F-Secure

F-Secure Corporation (formerly Data Fellows) is a global cyber security and privacy company with over 30 offices around the world and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland.

F-Secure Corporation
TypePublic
Nasdaq Helsinki: FSC1V
IndustryComputer software
FoundedMay 16, 1988 (as Data Fellows)
1999 (as F-Secure)
FounderPetri Allas
Risto Siilasmaa
HeadquartersHelsinki, Finland
Key people
ProductsCybersecurity software
ServicesComputer security
Revenue €217.3 million (2019)[2]
€7.2 million (2019)[2]
€3.4 million (2019)[2]
Total assets €229.4 million (2019)[2]
Total equity €76.2 million (2019)[2]
Number of employees
1,700 (2019)[2]
Websitewww.f-secure.com
Company offices in Helsinki, Finland

The company has nearly 30 offices around the globe and a presence in more than 100 countries, with Security Lab operations in Helsinki and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The company develops and sells antivirus, password management, endpoint security, consulting services and other cyber security products and services. With Rapid Detection & Response (EDR) and F-Secure Countercept (MDR) as flagship offerings, the company continues to expand into the corporate market.

History

F-Secure was first established under the name Data Fellows by Petri Allas and Risto Siilasmaa on May 16, 1988. Data Fellows trained computer users and built customized databases. Three years later, the company launched its first major software project and developed the first heuristic scanner for antivirus products. F-Secure’ first antivirus product for Windows PCs was launched in 1994. Data Fellows became F-Secure in 1999. F-Secure was the first company that developed an anti-rootkit technology called BlackLight in 2005.[3]

In June 2015, F-Secure expanded into the enterprise market by acquiring nSense, a Danish company that specializes in security consultation and vulnerability assessment.[4] The purchase of Inverse Path, a privately owned Italian security consultancy with experience in avionics, automative, and industrial control sectors, in February 2017 continues the expansion of its cyber security services.[5]

F-Secure Client Security received AV-TEST Best Protection award for the fifth time in 2016.[6]

In June 2018, F-Secure acquired security company MWR InfoSecurity for 80 million pounds ($106 million).[7][8]

Academia

In co-operation with Aalto University School of Science and Technology, F-Secure runs a one semester course for future virus analysts, with some material available on-line.[9]

Controversies

After the media coverage of Magic Lantern and claims by some AV vendors to purposely leave a backdoor for it in their products, F-Secure announced their policy on detecting these spying programs:

"F-Secure Corporation would like to make known that we will not leave such backdoors to our F-Secure Anti-Virus products, regardless of the source of such tools. We have to draw a line with every sample we get regarding whether to detect it or not. This decision-making is influenced only by technical factors, and nothing else, but within the applicable laws and regulations, in our case meaning EU laws.

"We will also be adding detection of any program we see that might be used for terrorist activity or to benefit organized crime. We would like to state this for the record, as we have received queries regarding whether we would have the guts to detect something obviously made by a known violent mafia or terrorist organization. Yes we would."[10]

See also

References
  1. Ranger, Steve. "Inside the secret digital arms race: Facing the threat of a global cyberwar". TechRepublic. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  2. "Annual Report 2019" (PDF). F-Secure Corporation. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  3. "Using Blacklight to detect and remove Rootkits from your computer: Home". BleepingComputer.
  4. "F-Secure snaps up security consultation firm nSense: Home". ZDNet.
  5. "F-Secure F-Secure acquires consultancy player Inverse Path: Home". Computer Weekly.
  6. "The Independent IT-Security Institute: Home". AV-TEST.
  7. "F-Secure acquires MWR InfoSecurity". Help Net Security. 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  8. "F-Secure to buy cyber security firm MWR". Reuters. 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  9. "TKK - TML - Courses". TML. 2008-08-29. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  10. "F-Secure Corporation's policy on detecting spying programs developed by various governments". F-Secure. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
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