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Rootkit Security Vendor Snapped Up by Microsoft

Microsoft is on a buying spree, and its latest acquisition is rootkit security vendor Komoku. Terms of the deal, announced Wednesday, were not disclosed.

According to a press release posted on Komoku's site Wednesday, Microsoft purchased the Maryland-based company with the goal of integrating Komoku's rootkit security detection solutions into Forefront and Windows Live OneCare.

The release highlighted U.S. government agencies that use Komoku's technology, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Navy

"Komoku has been a leader in the area of rootkit detection," commented Microsoft's General Manager of Access and Security Ryan Hamlin in the release. "[It's] cutting-edge expertise and technology will benefit our customers by adding to the robust protection of our anti-malware solutions and help maintain our leading position in anti-malware research and development."

"I'm excited about the Komoku team joining Microsoft and building on our successes in detecting sophisticated rootkits for customers,"said Komoku President and CTO William A. Arbaugh in the same release.

With the acquisition, the Komoku brand and current product line will be discontinued. A "majority" of Komoku's staff is expected to join Microsoft, the companies said.

About the Author

Becky Nagel is the vice president of Web & Digital Strategy for 1105's Enterprise Computing and Education Groups, where she oversees the front-end Web team and deals with all aspects of digital strategy for the groups. She also serves as executive editor the ECG Web sites, and you'll even find her byline on PureAI.com, the ECG group's newest site for enterprise developers working with AI. She recently gave a talk at a leading technical publishers conference about how changes in Web technology may impact publishers' bottom lines. Follow her on twitter @beckynagel.