Microsoft to Offer Free Windows Anti-Virus Solutions

[sweetsam]

Microsoft to Offer Free Windows Anti-Virus Solutions

Microsoft has announced it will replace its Windows security and PC management service with free anti-virus software. Microsoft Windows OneCare will be replaced by the new anti-virus protections in July 2009. The software giant hopes to protect a greater number of consumers with the solution product solutions.

Microsoft Corp on Tuesday announced it will replace its current Windows OneCare service with free anti-virus solutions. Microsoft Windows OneCare is a subscription based service which will end starting July 2009.

The new anti-virus software is called Morro. The free solution will protect PCs running on Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. The new anti-virus solutions will guard PC users against spyware, rootkits and Trojans.

"This new, no-cost offering will give us the ability to protect an even greater number of consumers, especially in markets where the growth of new PC purchases is outpaced only by the growth of malware," Amy Barzdukas, senior director of product management in the online services division at Microsoft, said in statement.

Anti-virus software firms Symantec Corp and McAfee Inc saw their shares tumble on Wednesday. There are concerns that Microsoft's new anti-virus solutions would compete with their products. However, Microsoft said its Morro product only includes security protections against malware and is not a security suite.

Symantec and McAfee provide a complete suite of security which includes encryption, firewalls, password protection, parental controls and data backup programs. The free Microsoft anti-virus software does not have these features.

Source

[Dc'1]

I hope this will be good, and not bloated... Like every anti-virus now...

[+BeLGaRaTh Subscriber¹]

/me waits for google to moan about this so they can offer a free service ...

[/pessimism]

[Rigby]

Symantec, McAfee and others will start crying no fair, and the EU will start trying to fine them again.

[NoneAvail]

They gave us Windows Defender, and that was supposed to do all the work without any 3rd party applications.

and it sucked! I hope they work on the anti virus this time.

[qdave]

hmm it seems microsoft is going into monopoly watrs again :p i dont mind free av, as long as it does it jobs. now law firms and stupoid institutions will think otherwise.

[Panacik]

Symantec, McAfee and others will start crying no fair, and the EU will start trying to fine them again.

Then people will complain that MS has not done enough to protect its customers... MS cant win IMHO.

[bob_c_b]

Symantec, McAfee and others will start crying no fair, and the EU will start trying to fine them again.

It is currently slated to be optional, free and not included in the box, they can whine but probably won't get much out of it.

[AudioDope]

Hope it looks better than this.

[tsupersonic]

^ I like that UI, very simple for 99% of the n00bs

[i_was_here]

If its completely free and doesnt have any nags, it might be a nice alternative to the other free AVs.

[grik]

This is very good, but virus makers will start focusing on MS AV attacks, and is MS able to bu updated like the paid AV?s ?

[shakey_snake]

This will be the first thing malware will attempt to work around on any compromised system.

[LTD]

Damnit!

Symantec, McAfee and the rest will start crying, and will then hurl themselves at OUR doorstep in hopes of getting our business.

Now we have to endure even more of their "virus imminent for Macs in 2001", "virus imminent for Macs in 2002", "virus imminent for Macs in 2003", and so on. :rolleyes:

[what]

They gave us Windows Defender, and that was supposed to do all the work without any 3rd party applications.

and it sucked! I hope they work on the anti virus this time.

Windows Defender is anti-spyware and it does a good enough job.

[HawkMan]

Symantec and McAfee provide a complete suite of security which includes encryption, firewalls, password protection, parental controls and data backup programs. The free Microsoft anti-virus software does not have these features.

So basically Morron only inclused the stuff MS doesn't allready icnlude with windows or offer for free then :p

and since Morro unlike symantec crap probably integrates properly into the Vista security center istead of trying to rpelace it, it is along with the other tools in windows, a security suite :p

Damnit!

Symantec, McAfee and the rest will start crying, and will then hurl themselves at OUR doorstep in hopes of getting our business.

Now we have to endure even more of their "virus imminent for Macs in 2001", "virus imminent for Macs in 2002", "virus imminent for Macs in 2003", and so on. :rolleyes:

What's this ?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10110852-...ag=2547-1_3-0-5

oh that's right... it's Apple, telling it's userts to protect themselves, with AV software

:rolleyes: