Just days after Avira announced a deal with Chinese portal Tencent, Avira has now also done a deal with Chinese Internet security provider Qihoo 360.

European anti-virus software Avira and Qihoo 360 have formed an in-depth cooperation partnership to implement technical communications and joint research in the anti-virus field.

Meanwhile, 360's anti-virus software will integrate Avira's anti-virus engine. The official edition of 360's anti-virus software will reportedly adopt four sets of anti-virus engines, including its self-developed cloud anti-virus engine, QVM artificial intelligence engine, active defense engine, and BitDefender engine introduced from Romania. With the joining of Avira's anti-virus engine, 360 anti-virus software will be able to recommend different engine combinations to users according to their different computer configurations and security demands.

Qi Xiangdong, president of 360, said that 360 and Avira will implement in-depth cooperation in anti-virus research, virus sample exchange, false report control, and product quality improvement. At present, a beta edition of 360 anti-virus software integrating Avira's anti-virus engine has been launched.

Qi revealed that apart from the long-term technical partnership with Avira and BitDefender, 360 will cooperate with more international technology providers in the future.

Avira is a leading global provider of IT security solutions for professional and private use. With over twenty years of experience, it employs around 300 people and its free Avira AntiVir Personal anti-virus protection is claimed to be used by over 100 million private users.