Malwarebytes Acquires Binisoft to Enhance Endpoint Protection Platform
24.5.18 securityweek  Safety

Malwarebytes announced this week the acquisition of Binisoft in an effort to help the company enhance its endpoint protection platform and expand its global footprint. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Romania-based Binisoft is the brainchild of Alexandru Dicu, who in 2010 decided to create Windows Firewall Control, a tool designed to make it easier to manage the firewall built into Windows.

Over the past years, Windows Firewall Control has become a powerful and highly popular tool used by millions of people. It allows users to quickly access frequently needed options of the Windows Firewall.

Binisoft has also developed USB Flash Drives Control, a small and powerful utility designed for controlling how USB removable drives are used on a device. For example, users can prevent read and write operations, or they can block any executable file on a flash drive from running.

Malwarebytes plans on integrating Windows Firewall Control into its endpoint protection platform, which provides broad visibility into endpoints on a network and simplifies the deployment and management of security solutions.

“We’ve seen tremendous demand from our customer base for these capabilities,” said Marcin Kleczynski, CEO of Malwarebytes. “With continued increases in cyberthreats, including malware that communicates and coordinates data theft, it is more important than ever for businesses to easily manage their Windows Firewall and establish communication policies to prevent programs from initiating unauthorized outbound connections. With the acquisition of Binisoft, Malwarebytes will provide an all in one solution well beyond having to manage a Firewall through Group Policy Objects or other Microsoft technologies.”

Windows Firewall Control has been distributed under a donationware licensing model, while USB Flash Drives Control has been offered as freeware. Malwarebytes has promised to continue maintaining and supporting Binisoft products, and offer them for free, at least in the short term.