Cylance
{{short description|American software firm}}
{{distinguish|Silence}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Cylance Inc.
| logo = Cylance Logo.svg
| logo_size = 250px
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| type = Subsidiary{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/cylance-in-irvine-bought-by-blackberry-for-1-4-billion|title=Cylance in Irvine bought by BlackBerry for $1.4 billion|date=Feb 22, 2019}}
| industry = Computer security
| founded = {{start date and age|2012}}
| founder = {{ubl|Stuart McClure|Ryan Permeh}}
| hq_location =
| hq_location_city = Irvine, California
| hq_location_country = United States
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| services = Anti-virus, anti-malware
| parent = Arctic Wolf Networks
| website = {{URL|https://www.cylance.com|Cylance.com}}
| revenue = {{Increase}} $189 Million(2021)
| num_employees = 760{{Cite web|url=https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/5003433|title=Working at Cylance|first=Great Place to|last=Work|website=Great Place to Work}}
}}
Cylance Inc. is an American software firm based in Irvine, California,{{cite web |title=Company Overview of Cylance Inc. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=222577875 |work=Bloomberg L.P.}} that develops antivirus programs and other kinds of computer software that prevents viruses and malware.
In February 2019, the company was acquired by BlackBerry Limited for $1.4 billion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackberry.com/us/en/company/newsroom/press-releases/2018/blackberry-acquisition-press-release|title = BlackBerry to Acquire Cylance and Add Premier AI and Cybersecurity Capabilities}}{{cite web| url = https://fortune.com/2018/11/17/blackberry-cylance-acquisition-cybersecurity-business/| title = BlackBerry: What the Cylance Acquisition Means for Cyber Business {{!}} Fortune}} After the acquisition, it continues to operate as an independent subsidiary and will remain headquartered in Irvine, California.
In December 2024, Arctic Wolf entered into an agreement with BlackBerry Limited to purchase Cylance.{{Cite web |title=Arctic Wolf and BlackBerry Announce Acquisition Agreement for Cylance |url=https://www.blackberry.com/us/en/company/newsroom/press-releases/2024/arctic-wolf-and-blackberry-announce-acquisition-agreement-for-cylance |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=www.blackberry.com}} BlackBerry will sell its Cylance assets to Arctic Wolf for $160 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments, and approximately 5.5 million common shares of Arctic Wolf. After allowing for the purchase price adjustments, BlackBerry will receive approximately $80 million in cash at closing and approximately $40 million in cash one year following the closing.{{Cite web |last=Wolf |first=Arctic |date=2024-12-16 |title=Arctic Wolf and BlackBerry Announce Acquisition Agreement for Cylance |url=https://arcticwolf.com/resources/press-releases/arctic-wolf-and-blackberry-announce-acquisition-agreement-for-cylance/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Arctic Wolf |language=en-US}}
Founding
Cylance was founded by Stuart McClure and Ryan Permeh in 2012. McClure was previously co-founder of Foundstone, a security consultancy. He sold Foundstone to McAfee in 2004, and became that firm's Chief Tech Officer.{{cite web| last =Hackett| first =Robert| title =Cylance raises $42 million for AI-based security software| work =Fortune Magazine| date =Jul 28, 2015| url =http://fortune.com/2015/07/28/cylance-42-million/}}
Funding
A July 2015 report indicated that Cylance had raised $42 million from investors including Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Dell, Capital One, and TenEleven Ventures. It received another $100 million in June 2016 with lead investors Blackstone Tactical Opportunities (part of The Blackstone Group) and Insight Venture Partners.{{Cite web | url=http://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/8668295-cylance-announces-100-million-series-d-funding-round-led-by-blackstone-tactical-opportunities-and-insight-venture-partners|title=Cylance Announces $100 Million Series D Funding Round Led by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and Insight Venture Partners|last=|first=|date=2016-06-08|website=Wallstreet-online.de|publisher=Wallstreet:Online AG|access-date=2016-11-25}} They received an investment from In-Q-Tel in September 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.iqt.org/cylance-announces-strategic-partnership-with-in-q-tel/ |title=Cylance Announces Strategic Partnership with In-Q-Tel |date=2016-02-16 |website=In-Q-Tel |publisher=In-Q-Tel |access-date=2020-02-17}}{{cite web |url=https://www.iqt.org/cylance/ |title=Cylance|website=In-Q-Tel |publisher=In-Q-Tel |access-date=2020-02-17}}
Operation Cleaver
{{Main|Operation Cleaver}}
Operation Cleaver was a covert cyberwarfare operation allegedly carried out by the Iranian government against targets worldwide, specifically critical infrastructure entities. Cylance published a report about the operation in late 2014. Iranian officials rejected Cylance's conclusions, but the FBI tacitly confirmed them.{{cite web|url=http://www.techtimes.com/articles/22160/20141215/operation-cleaver-is-bigger-threat-than-previously-thought-fbi-warns-us-businesses.htm|first= Quinten |last=Plummer|title=Operation Cleaver is Bigger Threat than Previously Thought, FBI Warns US Businesses|date=December 15, 2014 |accessdate=March 30, 2015|work=Tech Times}}{{cite web|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha|author-link=Natasha Bertrand|date=December 8, 2014|title=Iran Is Officially A Real Player In The Global Cyber War|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/iran-is-officially-a-real-player-in-the-cyber-war-2014-12|access-date=March 30, 2015|work=Business Insider}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-02/iran-backed-hackers-target-airports-carriers-report|first1= Michael A |last1=Riley |first2= Jordan |last2=Robertson |title= Iran-Backed Hackers Target Airports, Carriers: Report |date=December 2, 2014 |accessdate=March 30, 2015|work=Bloomberg News}}
Controversies
=Malware scandal=
In November 2016, a systems engineer evaluated 48 files of malware samples provided by Cylance for testing their protection system "Protect", and found that 7 of them weren't malware.{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |date=2017-04-17 |title=Lawyers, malware, and money: The antivirus market's nasty fight over Cylance |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/04/the-mystery-of-the-malware-that-wasnt/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} This led to an accusation that Cylance was using the test to look superior to its opponents by providing files that other products would fail to detect as malware.{{Cite web |date=2017-04-21 |title=Cyber Security Company Cylance Faces Fraud Controversy As Layoffs Continue |url=https://www.snapmunk.com/cyber-security-cylance-cotroversy-fraud-layoffs/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=SnapMunk |language=en-US}} In response, Cylance executives said that they used repackaged malware samples for testing.