Romania fights back after Microsoft's RAV acquisition

LESS THAN two months ago, we reported that in a strange move, Microsoft snapped up antivirus technology from a little-known company, the Romanian "GeCAD Software".

(See All your Linux and Novell antivirus are belong to us, Microsoft)

Several readers wrote back expressing their fears and uncertainty about this Microsoft purchase, one of them saying: "While I'm sure the folks at RAV are still popping champagne corks, personally, I think it sucks. (We RAV users received an "Important Announcement" via email which proudly stated, "As you are aware, we at RAV have always maintained that our antivirus technology is amongst the best available. This is now testified by a recent announcement by Microsoft Corporation on acquiring our technology....").

He continued: "I migrated to Linux to (among other things) get away from the Microsoft monopoly. I use RAV Antivirus under Linux. There truly is no escaping the Redmond Beast."

Certainly someone was paying attention to the RAV users' discomfort: it was Florin Talpes, of Romania's other anti-virus firm, SOFTWIN, makers of the "Bitdefender" antivirus.

Softwin has started offering disgruntled Linux users of RAV products a 60% discount if they switch to Bitdefender antivirus. A banner on their home page states: "Bitdefender will never let you down", clearly a punch at RAV's sale to Microsoft. The promotion lasts until september 15, and you can find the description here.

It reads: "Due to recent events announced by Microsoft and GeCAD Software, RAV Antivirus no longer exists as a product on the market. BitDefender decided to offer a 60% cut-off from its Linux-based antivirus solutions for all RAV Antivirus customers".

Microsoft won't be amused, they it now has another small company with Linux products to kill. µ