MS axes Unix anti-virus sales after bagging Sybari

Channel Register ^ | 22 Jun 2005 10:58 | John Leyden

[N3WBI3]

Microsoft wasted no time after tying up the acquisition of email security firm Sybari Software on Wednesday before axing sales of the latter's line of anti-virus products for Unix and Linux servers.

Post acquisition, Syabri becomes a Microsoft subsidiary focusing on marketing anti-virus and anti-spam protection for Microsoft messaging and collaboration servers. It will continue to market Sybari's Lotus Domino products but will not sell Antigen versions for Unix and Linux. Microsoft said it plans to continue to support Sybari products under existing pricing and licensing terms and support existing users on non-Windows platforms.

Sybari's security packages incorporate multiple third party anti-virus scanning engines. Microsoft plans to add the scanning technolgy from GeCAD, the Romanian anti-virus firm it acquired in 2003, to the mix. Microsoft ditched GeCAD's Nix product lines after that acquisition so it comes as no great surprise that there's no future for Antigen on Nix either. Anti-virus products for Unix servers occupy a useful niche in the market not because there are many viruses that infect Unix platforms but because they help prevent these servers from hosting Windows malware. ®

[clyde asbury]

Clear Type is a font effect in XP. It softens the look of text, makes it more comfortable to read and gives a very nice look. I bet there's a way to do the same in Linux.

I have been looking at Slackware and D*mn Small for a 1996 Presario I have gathering dust.

[zeugma]

Copyright lasts until heck freezes over

Well, the way I heard it, Copyright lasts until 3 seconds before the heat death of the universe. Maybe that is the same thing. :-)

Seriously though, I'm not suprised at all that microsoft dropped all support for the unix versions of the anti-virus scanners they bought. Don't you think would be embarassing for microsoft to have to admit that thier defective products aren't even a fit platform to scan for viruses? Personally, I think it's a hilarious admission of failure on their part that Unix ystems don't need antivirus software!

[N3WBI3]

I bet there's a way to do the same in Linux.

I stare at terminals most of the time so I would not know, but I would not hold your breath waiting for parrrty linux fonts, I have yet to see them..

[N3WBI3]

Zeg,

PHB's dont know that stand alone or homogeneous Unix does not need anti virus software so this can hurt it. Even worse there are cases when Unix does need anti virus, thats when it process files that windows servers have or will have access to (mail, samba, ftp). How many unix filesystems bit it because of nimbda reproducing itself onto a samba share..

[Red Badger]

In the US, it's not illegal to have a monopoly, but it is illegal to take actions to maintain a monopoly...........

[ko_kyi]

There was no purpose behind killing the RAV product line except to hurt Novell and GroupWise users.

[antiRepublicrat]

They play hardball with all of the cards. They approach a company with both threats and promises and once you are in their cross hairs, you are in sorry shape unless you are the size of HP or some like size company that can actually defend themselves.

I know somebody who worked around Microsoft. You are right. If they want you, you'd better sell, because otherwise they'll destroy you and then buy you when you have no more choice. This doesn't just apply to tech companies, but anything they want.

[antiRepublicrat]

assuming Disney doesn't need to beat Mickey another 20 years

"perpetual copyright on the installment plan" -- Lessig

With all the recent court decisions overturning various laws, I wonder why the justices picked this case to decide to defer to Congress, when Congress' actions are blatantly unconstitutional.

[dalight]

The funny thing is that it just occurred to me that this is exactly the same ruling as the one the Supremes just made on private property rights. Just a few interests have through political influence extended copyrights beyond all reason despite the clear clear language and the long history of the intent of this clause in the constitution.

In the case of government seizures of land for private interests, it is a situation where monied interests are being given rights specifically denied in the clear language of the constitution. Instead, all of these decisions including the recent decision allowing regulation of marijuana for medical use depend on finding new meaning to words in the constitution that contradict the clear reading of these words and their intended limits.