Webroot acquires Prevx

[Ray]

Colorado-based security vendor Webroot has acquired Prevx, the British publisher of what they call "the world's smallest, fastest, and lightest endpoint security agent". Mel Morris, founder and chief executive of Prevx, will come aboard as vice president of Webroot's Prevx division.

....more

[Rik]

I thought Webroot had been a bit quiet lately.

[Ray]

Indeed, Rik, I hope it's not bad news, Prevx is a good product and I only renewed my 2 machine licence for another 2 years about a month ago.

[Gary]

The Prevx forums are not happy Ray  I can see this being swallowed up by Webroot and Prevx disappearing as part of some Webroot internet monstrosity that most people will not let on their machine, I avoid Webroot for a reason on Justina's Laptop and use Prevx, and like you and worried by the sale.

[Ray]

Yes, I'd noticed the discontent over there, Gary, I suppose it was inevitable with Prevx being such a small company with a good product that someone would swallow them up eventually.

I also fear it will end up being included in a bloated suite eventually, I must admit I don't know a lot about Webroot products having never used them.

[Rik]

They tend to the cumbersome in my experience, Ray.

[Gary]

They tend to the cumbersome in my experience, Ray.

Agreed, and buggy as well, Ray. They are like the Norton of years back 

[Rik]

But not the Norton of many years back.

[Ray]

Or the Norton now, Rik,

[Simon]

I once used a Webroot anti-spyware product.  Just the once.  Spy Sweeper, I think it was called.  Took an extra three or four minutes for the machine to boot up, and there were so many pop ups, it was just impossible to work with.

[Rik]

That's the one... 

[pctech]

I once used a Webroot anti-spyware product.  Just the once.  Spy Sweeper, I think it was called.  Took an extra three or four minutes for the machine to boot up, and there were so many pop ups, it was just impossible to work with.

Comodo firewall is a bit like that.

[Rik]

Another product that started brightly.

[Gary]

I once used a Webroot anti-spyware product.  Just the once.  Spy Sweeper, I think it was called.  Took an extra three or four minutes for the machine to boot up, and there were so many pop ups, it was just impossible to work with.

I tried that, it also made all your running processes go crazy after a scan, and they stayed like that in task manager 

But not the Norton of many years back.

Ahh but that Norton was not owned by Symantec, another bad buy out

[Rik]

Small is beautiful.

[DorsetBoy]

Webroot was misspelled there are too many "o's".   

[Rik]

 

Maybe they were trying for an association with Orioles?

[Gary]

Small is beautiful.

I definitely agree, after all its the way you use it I have heard 

[Rik]

 

[cavillas]

Maybe they were trying for an association with Orioles?

Why would the be interested in biscuits? 

[Rik]

It's the Os, Alf.

[faircot]

Such a shame. Prevx is the perfect security app; small, unobtrusive and effective, but my view and the feeling of the majority of posters over at Wilders is a cynical take on Webroot's acquisition and how this buy-in will turn out for Prevx. Too many users of security software have seen this scenario before - buy and kill the competing product. I've two licences, both running out in three months but I doubt if I'll commit to another year unless I see some sign that the promised v4 will appear in an independent form and is not 'Webrooted' with Webroot branding, Ask toolbars and bloat.

[Gary]

Such a shame. Prevx is the perfect security app; small, unobtrusive and effective, but my view and the feeling of the majority of posters over at Wilders is a cynical take on Webroot's acquisition and how this buy-in will turn out for Prevx. Too many users of security software have seen this scenario before - buy and kill the competing product. I've two licences, both running out in three months but I doubt if I'll commit to another year unless I see some sign that the promised v4 will appear in an independent form and is not 'Webrooted' with Webroot branding, Ask toolbars and bloat.

I hear your fears, and completely agree