Avira and Labwise Partner to Protect Smart TVs and Set Top Boxes from Malware

TETTNANG, Germany & TAMPERE, Finland — Security expert Avira and digital television specialist Labwise announced today an agreement in which Labwise will implement Avira’s Protection Suite software into third-party smart TVs and set top boxes in order to protect these devices and digital IP (Internet Protocol) networks from malware and virus attacks.

“As televisions and set-top boxes are becoming more interactive — using IP networks and IP technologies with open software and application platforms — we expect that these smart TV devices will quickly become vulnerable to virus attacks in a similar fashion as what has happened in the computer and smart phone industries,” said Pasi Toiva, Managing Director of Labwise Ltd. “So we are working with Avira to integrate their state of the art virus protection to prevent these attacks from happening in the TV device industry.”

Labwise is an independent digital TV testing and verification company that works with the world’s leading manufacturers of televisions and electronics devices. Avira is an award-winning maker of security software that detects and blocks viruses, Trojans, keyloggers, spyware, worms and other digital threats.

“Avira takes its role seriously to protect not only devices, but also the networks and people who use them,” said Travis Witteveen, COO of Avira. “We already protect over 100 million users using Microsoft, Mac OS, Android or Linux devices in the world, and we are honored to be working now with Labwise to secure TV devices and entertainment networks as well.”