Select countryPRESS RELEASE
Oslo, 09 July 2004
Norman ASA, the antivirus company, hereby announces that it is entering a strategic partnership with the Swedish software company Lavasoft. Through its Ad-aware technology, Lavasoft is a major player within the area of anti trackware solutions. As a result of the partnership, Norman will include Ad-aware in its product range and offer the software through its distribution network.
For Norman, the partnership is a strategically important supplement to the existing and extensive product range in the areas of antivirus, antispam and personal firewalls. The agreement with Lavasoft emphasizes Norman’s strategy of establishing alliances in order to be able to deliver better protection to existing and new customers.
Says Norman’s CEO, Henning Hansen: “Ad-aware fits logically into our existing product range. Spyware is an increasing threat to Internet users and businesses. It is fair to assume that almost every computer connected to the Internet is infected by spyware."
Spyware (trojans, advertising programs including pop-ups, monitoring programs, etc.) is software which monitors and collects information regarding the user’s surfing habits, usually without the surfers knowledge about the activity. In the worst cases, spyware can alter vital system settings and perform unwanted operations with unpredictable consequences to the computer. When the user experiences that surfing becomes slower, sometimes combined with unexpected (and unwanted) pop-ups, it is likely that the computer is infected by adware and/or spyware. These are small programs working unnoticed inside the computer without the user’s awareness or consent. Such programs are potential informers about the user’s Internet habits.
Says Lavasoft’s CEO, Ann-Christine Åkerlund: “As long as the Internet is an open society, there will always be elements trying to take advantage of this. For the users, it is vital to be aware and updated on potential threats and take the necessary precautions. Spyware is a rapidly growing threat that belongs on the security radar alongside well-known threats like viruses and hackers. Lavasoft’s anti-spyware products in combination with Norman’s existing security solutions represent a state of the art security technology."
For further information:
Henning Hansen, President and CEO, Norman ASA, tel + 47 67 10 97 00
Fernando Francisco, Vice President, Lavasoft, tel + 358 40 5664755
About Lavasoft
Nicolas Stark Computing AB (Lavasoft) is headquartered in Sweden. In early 1998, Lavasoft became aware of a growing concern with the unchecked proliferation of aggressive and unethical advertising. Today Lavasoft has become the industry leader and most respected provider of anti-spyware solutions. Lavasoft has developed several applications that will provide the end-users with the means to keep their computer or network free of compromising and intrusive threats to their privacy.