May 29, 2007 10:26 AM PDT

With GreenBorder, Google gets deeper into Net security

by Robert Vamosi
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Google's purchase of GreenBorder Technologies--a browser virtualization software company that creates a sandboxed environment for your existing Firefox or Internet Explorer browse--follows on the heels of Google announcing a blog from its nascent antimalware team. With rumors of a possible forthcoming antivirus acquisition, the Mountain View search giant has jumped into the Internet security business feet first.

Nerves must be raw at traditional security vendors Symantec and McAfee. Last year Microsoft announced its own security suite, Microsoft Windows Live Onecare, and proceeded to capture a lion's share of sales in the Internet security suite space. Now Google is arming itself with online security products, possibly providing these tools for free. Unlike Microsoft, Google's drive is more focused. Where Microsoft is providing tools to defragment your hard drive and backup files in addition to their firewall and antivirus choices, Google appears to be protecting their main asset: online businesses.

In a paper, "The Ghost in the Browser" (in PDF), Google's antimalware researchers looked at several billion Web sites. They studied a subgroup of 12 million web sites, within which they found 1 million engaging in drive-by downloads of malicious code. Overall that's only 0.1 percent (less than 1 percent) of all the Web sites, but any one bad experience on the Internet is enough to threaten Google's long-term usefulness. By purchasing software technology that protects the end-user from malicious code, Google is ensuring that most people enjoy an event-free experience while surfing the Internet.

As CNET's resident security expert, Robert Vamosi has been interviewed on the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets to share his knowledge about the latest online threats and to offer advice on personal and corporate security. Listen to his podcast at securitybites.cnet.com or e-mail Robert with your questions and comments.
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google is the u-s government
by n3td3v May 29, 2007 1:45 PM PDT
the u-s government must think we don't know.

google will be a terrorist target before long, once al qaeda catch on.
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Yeah right
by t8 May 29, 2007 2:46 PM PDT
And Microsoft is the Afgan government.
A Major Shakeup of The Industry
by internetworld7 May 29, 2007 2:13 PM PDT
Wow! Can you imagine if Google actually acquires an antivirus company, then gives the software away for FREE? That will have drastic effects on the industry. The smaller antivirus companies will do either two things: Simply cease to exist or give away antivirus protection that is ad supported such as one company is already doing. If this antivirus protection provided by Google is light on system resources and has an excellent detection rate, the antivirus market as we know it will forever be changed. There is free protection already available but none of these products have the publicity, prestige and reputation that Google has. Symantec, get ready to meet your maker!
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AVG Antivirus
by niravabhavsar June 1, 2007 9:40 AM PDT
There are a lot of free anti-virus softwares that work better than most paid softwares. Google's foray into that business is nothing new and not atleast game changing. Fanatics who follow google are not less fanatics than taliban who follow islam.
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