Software

Try Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS
CLICK HERE NOW

Google Elbows Into Security-Software Fray

07/10/07 - 03:12 PM EDT

Priya Ganapati

Security-software makers may not yet see Google(GOOG - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) as a rival.

But the search giant's $625 million decision to acquire Postini, a privately held company that offers email filtering and compliance services, is firing straight onto security's main turf.

Google's latest acquisition is being seen as a move by the company to bolster confidence of businesses in Google Apps, which brings Gmail, calendar, docs and spreadsheets, and a Web page creator into a single suite.

Postini is not the first security company that Google has bought. Two months earlier, it acquired GreenBorder, whose software helps create secure Web browsing. And Google's toolbar already warns users about Internet malware and has extensions to detect phishing, fake Web sites that try to steal user information.

Google is also partnering with Stopbadware.org, an organization that indexes Web sites as those containing potential infections.

Google's growing security ambitions is, primarily, a frontal attack on Microsoft's(MSFT - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) stranglehold on the personal computer.

At the same time, Google is trying to better control the user's Internet experience, so it can predict more accurately what a user needs in an effort to better customize advertising.

Potentially in the way of this war of titans could be traditional security companies like Websense(WBSN - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) and McAfee(MFE - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), which have spent millions on acquisitions to build products similar to what Google is focusing on now.

Previous «
1 2 3

Life & Money

Software

Go To Section Home


07/09/07
Intuit Sells Software Unit

It will sell its Eclipse business for $100 million.


07/09/07
VMware IPO Has Some Investors Drooling

Stellar growth could make this stock one of the year's hottest market debuts.


07/06/07
Microsoft Clears Antitrust Hurdle in aQuantive Acquisition

Regulators forgo seeking additional information.


08/05/08
Three Internet Stocks That Could Double

These forgotten Internet stocks are being accumulated by hedge funds.


08/15/08
The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street

Raspberries for Apple; You'll be sorry, UBS; Fortress or Fort Knox? Wholly unappetizing Foods; give Liberty AOL or give them...


08/15/08
McCain Fund-Raising Picks Up

The GOP presidential candidate raised $27 million in July.


08/15/08
Cash-Back Cards Aren't Money in the Bank

Some credit and debit cards give you some cash back on purchases. But you need to manage it well to benefit from it.


Your Recent Quotes: Quote Up0 | Quote Down0
Dow S&P 500 NASDAQ
Oil*
Gold
10 Yr
0.00%
%
%
%
Data delayed 20 min
Sign up for our FREE newsletters now. See All

  • Cramer's Daily Booyah!
  • Before the Bell

Premium Stock Ideas
Access Action Alerts Plus to find out Cramer’s latest picks now!