And in other news...

[fiannaFailMan]

Manufacturer of spontaneously-combusting household furniture today announced that they would be charging customers for fire extinguishers.

Re:Swindle?

[Living WTF]

I don't use antivirus software and have never gotten a virus yet.

I guess you also have no mirror, but know you look great?

They're not buying an AV engine, though

[Caesar]

As we noted over at Ars, Sybari doesn't make an AV engine. Their main product allows customers to plug in AV engines developed by other companies, and in fact can support multiple engines at once.

Of course, MS does have their own engine now, which they bought back in 2003.

Scifi

[Deinesh]

Kinda like a B grade Scifi movie, release a disease and charge money for the cure.

Slight correction:

[mrchaotica]

1. Make bad software
2. PROFIT!!!
3. Acquire and sell software to repair original bad software
4. PROFIT MORE!!!

Re:Swindle?

[Living WTF]

Or you could go to Symantec's site and use their online ActiveX virus scanner.

Why does "ActiveX virus scanner" sound like an oxymoron?

ClamAV

[VeneficusAcerbus]

There's always www.clamav.net

Re:Not updated fast enough.

[LnxAddct]

I can't find the link, but the irconic thing is that ClamAV, the free virus scanner, was once evaluated and found to update its database sometimes faster then both symantec and mcaffee.
Regards,
Steve