German Company Acquires SocialShield

San Bruno-based SocialShield, which monitors kids' online social networking activities, has been acquired by a German security company.

Avira, which is known for its antivirus software, said it plans to incorporate SocialShield's online monitoring technology into its portfolio so that it can provide free social network protection. According to PC Magazine's SecurityWatch blog, the company plans to roll out a free antivirus program using SocialShield's technology soon.

"Avira is broadening our security focus from safe-guarding computers to now protecting the people who use them, and that requires us to look beyond viruses and worms and Trojans," Sascha Beyer, Avira's chief operating officer of products and technology, said in a statement. "The acquisition of SocialShield not only brings child safety technology into Avira’s portfolio, but it also enhances our knowledge of social networking security and our awareness of the risks within the ‘cloud.’” 

SocialShield scans, analyzes and alerts parents to suspicious activity on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Formspring, MySpace, Google+ and others. The service has as well as two Congressional Recognition awards for its role in online child safety.

George Garrick, president and CEO of SocialShield, said the deal fit well with the company's goal to expand its corporate model.

"With Avira’s existing user footprint, this merger will rapidly accelerate SocialShield’s product leadership as well as give us an entre into many new countries,” Garrick said in a statement.