Computer Associates added another notch to its
security belt today with the announcement it acquired e-mail security
software vendor Qurb.
The all-cash transaction beefs up CA’s eTrust security management
solutions portfolio by improving its ability to block spam and
protect users from phishing attacks, e-mail fraud and other e-mail-based threats, the company said.
Details of the acquisition were not announced.
San Mateo, Calif.-based Qurb’s security suite helps stop spam at
installation without requiring manual configuration. The program runs a
“white list” model, accepting only the messages from approved senders while
discarding the others. It then automatically builds a comprehensive list of
approved senders by scanning existing e-mail and contact folders.
Any incoming messages go into quarantine for review and everything you
choose to accept is re-routed to your inbox.
“Computer users everywhere — from the CIO responsible for tens of
thousands of employees to small businesses and individuals — are desperate
to get control over their inboxes,” Toby Weiss, senior vice president and
general manager of CA’s eTrust business unit, said in a statement.
The identity-based approach to security ensures a clean inbox, while
content-analysis techniques help users identify potentially legitimate
messages that have been quarantined, Weiss said.
“Qurb’s identity-based e-mail security technology delivers that control —
effectively protecting our customers worldwide from the spam, phishing
attacks, and other e-mail-based assaults that undermine productivity, erode
privacy and turn everyday communications tasks into a minefield of
cyber-threats,” Weiss said.
The Qurb acquisition comes just one month after CA acquired Tiny
Software, a provider of desktop firewall solutions. Both
acquisitions broaden the company’s penetration into the consumer and small-to-medium business markets, while supporting its enterprise customers with enhanced desktop security management capabilities, the company said.
Before deciding to acquire Qurb, CA had been licensing its technology for
use with its eTrust consumer product line since 2004. The company said it
plans to continue to market Qurb’s technology as eTrust Anti-Spam and will
incorporate it into the eTrust Threat Management suite.
“CA has been a great partner for Qurb and has helped expand our market
footprint around the globe,” said Felix Lin, CEO and founder of Qurb, who
will join CA as vice president of strategy for eTrust.
Qurb software is licensed for distribution by OEMs, resellers and
Internet service providers under their respective brands.
