Microsoft Acquires Komoku

Microsoft strengthens anti-malware protection with leading-edge rootkit detection provider.

REDMOND, Wash. — March 20, 2008 — Today Microsoft Corp. announced it has acquired Maryland-based Komoku Inc., a provider of advanced rootkit security detection solutions. Microsoft expects to add Komoku’s functionality into upcoming versions of the Forefront line of enterprise security products and Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft’s all-in-one PC care solution.

“Komoku has been a leader in the area of rootkit detection, doing work for ultra security-conscious customers such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD),” said Ryan Hamlin, general manager, Access and Security Division, Server and Tools Business at Microsoft. “Komoku’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.”

Founded in 2004, Komoku offers advanced rootkit detection. Rootkits are malicious software programs that are designed to take control of a computer’s operating system at the administrator, or root, level, where they can often hide from detection by standard anti-malware software. Komoku’s customers have included a number of high-security government agencies, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the U.S. Navy, the DHS and the DOD.

“I’m excited about the Komoku team joining Microsoft and building on our successes in detecting sophisticated rootkits for customers,” said William A. Arbaugh, president and CTO of Komoku as well as an associate professor of computer science at the University of Maryland at College Park and a renowned expert on rootkits. “Microsoft’s commitment to building the next generation of malware detection is very strong, and we at Komoku look forward to continuing the tremendous progress Microsoft has already made in the anti-malware space and building the anti-malware products that can handle today’s sophisticated threats.”

The Komoku name and product line will eventually be retired as the company winds down its affairs after closing. The majority of Komoku’s staff will join Microsoft in the Access and Security Division. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. The deal was completed March 19, 2008.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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Microsoft Forefront Security for SharePoint (FSSP) continued to gain enterprise momentum at the SharePoint Conference in Seattle this week, as Microsoft announced that FSSP is the overwhelming leader in securing SharePoint, with a market share of over 35 percent. Interest in FSSP is surging as companies look to secure and manage the proliferation of the popular SharePoint servers on corporate networks.    

At the conference, FSSP customers reinforced why they are choosing Forefront to secure their SharePoint environments – comprehensive protection with ease of use for secure collaboration. Suzanne Gordon, CIO at SAS software said, “Our SharePoint servers are mission critical, so we wanted a highly robust, yet easy-to-deploy solution for securing our company and customers’ information. We’ve been very pleased with the performance of Forefront Security for SharePoint, which is both highly effective with its multiple scanning engines, as well as scalable and seamlessly integrated into our intranet and extranet SharePoint collaboration deployments.”

Forefront Security for SharePoint is an on-premise solution that provides comprehensive protection for SharePoint document libraries. Customers, who purchase Forefront Security for SharePoint with SP1 to protect Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 or Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services version 3.0, are also licensed to use Antigen for SharePoint to protect Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 collaboration environments.

Forefront Security for SharePoint integrates multiple scan engines from industry-leading vendors and content controls to help businesses protect their Microsoft SharePoint collaboration environments. FSSP prevents malware from being spread via SharePoint document libraries – deleting infected documents and providing file and keyword filtering capabilities to block documents containing inappropriate content and confidential information.  The soon to be released Forefront Security for SharePoint Service Pack 2 will provide Windows Server 2008 support and include pre-populated keyword lists in 11 languages, enabling companies to block documents containing profanity and racial and sexual discrimination.

Customers can view an online demonstration, or download a 120-day trial version here.