Beta News, Security.
“It’s hard enough to make a name for yourself as an independent anti-malware company, without competitors demanding your software be uninstalled.”
For years, Spybot Search & Destroy has been one of Fileforum’s single most installed pieces of software, with nearly 67 million downloads since 2000 on our sister site alone. It’s one of the Web’s original anti-spyware packages, independently distributed by Safer Networking Ltd., based in Ireland and developed in Germany.
Despite a user base in the dozens of millions (if not more; Safer Networking doesn’t track its users), Spybot S&D hasn’t had an easy time establishing itself in the competitive anti-malware field. Because it is freeware (commercial users must purchase licenses), the application is seen as a thorn in the side of larger companies who sell security software with the same functionality.
But now, the principals of Safer Networking are stepping up their rhetoric a bit. Speaking with Betanews last week, the developers of Spybot S&D demonstrated how some of its larger competitors are actively using their anti-virus tools to keep Spybot off customers’ systems.
Safer Networking names three manufacturers in particular: Trend Micro, Kaspersky Labs, and McAfee Software.
“We are not happy with the new marketing strategy that softwares like McAfee use to kick competitors out of the business,” wrote one company representative on Safer Networking’s forums, in response to yet another Spybot customer’s call for help.
Full story:
http://www.betanews.com/article/Spybot-Search-Destroy-competitors-are-trying-to-force-its-removal/1237840882
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