aircannonsinc Chapter 174 The 3Q War Erupts
Chapter 174 The 3Q War Erupts
The war of words escalated instantly, with forums, online communities, blogs, and news portals filled with trolls from both sides, as well as casual observers tearing each other apart.
Behind the scenes, the engineers from both sides were already locked in a fierce battle.
On September 7th, 360 unleashed its true killer move: QQ Bodyguard.
For Tencent, this is a piece of malware, but for users, it's a godsend.
One-click to block all QQ pop-ups, one-click to clean up redundant QQ junk files, one-click to disable QQ background scanning...
A single, fatal blow, piercing the penguin's heart.
It's important to know that QQ pop-ups, Google Ads, and bundled value-added services are Tencent's core and most lucrative revenue sources.
Pop-up ads may be annoying to users, but they make real money.
With its high conversion rate, it can generate billions of dollars in revenue annually.
360's QQ Guard is essentially puncturing Tencent's money bag.
What's most disgusting is that Zhou Hongyi had to publicly declare on social media: "QQ Guard brings peace of mind to users and keeps their computers clean."
"QQGG is disturbing the peace, we'll take care of it for our users."
360's GG is no more than Penguin's, and Zhou Hongyi's move has completely enraged Penguin.
He personally oversaw operations from the command center, and the entire company entered a state of wartime readiness.
The technology department, public relations department, legal department, and operations department all sounded the highest alert.
On September 20th, Tencent launched a strong counterattack, forcing QQ Doctor to update and specifically blocking 360's processes and drivers.
Further integration with QQ to quickly seize the security market?
The two sides completely broke off relations, escalating from verbal sparring into a technological war.
With the version update, some users' computers began to experience blue screens, conflicts, and crashes, and netizens went from being bystanders to becoming victims.
Guangzhou, Transsion Building.
Shen Fei sat in his office, looking at the screen full of news, his brows furrowing slightly.
The 3Q War has indeed arrived; he was right to prepare.
But in the previous life, it didn't fully erupt until the end of October, but this time it happened two whole months earlier.
Has history been deviated from its course?
But a faint smile quickly appeared on his lips. It didn't matter when he erupted; he was already prepared.
"Mr. Shen, both sides are hurling insults at each other and have even started physical altercations. Shouldn't we step in?"
Liu Zhihong stood aside and said anxiously.
The internet is in complete chaos right now, making it the perfect time to get in.
Shen Fei looked up at Liu Zhihong and Huang Tianya, who were getting a little anxious: "It's not time yet. We've only just begun. Have the technical department continue to optimize our Transsion Security Guardian and improve its protective functions."
Liu Zhihong was truly stunned this time. The two chairmen had already started a war of words online, attacking each other's weaknesses, and this wasn't even the beginning...
"President Shen, is this not enough? Penguin Ma and Zhou Hongyi are practically fighting each other across the screen, they're just short of a fight online."
You mean they'll continue fighting? You really want to arrange a real-life fight?
"I didn't say that, but our most important task right now is to continue refining Transsion Security Guardian and make its protection, cleaning, blocking, and privacy protection to the extreme."
Do not join any team, and do not engage in any aggressive behavior.
Liu Zhihong nodded thoughtfully, but he still didn't quite understand. However, his boss's judgment had never been wrong, so he nodded and said, "I understand."
"Just wait and see? The real show is yet to come."
…………
On September 25, the cyberattacks by both sides escalated further.
Tencent also officially released that famous open letter that went viral online: "We have just made a very difficult decision."
The article detailed 360's unethical behavior and then proposed a solution that forced users to choose between two options: if they installed 360, they would no longer be able to log in to QQ.
You can't use 360 if you use QQ...
The confidence to make this decision stems from QQ, the absolute dominant social networking platform.
You can still have Tencent if you leave 360, but there's no substitute for QQ if you leave.
After Tencent forced hundreds of millions of users to choose sides, almost at the same time, several internet companies, including Kingsoft Network, Baidu, and Kingsoft Software, expressed their support for Tencent.
Several companies have publicly accused 360 of interfering with the normal work of other companies.
360 also took the same countermeasure immediately: if you want to use 360, you can't use QQ.
Both sides are so enraged that neither is willing to back down.
The entire internet was outraged, with user complaints instantly exceeding 99+, and public opinion completely exploded.
Related media outlets published articles overnight: "Are Tencent and 360 locked in a bloody battle?"
"The most devastating war on the internet"
"A difficult decision, but I think you're making money through a difficult robbery."
"Why should I have to choose between two options? It's my computer, I'm in charge. Who are you, Tencent, to tell me what to do?"
"If I install 360, I can't log in to QQ. Why don't you just steal my hard drive?"
"I've been using QQ for ten years, and today is the first time I've felt utterly disgusted."
"In the past, pop-up ads were annoying enough, but now they're practically holding users hostage. Qiyou's behavior is too ugly."
"Both of them are internet thugs, nothing more."
"Who gave you the audacity to force us to choose between two options? Doesn't the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology do anything about it?"
Of course, Zhou Hongyi was not spared either, and his Weibo comment section was filled with greetings.
"One's a spy, the other's a scoundrel, neither of them are any good."
"Can't you please stop harming ordinary people when you're fighting?"
"Both companies are toxic entities, and it's us users who suffer."
"Are there any other alternatives? I really don't want to use these two anymore."
The once highly competitive cybersecurity market has been reduced to a single dominant player by 360 with the advent of the free era. This is the main reason why 360 dares to openly challenge Tencent.
Liu Zhihong finally understood what his boss meant by "the time is right".
He really didn't expect the two sides to fight to this extent. Did they really not take the regulators seriously?
On September 26th, all mobile phones running the Taishan system underwent a silent update.
The update notes contain only one line in small print: Transsion Security Guardian. Your free security manager only protects, doesn't interfere.
Some users, seeing that the system had automatically upgraded, clicked on it and were surprised to find:
Mobile security has been upgraded from 360 to Transsion Security Guard.
The interface is very clean and uncluttered. It can scan for and remove viruses with one click, and the virus database includes all the mainstream viruses known on the market.
It can also automatically block unwanted files, clean up junk files, protect privacy, and automatically scan when not in use.
Users were bewildered by this incredibly convenient security solution.
The software they were praying for actually appeared: free, easy to use, and not forcing users to do anything.
Truly conscientious.
Forums and online communities are flooded with posts about it again, but this time the focus is on Transsion Security Guard.
"That telepathic transmission was legendary."
"While others are fighting, he protects the users."
"Tencent and 360 are forcing me to choose between them. Transsion lets me have both and can also protect my safety."
"Some companies should learn from this: don't take sides, don't engage in extortion, don't cause trouble, just focus on doing things. That's what real security software should be."
"This is a huge scoring opportunity..."
Transsion Security Guard received rave reviews within 5 hours of its launch, and within 12 hours, its downloads exceeded 500 million.
Desktop users exceeded 350 million.
Penguin Building, Shenzhen.
Penguin Ma sat in his office, the screen in front of him displaying the soaring curve of Transsion Security Guard.
In less than 24 hours, the number of downloads has exceeded 1000 million, and its reputation continues to rise.
They're clearly the major shareholders, so what are they doing?
Why release a security manager at this time? Are they trying to grab a share of the instant messaging market?
He remained silent for a long time before finally picking up the phone and dialing Shen Fei's number, wanting to see what this major shareholder really meant...