Microsoft’s Hotmail Drops McAfee

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) has switched from McAfee Inc. (MFE)’s antivirus technology to Trend Micro Inc. (TMIC)’s for its free Internet e-mail service MSN Hotmail.

Under the agreement announced by Trend Micro Monday, it will provide anti-virus technology to some 187 million Hotmail accounts worldwide.

Santa Clara, Calif.-based McAfee’s technology was used to scan Hotmail’s attachments and e-mails. No reason was given for the change, and spokesmen for the companies weren’t immediately available for comment.

The value of the deal, and the implications for Tokyo-based Trend Micro’s earnings were not announced.

New York Stock Exchange-listed McAfee shares traded at $26.80, down $2.15, or 7.4 percent, early Monday afternoon.

Trend Micro’s American depositary shares traded at $56.20, up $5.72, or 11 percent, on the Nasdaq Stock Market.