McAfee boosts mobile security with TenCube buy

McAfee has set its sights on the mobile security business

McAfee has entered into an agreement to buy mobile security firm TenCube for an undisclosed sum.

The firm said that the acquisition will add location, locking, backup and remote wipe tools to its portfolio.

TenCube's WaveSecure offerings will allow McAfee to provide enterprises with a complete mobile security platform, as well as access to the "most robust feature set" possible, the firm claimed.

"There has been a tremendous amount of innovation in the past year with smartphones and other mobile devices, which really puts McAfee at a tipping point," said Todd Gebhart, executive vice president of consumer, mobile and small business at the firm.

"We are well positioned to out-innovate and deliver the broadest mobile platform available."

McAfee claimed that people are 15 times more likely to lose a mobile handset than a laptop, creating a range of security concerns for enterprises and vendors.

The acquisition will provide McAfee with tools designed to take on these concerns, and will boost the number of operating systems and handsets that it is able to protect.

As examples, the firm said that its tools will work across devices running Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Windows Mobile, iPhone and Java.

"Mobile devices have become an extension of our lives," said Darius Cheung, chief executive at TenCube.

"Through this acquisition, McAfee can broaden its security capabilities and offer users protection and remote control of a phone whether it is in their possession or not. This means no more worries about the whereabouts of your phone or losing personal contacts, photos or messages."

The TenCube purchase will give McAfee users the ability to wipe or lock devices should they get lost or fall into the wrong hands. This control also extends to data management, text message backup and consolidation, McAfee explained, and the ability to track the phone to its current location.

Phones locked with WaveSecure show a permanent message on the screen explaining how to return the phone to its owner.

McAfee has also reported its financial results, which include record revenues of $495m (£317m) for the quarter.

The company has also opened a new labs facility in Cork, Ireland, and inked a deal to acquire Trust Digital, another mobile security firm.

McAfee expects net revenue in the next quarter to be between $505m and $520m (£324m and £333m).