Experts bemused by Intel's McAfee buy

Intel will pay $7.7bn to acquire McAfee

Security experts have reacted cautiously to Intel's surprise $7.7bn (£4.9bn) move for McAfee, expressing doubts about the two firms' compatibility and even the long-term future of the security company.

One of the largest IT deals in recent years, Intel's planned acquisition has left the market reeling, and divided opinion over exactly how the chip firm intends to integrate McAfee's portfolio.

Intel chief executive Paul Otellini stressed in a conference call to announce the acquisition that it is vital to Intel. The deal will help the chip firm meet the demand from users for a secure computing experience, just as it has delivered on the demand for improved connectivity and energy efficiency in the past.

"We believe that security will be more effective when enabled in hardware," he said. "Wherever we sell microprocessors there's an opportunity for us to sell security to go with it, and not just co-selling but deeply integrating [security] into the architecture of our products."

Renée James, general manager of Intel's Software and Services group, explained that the two companies have been working together for the past 18 months on "enhanced security solutions", the fruits of which will be seen early next year.

McAfee chief technology officer George Kurtz was quick to stress the synergies between the pair, focusing on Intel's capabilities in the embedded and mobile software markets since its acquisition of Wind River.

"McAfee's strategy of protecting the multitude of devices such as ATMs, printers, digital copiers and cars, fits with helping organisations better manage and protect the IP-enabled mobile and embedded devices that run Wind River embedded and mobile software," he wrote in a blog post.

"This also dovetails nicely with McAfee's acquisition of Solidcore, a leader in dynamic whitelisting technology that already provides protection for millions of embedded devices."