Unlimited long distance $24.99/mo
June 6, 2006 6:55 PM PDT
AOL to enter security arena
Last modified: June 7, 2006 11:09 AM PDT
- Related Stories
-
McAfee's 'Falcon' to come in four flavors
June 6, 2006 -
Symantec challenge to OneCare faces delay
May 31, 2006 -
Microsoft security product makes official debut
May 30, 2006
The software, dubbed "Total Care," is expected to be available to software testers in the coming weeks, a source familiar with AOL's plans said. The product will include security and PC care features, matching Microsoft's recently launched Windows Live OneCare product and upcoming products from Symantec and McAfee, this person said.
Total Care marks one of AOL's first steps in the security space, outside of tools it offers exclusively to the millions of subscribers to its Internet service. The Dulles, Va.-based company is also quietly running a test of a security tool--the Active Security Monitor--that screens the security status of a computer and offers guidance on improving protection.
With OneCare, Microsoft says it has created an all-in-one PC care product. OneCare adds PC maintenance tools and backup features to the security basics--a firewall, and antivirus and anti-spyware applications. In the wake of the OneCare announcement, all major security companies have said they would release similar products.
AOL is not building Total Care by itself. The company has partnered with unnamed third-party security providers for the bundle, the source said. Currently, AOL has deals with McAfee and CA for the AOL Safety and Security Center, which offers a firewall, antivirus, anti-spyware and phishing protection to AOL subscribers at no cost.
McAfee will provide technology for at least part of AOL's Total Care, a person familiar with the product plans said. AOL is a significant sales channel for McAfee. The Santa Clara, Calif., security software specialist on Tuesday announced packaging for its newly integrated consumer products, which are due out in beta this month and in final form this summer.
Consumers increasingly get their security software from Internet service providers, rather than buying from a store or online, according to Gartner research. Last year, about 14 percent of consumer security software sales came from ISPs, up from barely 5 percent a year before, Gartner said.
"We expect the big brand ISPs and search companies to launch their own security offerings," said Arabella Hallawell, a Gartner analyst. These will come either from partnerships with established players or from relabeling no-name security products with their own brand, she said.
ISPs can become a threat to security stalwart Symantec, which held more than 70 percent of the consumer security market last year. "Symantec will suffer from not wanting to embrace the ISP channel," Hallawell said. That's in addition to losing market share to security newcomer Microsoft.
The market for consumer PC security software continues to grow, reaching $1.95 billion last year, up 17 percent year-on-year, according to Gartner. For this year, Gartner expects a lower growth rate, Hallawell said.
See more CNET content tagged:
America Online Inc.,
Gartner Inc.,
McAfee Inc.,
Internet Service Provider,
Symantec Corp.
- This is like...
- Asking a burglar to watch your house while you are out for a few days, and handing him the keys.
- Reply to this comment
- Whose going to buy it?
- Honestly... would anyone outside of the AOL bubble consider it?
- Reply to this comment
- AOL Users
- Of course not, but the millions of clueless AOL users will buy it like mad, thinking it's the new panacea for teh intarwebs.
- Reply to this comment
- Let's just put Al-Qaida in charge of the FBI
- Anything AOL = Bad
- Reply to this comment
- lol...
- Smartest idea ever! I'd rather hand my computer over to spyware companies for testing purposes. Just about as safe as trusting AOL...
- Reply to this comment
- Is this a joke?
- AOL and security? This must be a joke right, quit making me laugh!
- Reply to this comment
