Intel closes McAfee deal with US$7.7-billion

US computer chip giant Intel announced on Monday that its $7.68 billion acquisition of computer security firm McAfee is now complete.

Intel said that with the completion of the deal, McAfee becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel. McAfee will continue to sell security products and services under its own brand.

California-based Intel, whose processors are behind nearly 80 percent of computers worldwide, revealed its plan to purchase McAfee – one of the world’s largest anti-virus software companies – in August.

One issue across the internet is why Intel would purchase McAfee to begin with. Maybe Intel feels “there’s good money in buying into a security firm, or possibly the acquisition paves the way to embed security software directly onto processors,” says znet.com. Possibly, Intel just had the cash to burn.

“Intel has added security as a third pillar of what people demand from their experiences with personal computers and other connected devices,” the company’s senior vice president Renee James said in a recent statement.

“The acquisition of McAfee adds not only world-leading security products and technologies to Intel’s computing portfolio, but also brings incredibly talented people focused on delivering products and services that help make connecting to the mobile Internet safer and more secure,” she added.

This is not the first time Intel has bought out companies. A number of software-related acquisitions of leaders in their respective industries include Wind River and Havok

Intel elevates focus on security on par with energy-efficient performance and connectivity. The acquisition augments Intel’s mobile wireless strategy, helping to better assure customer and consumer security concerns as these billions of devices connect.

“Hardware-enhanced security will lead to breakthroughs in effectively countering the increasingly sophisticated threats of today and tomorrow,” says Renee James.

“This acquisition is consistent with our software and services strategy to deliver an outstanding computing experience in fast-growing business areas, especially around the move to wireless mobility.”

From a user and business perspective the move allows the company can boast “Intel inside and protected by Intel,” allowing the chip giant a massive advantage, even if only a perceived one, over rival AMD. Promoting that kind of scale and scope doesn’t hurt a global brand.