Kaspersky Lab partners HMV

In plenty of time to take advantage of the festive season, security specialist Kaspersky Lab has announced a partnership with entertainment retailer HMV, which will see the company extend its range and reach of retailers in the UK.

The deal means that Kaspersky Internet Security, the company's flagship consumer security suite, will be provided to all HMV customers purchasing netbooks across its 250 UK stores. The suite will also be made available in HMV's Christmas catalogue, 2 million of which which will be distributed by press and door drops

Cosying up with of the the UK's leading retail chains is a smart move from Kaspersky Lab, although netbooks are hardly HMV's primary consumer focus. This should still see a raise in profile for the security suite, however.

“By partnering with HMV, we’re happy to be in a position where we can offer consumers with peace of mind as they go about their daily lives online,” said Malcolm Tuck, managing director, UK, Kaspersky Lab. “This is particularly important in the run up to the festive period - many use the Internet as a quick, easy and convenient way to buy Christmas gifts. It’s increasingly easy to be stung by cybercriminals cashing-in on heightened online activity, so users must ensure they have the right protection measures in place.”