Security threats Toolkit

McAfee confirms Wireless Security buy

Dawn Kawamoto CNET News.com

Published: 03 Jun 2005 09:45 BST

McAfee has confirmed its purchase of Wireless Security, a maker of Wi-Fi protection products for consumers and small businesses.

The acquisition is expected to aid security giant McAfee's efforts in the growing Wi-Fi market by giving it additional services and products. The deal, announced Thursday, may also serve as a launching pad for McAfee to approach ISPs with a premium service that they could in turn sell to their customers.

McAfee acquired all of Wireless Security's outstanding stock, technologies and assets. McAfee paid about $20m for the company, executives said during a Webcast on Thursday.

Wireless Security's technology will be bundled with McAfee's core products, including its Internet Security Suite, VirusScan and Personal Firewall, the company said in a statement. Wireless Security's technology will also be integrated into McAfee's Managed VirusScan, a product for small businesses. SBC ups the ante in broadband war.

Wireless Security, based in Redwood City, California, supports virtually all network cards, as well as WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access preshared key mode). It also supports most of the wireless routers from large companies such as Linksys, D-Link and Netgear, as well as some devices from Belkin, Proxim and 3Com.