Net security firm MessageLabs is extending its services beyond email filtering with the launch of a trio of web scanning products on Monday.

The UK-based firm is selling web anti-virus, anti-spyware and censorware (URL filtering) products in order to differentiate its offerings from managed service competitors such as BlackSpider and Postini. Delivery of these services follows an August partnership between MessageLabs and developer ScanSafe, whose technology MessageLabs is effectively re-badging and selling as MessageLabs Web Protect, Web Anti-Spyware and Web Control.

These products add the "missing piece" to MessageLabs' existing anti-spam and anti-virus email filtering service, according to MessageLabs CTO Mark Sunner. Trojan downloaders commonly spread by spamvertised email that attempts to trick users into visiting hacker websites harbouring hostile code.

The growth in the tactic means users need combined web and email-based viral defences, prompting MessageLabs to package together a combined service. Combined email and web filtering service bundles from MessageLabs will sell for around £4 per user per month.

Longer term, MessageLabs aims to widen its portfolio still further with archiving, IM scanning and VOIP security products. ®