RIP: Antivirus veteran Raimund Genes, 54

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Microsoft Defender goes cross-platform for the masses

Redmond's security brand extended to multiple devices without stomping on other solutions

Richard Speed Fri 17 Jun 2022 // 15:30 UTC

Microsoft is extending the Defender brand with a version aimed at families and individuals.
"Defender" has been the company's name of choice for its anti-malware platform for years. Microsoft Defender for individuals, available for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers, is a cross-platform application, encompassing macOS, iOS, and Android devices and extending "the protection already built into Windows Security beyond your PC."
The system comprises a dashboard showing the status of linked devices as well as alerts and suggestions.

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Microsoft's standalone Defender for Business hits GA

Security suite for the orgs unwilling to stump up for a Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscription

Richard Speed Tue 3 May 2022 // 14:00 UTC

Microsoft has made a standalone version of Microsoft Defender for Business generally available, aimed at customers not keen on paying for one of its subscriptions.
The product is already bundled with Microsoft 365 Business Premium (for businesses with up to 300 employees) but can now be picked up as a standalone product for $3 per user per month, as we reported from Ignite late last year.
Microsoft currently has four tiers of 365 subscriptions, starting at Business Basic (which includes the web versions of the company's productivity apps) for $6, going up to the full-fat premium version for $22 per user per month, with desktop versions of Office apps.

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Germany advises citizens to uninstall Kaspersky antivirus

Russian biz founder calls it 'an insult'

Gareth Corfield Tue 15 Mar 2022 // 16:00 UTC

Germany's BSI federal cybersecurity agency has warned the country's citizens not to install Russian-owned Kaspersky antivirus, saying it has "doubts about the reliability of the manufacturer."
Russia-based Kaspersky has long been a target of suspicious rumors in the West over its ownership and allegiance to Russia's rulers.
In an advisory published today, the agency said: "The BSI recommends replacing applications from Kaspersky's virus protection software portfolio with alternative products."

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UK regulator puts NortonLifeLock merger with Avast on ice

Security vendors now have 5 working days to explain to the Competition and Markets Authority why it's wrong

Richard Currie Wed 16 Mar 2022 // 11:33 UTC

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) merger inquiry into NortonLifeLock's proposed $8bn acquisition of rival antivirus provider Avast has now closed, with the regulator concluding that a tie-up could indeed reduce competition in the marketplace.
"Advanced discussions" concerning a merger of the two security vendors first surfaced in July 2021, when NortonLifeLock investors were told that a combination with Avast "would bring together two companies with aligned visions, highly complementary business profiles and a joint commitment to innovation that helps protect and empower people to live their digital lives safely."
By August, a deal had been agreed where NortonLifeLock would acquire all Avast shares for $8bn followed by the combined companies listing on NASDAQ.

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Avira also mines imaginary internet money on customers' PCs

Who should your PC work for: you, or your antivirus vendor?

Liam Proven in Prague Mon 10 Jan 2022 // 18:36 UTC

Germany-based security biz Avira's antivirus has enabled a new feature: "Avira Crypto". It's opt-in, but if you click "yes", the AV will use your computer to mine Ethereum.

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No defence for outdated defenders as consumer AV nears RIP

How sad would you be to see AV go? Us neither

Rupert Goodwins Mon 10 Jan 2022 // 10:00 UTC

Opinion Game knows game. Thus it came as little surprise that Norton's consumer security software not only sprouted a cryptominer that slurps your computer's life essence and skims a cut, but that it's hard to turn it off.
A marriage not made in heaven but the other place: consumer-grade antivirus software has always had an uneven reputation, much of which it richly deserves. But how did we come to carry such a high parasitical load in 2022?
Some of this is technical. Early generations of PC malware established standard techniques to propagate and protect themselves. Rootkit methods were common, monitoring and modifying operating system calls to defect target files and infect them, and to deflect scans or probes by returning false information. This means sinking hooks into the operating system at its lowest levels and taking control – which is precisely the same techniques early AV software used to detect and nullify viruses while defending itself from attacks in turn.

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Remember Norton 360's bundled cryptominer? Irritated folk realise Ethereum crafter is tricky to delete

Disable anti-tamper features first and you'll be all right

Gareth Corfield Wed 5 Jan 2022 // 15:56 UTC

Updated Norton antivirus's inbuilt cryptominer has re-entered the public consciousness after a random Twitter bod expressed annoyance at how difficult it is to uninstall.
The addition of Ncrypt.exe, Norton 360's signed cryptocurrency-mining binary, to installations of Norton antivirus isn't new – but it seems to have taken the non-techie world a few months to realise what's going on.
Back in June, NortonLifeLock, owner of the unloved PC antivirus product, declared it was offering Ethereum mining as part of its antivirus suite. NortonLifeLock's pitch, as we reported, was that people dabbling in cryptocurrency mining probably weren't paying attention to security – so what better way than to take up a cryptocurrency miner than installing one from a trusted consumer security brand?

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NortonLifeLock and Avast tie-up falls under UK competition regulator's spotlight

CMA invites comments from 'interested parties' on what merger means to them

Paul Kunert Thu 20 Jan 2022 // 11:03 UTC

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has invited comments from industry and interested parties about NortonLifeLock's proposed $8bn purchase of fellow infosec outfit Avast.
The merger inquiry will run until the 16 March when the comments will be collated and assessed to determine if there is sufficient concern to warrant a deeper investigation.
"The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002," it said.

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UK competition watchdog unveils principles to make a kinder antivirus business

Treat customers fairly when it comes to auto-renewal. Or else

Richard Speed Tue 19 Oct 2021 // 15:45 UTC

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has unveiled compliance principles to curb locally some of the sharper auto-renewal practices of antivirus software firms.
The move follows the watchdog baring its teeth at McAfee and Norton over the issue of automatically renewing contracts.
The CMA took exception to auto-renewal contracts for antivirus software that customers in the UK signed up for and found difficult to cancel. Refunds and clearer pricing information (including making sure consumers were aware that year two could well end up considerably costlier than the first) were the order of the day.

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Brit watchdog shows some teeth over McAfee antivirus auto-renewals

Refund rights for customers

Richard Speed Tue 25 May 2021 // 15:46 UTC

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reached agreement with antivirus vendor McAfee that means some customers whose software subscription was automatically renewed will be able to get a refund.
The deal follows a lengthy investigation into the antivirus sector that kicked off in 2018 amid concerns that "some firms in the industry may not be complying with consumer law."
It's quite the slap on the wrist for McAfee, whose software tends to be bundled with a large number of devices sold in the UK. Customers who signed up with the company may not have understood the ins and outs of auto-renewal, hence the CMA action.

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