Boost for dot-Net

LONDON (ZDNet UK)--Security application service provider, McAfee.com, formerly plain McAfee, announced last week that it will integrate Microsoft dot-Net technologies with its Web-based security services. McAfee.com delivers products such as antivirus and personal firewall software as a service over the Web.

McAfee.com will launch a service that integrates its security offerings with Microsoft Passport, providing customers with security protection, single sign-on and registration across multiple password-protected sites, such as Microsoft's Hotmail email service.

Customers will also receive automatic security and virus alerts, either on their desktop, or via other Internet-enabled devices.

McAfee.com said it will integrate Microsoft HailStorm XML technology when available, so developers can build software components that work together over the Internet.

Microsoft is expected to launch HailStorm, part of the dot-Net strategy to provide services over the Web, in 2002. Using this technology, Microsoft said it will offer users a protected database of personal details to access online services such as email, and integrating this with McAfee products may increase customer confidence in the security of the service.

Srivats Sampath, president and chief executive of McAfee.com, explained that the decision to integrate with dot-Net will offer customers not only improved security, but also ease of use and interoperability.

The companies are expected to launch the first offering to Microsoft MSN users over the next few weeks.