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Webroot flexing muscle

Spyware fighter in partnership to target viruses

Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 11, 2006 at midnight

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BOULDER — Webroot Software Inc. is itching to become a tech heavyweight — one known for more than its popular software that combats privacy- stealing programs known as spyware.

So the nine-year-old company — which competes with such heavyweights as Symantec Corp., McAfee Inc. and Microsoft Corp. — says it's teaming up with a respected United Kingdom company to target another menace prowling the Internet: viruses.

Analysts have argued that Webroot, which employs about 300, needs to offer more than an anti-spyware package to grow and survive. The private company's annual revenue is pegged at around $100 million.

The new software, Spy Sweeper 5.2, is scheduled to be unveiled to North American consumers on Oct. 30. The price: $39.95, or about $10 more than Webroot's market-leading Spy Sweeper 5.0 anti-spyware program.

Webroot expects to offer a "parallel" package for small and medium-sized businesses "in the near term," Webroot CEO David Moll told the Rocky Mountain News.

Moll also hinted more joint offerings are in the works, saying "We think this is a partnership with room to grow."

While viruses can alter the way a computer operates, spyware can steal a computer user's personal data and keep track of their keystrokes. The information is sent to a third party. Moreover, computer users often unwittingly download spyware programs.

Analyst Natalie Lambert of Forrester Research Inc. praised Spy Sweeper 5.2 — "It's a solid product," she said.

Lambert said that Webroot's offering of an anti-virus software "was definitely a step they had to make."

But will it put Webroot on equal footing with the likes of a Symantec or a McAfee?

"They still have a ways to go," said Lambert, adding that Webroot must offer both consumers and businesses even more products to safeguard their computers and make them run more efficiently.

"Customers do like Webroot, and they're willing to wait" for new products, said Lambert. "But they can't wait too long."

Moll said Webroot deliberately avoided piling too many new features and capabilities into Spy Sweeper 5.2.

"Users are asking for simplicity. 'I don't want to have to be a security expert when operating my PC,'" he said of the customer.

But Moll is keeping an eye on other threats that Webroot wants to target. In particular, he singled out predatory threats posed to kids who use social networking Web sites such as MySpace.com.

"It's a relatively unpatrolled free-for-all out there," he said.

Turning to his own company, Moll said he expects Webroot's work force to to be in the 355-400 range by the middle of next year. And while Webroot isn't yet a heavyweight, Moll said the company is growing.

"It feels like we're a growing teenager right now, and we're still learning a bit of who we are," he said.

About the product

• New software: Spy Sweeper 5.2

• What it does: Combats spyware and Internet viruses

• Price: $39.95

• Rollout: Oct. 30 for North American consumers. Webroot plans a similar product for small and medium-sized business "in the near term."