Windows is the most attacked operating system: Report

Mumbai: Leading IT security solutions provider Quick Heal Technologies said it has tied up with Japanese mobile operator SoftBank Mobile Corp to provide anti-virus software to mobile phones.

"We have entered into a tie up with Japanese mobile operator Softbank Corp to provide mobile security anti-virus software to its customers in Japanese language. We have installed 1 lakh anti-virus copies last month and hopes to supply 1.5 million copies in a year," Quick Heal Technologies

Managing Director and CEO Kailash Katkar told PTI here.

He said the company has opened an office in Japan and now we are also negotiating with several leading Japanese firms as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) partners.

Quick Heal is a homegrown anti-virus software company. As the part of its global expansion plans, the company now plans to open offices in Kenya and USA.

"We have distribution partners in several countries like the Middle East, Germany, Australia, Italy, USA, but now we are opening our offices in Kenya and USA to penetrate our brand," Katkar said.

India's anti-virus market is estimated at Rs 700 crore and is growing at around 15-17 per cent per annum.

Quick Heal recently released the findings from its Annual Windows Malware report, showing that computers are still vulnerable to malwares even today.

"Windows is still the most attacked Operating System. 2012 saw numerous attacks that were devised for windows vulnerabilities. Cyber criminals have leveraged zero-day exploits even more effectively with new software patterns and business models. The web is still the most conventional way of

targeting victims," according to the report.

The report said that mobile device malware has also reached a new stage of evolution.

Smartphones and other mobile devices have been a boon for users, vendors and developers but their rapid proliferation has also opened up a gold mine for malware authors. This, combined with the concerns of lost and stolen devices, emphasises the fact that it is about time that mobile

security is taken seriously, company officials said.

The company has last year developed two products namely mobile security and Quick Heal Terminator. They are customised to suit consumers, small businesses, government establishments and corporate houses, it said.

The company is hopeful of achieving a turnover of Rs 500 crore in next three years from the present Rs 187 crore in FY 12 and expected turnover of Rs 225 crore in FY 13, Katkar said.