How Will Intel’s McAfee Acquisition Affect the Security Industry?

As reported, Intel announced that it is acquiring major information security vendor McAfee today for $7.68 billion at $48 a share in cash.

Pat Clawson, CEO of endpoint security provider Lumension reached out to us with some thoughts on the acquisition and its effect on the industry.

"Intel’s acquisition of McAfee will not only fundamentally change the security landscape, it will have a ripple affect throughout industry. With this acquisition Intel is addressing areas that we really need to get better at protecting – smart phones, televisions, medical technology and cash machines. Short term, it gives Intel a competitive advantage but will no doubt make other chip manufacturers, like AMD, consider whether they need to mirror the acquisition."

Pat Clawson on McAfee Intel deal "For the security industry, it makes the top layer of the security stack – such as Symantec – obvious acquisitions target not only for chip manufacturers but also hardware providers, such as mobile device manufacturers. On the flip side, it could leave a waste land of security companies as mid-sized security companies see a diminishing number of prospective acquirers."

McAfee, which has experienced double-digit year-over-year growth, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intel.

Is Symantec next?

There are 3 Comments. Add Yours.

strelaoz
August 21, 2010 at 3:12 am

Dump your share of Symantec, as the company didn’t value ethics and integrity. It allowed David Freer (VP, Symantec – Norton, APJ) spent company money while dating with me (dinners, movies, lots of long distance phone bills, etc..). Even worse, he is a liar!

Symantec’s board, CEO, CFO, consumer head Janice Chaffin (also came from HP) didn’t care it at all, as they all received my complaints with evidences. They are not only never started the investigations, but also shut down the communication between me with the company and David Freer, Suzy Walsham, and all other emplyees (as I worked for Symantec before).

I think CEO not only demostrated his poor hiring ethical standard (probably even worse than Mark Hurb, at least Mark admitted he didn’tlive up to his own ethical standard),but also lack of the skills on decision making (it lasted 6 months till now vs. HP let go Mark Hurd such an important executives within a month), also lack of leadships, business directions. Just see Symantec stock falling fromo Feb. till now, which is a lot!!!!!!

The only thing CEO can do now is to buy Symantec’s stock to save the price, what a poor CEO! While CFO & CIO both chosen to sell their stocks at this moment. Are you brave enough to buy Symantec stock now?

http://www.gurufocus.com/news.php?id=103308
strelaoz
August 21, 2010 at 3:15 am

HP hasa a much higher standard on Ethics & Integrity than Symantec, so do IBM, Cisco & Oracle. So I can’t see who will buy Symantec, unless under the condition of take out current CEO & management team, as Microsoft once asked Yahoo to do.

As I have reported to Symantec Ethics about David Freer
strelaoz
August 21, 2010 at 3:16 am

David Freer (VP, Symantec Consumer Business Units – Norton, APJ) is a BIG LIAR! He lied to me for more than two and half years for my true feelings, time, and money. Also kept saying I am the only one in his life. Even this year on Feb. 2, he used company line to lead me to have phone sex with him. Until I found out there