Future Antivirus Solutions, Windows Platform Investments Will Provide Customers With Added Protection
Microsoft Corp. today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the intellectual property and technology assets of GeCAD Software Srl., a provider of antivirus technology based in Bucharest, Romania. Microsoft"s acquisition of GeCAD"s technology will help secure customers by providing antivirus solutions for Microsoft® products and services. In addition to developing new solutions, Microsoft will use the GeCAD engineering expertise and technology to enhance the Windows® platform and extend support for third-party antivirus vendors so they can provide customers with increasingly secure and comprehensive levels of virus protection.
"Customers told us they needed a safer, more trustworthy computing experience to help combat the threats posed by those who write viruses and malicious code," said Mike Nash, corporate vice president of the Security Business Unit at Microsoft. "This acquisition will help us and our partner antivirus providers further mitigate risks from these threats."
The knowledge and experience acquired from GeCAD will contribute to Microsoft"s understanding of how systems are attacked, enabling Microsoft to more effectively focus on platform improvements that will benefit customers and industry partners alike. Microsoft plans to focus efforts on technologies that address both current concerns and anticipate future needs. For example, work will be done to help increase today"s limited percentage of customers that are protected with updated antivirus signatures, and attention also will be given to developing next-generation solutions for evolving threat models.