You know when you have big dreams to do something, then you hear you won’t be able to attain what you want and all your hope and dreams come crashing down around you? Well this is how I feel when it comes to security software for my computer. I am on the constant lookout for *the best* free anti-spyware security supplement for my computer. I say supplement because Avira fills the spot for main security work horse for me. For the most part, my favorite had been Malwarebytes for a long time simply because it has one of the best detection rates out there. However, recently I started using IObit’s new IObit Security 360 because it has excellent detection rates, not very heavy on computer resources, and has a much more aesthetically pleasing interface vs Malwarebytes. In fact I took a liking to IObit so much, I thought it was “the one”. Today as I was reading my e-mail, Adrian crushed my hopes and dreams by informing me about possible theft done by IObit. It seems the developer of Malwarebytes is claiming IObit is stealing Malwarebytes’ intellectual property and proprietary database:

Malwarebytes has recently uncovered evidence that a company called IOBit based in China is stealing and incorporating our proprietary database and intellectual property into their software. We know this will sound hard to believe, because it was hard for us to believe at first too. But after an indepth investigation, we became convinced it was true. Here is how we know.

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The final confirmation of IOBit’s theft occurred when we added fake definitions to our database for a fake rogue application we called Rogue.AVCleanSweepPro. This “malware” does not actually exist: we made it up. We even manufactured fake files to match the fake definitions. Within two weeks IOBit was detecting these fake files under almost exactly these fake names.

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During the course of our investigation, we uncovered additional evidence that IOBit may have stolen the proprietary databases of other security vendors as well. We are in the process of contacting these vendors.

Malwarebytes intends to pursue legal action against IOBit. We demand IOBit immediately remove all traces of Malwarebytes’ proprietary research and database from their software. We also demand IOBit be delisted from Download.com due to Terms of Service violations. This is criminal: it is theft, it is fraud, and we will not stand for it.

More detail at: http://malwarebytes.besttechie.net/2009/11/02/iobit-steals-malwarebytes-intellectual-property/

Of course IObit has come out and flat denied this accusation:

We have never used the database of any other companies. And hope Malwarebytes stop spreading malicious rumors for hyping itself. The ridiculousness: who will trust and depend on a security product that can NOT even protect itself?

A legal letter will be released later, which will prove that there is no problem with Intellectual Property Rights.

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Our database is from the online submission form: http://db.iobit.com/deal/sdsubmit/index.php

We also have many various sources of malware samples from warm-hearted users, computer security fans, and major security groups from all over the world. We have admitted that it’s hard to avoid mistakes, like a silly or duplicated name. But there is in no way means we steal Malwarebytes’ or any other’s database. We are investigating and tracking on those items which Malwarebytes declared stolen.

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After carefully tracing and investigating the history of IObit’s database, we find that someone used the submission page which is disabled now (http://db.iobit.com/deal/sdsubmit/index.php) to submit samples with the same names from Malwarebytes. Unfortunately, IObit database analyzer carelessly used the names provided by the submission. This mistake can be understood because it is very normal – Many enthusiastic IObit users find there are samples missed by IObit Security 360 but detected by other anti-malware products, then they would submit these samples to us and provide names defined by other anti-malware vendors.

More detail at: http://blog.iobit.com/archives/95.html

Now I am not going to take sides yet until I find out more about this issue, but as it stands, to me it seems like Malwarebytes has a strong case. Too bad, too… I really like IObit Security 360.