A patent has been awarded to US-based web security company McAfee.com for its method and system for automatically “securing, managing or optimising a personal computer” over the web. According to the company’s announcement yesterday, the patent is wide enough to cover a subscription-based model for delivering security and maintenance services to internet users.

The software protected by the patent “virtually eliminates the need to install, configure and manage the technology on a local PC or network”, according to McAfee.com. It claims that the patented method has improved the way in which viruses can be detected and removed. In addition it performs software searches identifying the need for upgrades and carries out software and data archiving. The granting of the patent to McAfee.com sets a challenge for other companies moving into the delivery of software as a service, most notably Microsoft.

The UK-based internet search specialists Envisional and e-business company Exelum have announced the launch of a new, automated process for identifying abuses of intellectual property on the internet. The Discovery Engine software is intended to combat on-line piracy by identifying infringing web based content using specific search criteria.

The companies previously worked together in the implementation of a Discovery Engine system for a client in the music industry, and that experience formed the basis for the more recent anti-piracy development.

More information is available at www.envisional.co.uk.

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