CA Anti-Spyware will continue to power the Anti-Spy function of the Yahoo Toolbar, offering users with free, protection against a number of threats including spyware and adware.

The CA/Yahoo toolbar will offer users the chance to improve their Internet experience with a better desktop search, customization of toolbars, email alerts and access to CA links and services. The CA/Yahoo toolbar will operate with Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers.

"Online security remains a prevalent issue because of online threats, yet many Internet users are still unsure what products they need to protect themselves from spyware and malware," said Joff Redfern, senior director of Product Management, Yahoo! Search Distribution.

"It’s important to provide our users with the best, most accessible tools to safeguard their online experience and enable them to search the web with peace of mind. We look forward to continue working with CA to deliver quality, reliable anti-spyware protection as part of the Yahoo! Toolbar."

CA will offer Yahoo Toolbar Anti-Spy users with a Web site that provides useful, easy to understand, and relevant information about spyware and the newest Internet security threats.

"We are very excited about our forthcoming home/home office product line, which launches in September," said George Kafkarkou, senior vice president of Home/Small Office for CA.

"The CA/Yahoo! Toolbar will complement our new products and provide our customers with an enhanced online experience. We also look forward to continuing to provide Yahoo! Toolbar customers with strong anti-spyware protection to help ensure a safer online experience."

Trend Micro (TMIC) learned it has won a year’s extension on its agreement with Microsoft (MSFT) to deliver antivirus services.

The Trend Micro technology scans sent and received messages for the usual threats, like viruses, Trojan programs, and other malicious programming. Trend Micro’s shares finished up 2 cents at 34.72 in trading today.

Antivirus and security competitor Symantec (SYMC) moved up 25 cents to 16.78 as it enters a financial quarter one analyst considers the company’s riskiest.

Forbes reported on Cowen & Co.’s Walter Pritchard’s opinion that Symantec could benefit from a stock buyback and changing its capital structure. However, those options do not guaranteed a significant uptick in shareholder value.

The antivirus companies all face growing competition from Microsoft. The software company has made strides toward delivering a more secure operating system to its customers, by providing a built-in firewall in Windows XP, an antispyware product, and the debut of its OneCare beta program.

OneCare provides antivirus and firewall services, plus performance tuning and system backup and restore options. In 2005, Microsoft had discussed plans to included antivirus on its Vista operating system, but complaints from Symantec to the European Union appear to have pushed that project aside.

McAfee (MFE) moved up 11 cents to 24.67 in today’s trading, as it announced a revamped Threat Center portal and a new Intrusion Prevention System, IntruShield 3.1.

That follows a downgrade of its shares by an S&P analyst from “strong buy” to “buy” and a lowering of its target price to $31 from $34. McAfee may have a competitive advantage with its IntruShield product, as the company claims it can protect unpatched browsers and desktops from a variety of threats, including the installation and communication of botnets.

Check Point (CHKP) has remained relatively flat since it and acquisition target SourceFire mutually ended their plans in the face of a likely hostile government review process. The company finished at 18.57, seven cents up from Friday’s close.

However, the company has lowered its 2006 financial forecast, partly because of the thwarted Sourcefire acquisition. First quarter revenue for the company has been forecast at $133 million to $134 million for the period ending March 31st.

Entrust (ENTU) continues to disappoint investors, with its shares being downgraded to “hold” by Wedbush Morgan Securities. Newratings.com reported how another quarter that missed analyst estimates resulted from the company’s inability to close significant deals for Public Key Infrastructure services it provides.

Computer Associates, now called CA, Inc., (CA) also continued its descent, closing seven cents down at 26.73. As former CEO Sanjay Kumar and global sales exec Stephen Richards near their trial dates for securities fraud and obstruction of justice, the new CA leadership has been trying to right the ship.

That could happen if the company’s growth strategy for the Asia Pacific Japan region bears fruit. Recently, CA shuffled four executives in the region, aimed at executing CA’s fiscal year 2007 strategy. The company announced these changes to the APJ leadership:

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David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.