Intel yesterday unveiled a $7.7bn acquisition of McAfee, the US security software company, in a move prompted by the rising threat from viruses as the internet spreads to more mobile devices and everyday appliances.
The purchase is set to turn the world’s largest chipmaker into one of the leaders in security extending Intel’s reach into internet-connected devices from tablet computers and handsets to televisions and fridges.
However, coming on the heels of an antitrust settlement with US regulators, the deal raised fresh concerns about Intel’s ability to dominate part of the tech world by “baking” security into its chips, which are used in most personal computers.