Security companies splash out

2008-08-01

Helen Martin

Virus Bulletin, UK

Editor: Helen Martin

Abstract

New acquisitions for Sophos and Aladdin.

Security vendors Aladdin Knowledge Systems and Sophos have both laughed in the face of the so-called global credit crunch and between them spent (or indicated their intent to spend) millions on new acquisitions in the last month.

Anti-malware vendor Sophos has issued official notice of its intent to buy German encryption firm Utimaco in a share deal worth over $340 million. This will add encryption to the company’s range of services which currently include anti-spam and network access control in addition to anti-malware.

Meanwhile, Aladdin Knowledge Systems, which specializes in authentication and software DRM as well as content security, has announced that it will acquire the Secure SafeWord two-factor authentication technology from Secure Computing Corporation for approximately $65 million in a bid to strengthen its position in the authentication market.

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