Microsoft Buys Winternals, Sysinternals

Microsoft on Tuesday announced it had acquired Winternals Software and its Sysinternals Web site, appointing founder and Windows kernel expert Mark Russinovich as a Technical Fellow. Winternals has long had a close relationship with Microsoft, even presenting at the company's recent TechEd conference.

Founded by Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell in 1996, Winternals has been a stalwart provider of systems recovery and data protection solutions, while Sysinternals has become known for its free Windows system utilities. Russinovich, a Windows kernel expert, used the site to expose and detail a rootkit discovered in Sony BMG CDs last year.

Cogswell will become a software architect in Microsoft's Windows Component Platform Team, while Russinovich will join the Microsoft Platforms & Services Division.

"I've had my eye on Mark for some time," said Jim Allchin, co-president of the Platforms & Services Division at Microsoft. "The work he and Bryce have completed in system recovery and data protection illustrates the depth of thinking and skill they will bring to future versions of Windows."

In a blog posting, Russinovich says he will remain committed to Sysinternals, but Microsoft is expected to integrate the site into its own offerings. "The site will remain for the time being while Microsoft determines the best way to integrate it into its own community efforts, and the tools will continue to be free to download," he said.

Microsoft is also looking into how it can leverage the technology solutions developed by Winternals with its own products, Russinovich says. "Some will find their ways into existing Microsoft products or Windows itself and others will continue on as Microsoft-branded products."

Terms of the acquisition were not announced.