The software will be offered free of charge permanently, according to Baidu.īaidu Guard is touted to protect computers, using cloud-based security technology to remove Trojans, fix computer bugs, as well as provide simultaneous real-time protection and other useful functions including plug-in cleaning and IE repairing. The new product was jointly launched by the Chinese company and Kaspersky, where Baidu offers cloud computing support while Kaspersky maintains professional antivirus engine. On Tuesday, Baidu availed its antivirus software for download after running two months of public tests. The market has long speculated Baidu was planning to enter the market and offer free Internet security tools after it established a security project in 2011 and purchased a local IT security company in 2012.Ĭurrently, Qihoo 360's market shares in computer maintenance software and antivirus software both exceed 50 percent in China, with over 300 million users in each market segment, according to the Sina report. The two launches indicate Baidu has officially initiated competition with Qihoo 360 in the Internet security sector, according to Sina News report Friday. Baidu on Thursday launched a free computer maintenance software, Baidu Guard, just two days after the Chinese search giant introduced a free antivirus software-called Baidu Antivirus-on June 18.

Baidu antivirus