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Microsoft plans to divorce viruses for free!

tiddlie   on 18 November 2008 - 22:00 · 60 comments & 15664 views

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Ever heard of "Morro"? Neither had I until today. It appears the boys and girls at Microsoft have been planning a nice surprise for consumers. Focused on "core anti-malware protection", Morro is a streamlined solution expected in the second half of 2009 that will offer comprehensive protection from malware, including viruses, spyware, root kits and trojans.

Built on Microsoft's "award-winning malware protection engine", Morro will definitely create a storm with it's price tag, and hopefully will deliver. In light of this announcement, Microsoft have also announced that subscriptions to it's Windows Live OneCare subscription will be discontinued to new users effective June 30th 2009.

It's nice to see a company such as Microsoft standing up to the virus makers finally in a solution that should be well supported and backed. They definitely seem to be doing a good job of going head on against spammers, so lets hope this gets the same results.

"Morro" will be available as a stand-alone download, and will be compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

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(6 replies) #1 superkid on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:03
Sounds interesting but i guess other AV Companies which charge will complain.
#1.1 Tikitiki on 18 Nov 2008 - 23:04
Then they can - don't let them take this off the market Microsoft.
#1.2 +Xerxes on 19 Nov 2008 - 00:57
I doubt it, considering the MS anti-virus/spyware/malware are not very good, I doubt the AV companies will care. Look at Windows Defender, nobody battered an eyelid that it was free AND bundled with Windows. Also there are plenty of free anti-virus solutions already on the market, so it'll have competition off the bat anyway.
#1.3 GreyWolfSC on 19 Nov 2008 - 02:34
Xerxes said,
I doubt it, considering the MS anti-virus/spyware/malware are not very good, I doubt the AV companies will care. Look at Windows Defender, nobody battered an eyelid that it was free AND bundled with Windows. Also there are plenty of free anti-virus solutions already on the market, so it'll have competition off the bat anyway.


OneCare and Forefront are at least as good as any other anti-virus software, and Defender has always worked for me.
#1.4 Airlink on 19 Nov 2008 - 07:30
GreyWolfSC said,
OneCare and Forefront are at least as good as any other anti-virus software, and Defender has always worked for me.

If it's all you've ever used, then you probably aren't aware of how poor MS antivirus products really are.

According to AV-Comparatives.org and their August 2008 rankings, OneCare ranks just above Norton and just below McAfee... ranking in 11th place out of 16.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2008_08.php

You'll see similar results at the VB 100 and other AV testing sites.

So, sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but OneCare sucks. :|
#1.5 jonnytabpni on 19 Nov 2008 - 11:02
If it's all you've ever used, then you probably aren't aware of how poor MS antivirus products really are.

According to AV-Comparatives.org and their August 2008 rankings, OneCare ranks just above Norton and just below McAfee... ranking in 11th place out of 16.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2008_08.php

You'll see similar results at the VB 100 and other AV testing sites.

So, sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but OneCare sucks. :|


Do you realize how ubiquitous Norton is?
#1.6 GreyWolfSC on 19 Nov 2008 - 14:58
Airlink said,
If it's all you've ever used, then you probably aren't aware of how poor MS antivirus products really are.

According to AV-Comparatives.org and their August 2008 rankings, OneCare ranks just above Norton and just below McAfee... ranking in 11th place out of 16.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2008_08.php

You'll see similar results at the VB 100 and other AV testing sites.

So, sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but OneCare sucks. :|


Did you look at the VB100 before you said that? They have no higher failure rate than any other solution, and I've been using PCs since they were introduced, so I don't think OneCare is the only AV I've ever used.

OneCare: 3 success, 1 failure
ForeFront: 6 success, 0 failure
Avira: 14 success, 3 failure
BitDefender: 17 success, 8 failure
AVG: 24 success, 22 failure
Symantec: 46 success, 6 failure
Trend: 16 success, 11 failure
Kapersky: 43 success, 17 failure
Avast: 27 success, 22 failure

I don't see that MS AV solutions are anywhere near the failure you do, but I'm looking at data, not just making a pronouncement.
(5 replies) #2 tiddlie on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:05
Honestly, I can see this being headline news around mid-2009 with huge anti-trust threats etc from Symantec and the other big players in 'retail' solutions, but I can only see this announcement being a good thing for consumers as a whole. Free antivirus should be bundled with every PC in my opinion. The corporate users are the ones that should be keeping Symantec etc alive.
#2.1 Deathray on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:14
Only if they package it with Windows 7, which from the sounds of it ("stand-alone download") won't be the case
#2.2 Antaris on 18 Nov 2008 - 23:39
Deathray said,
Only if they package it with Windows 7, which from the sounds of it ("stand-alone download") won't be the case


As much as I would like to have AV software bundled together, they would get bent over and rogered royally by the EU and other watchful audiences...
#2.3 GP007 on 19 Nov 2008 - 01:07
This will just be a free download like other free apps out there. I've been using the free version of AVG for years now.
#2.4 theyarecomingforyou on 19 Nov 2008 - 02:05
Microsoft is free to improve the security of Windows (as they did with Vista) and to offer free anti-virus (as many others do) but certainly it is unfair to bundle a free anti-virus with Windows because of their monopoly position.

Competition laws exist for a reason and that is to protect the consumer.
#2.5 QuarterSwede on 19 Nov 2008 - 06:46
Deathray said,
Only if they package it with Windows 7, which from the sounds of it ("stand-alone download") won't be the case

I thought that it wasn't bundling that's the issue. It's bundling and not being able to get rid of it if you didn't want it.
(3 replies) #3 +Dakkaroth on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:08
Go Morrowind!
#3.1 LTD on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:54
"They have taken you to the Imperial City's prison, first by carraige, and now by boat. To the east, to Morrowind. Fear not, for I am watchful. You have been chosen . . ."
#3.2 n_K on 19 Nov 2008 - 11:34
Haha! Classic
#3.3 Krome on 03 Dec 2008 - 16:45
LTD said,
"They have taken you to the Imperial City's prison, first by carraige, and now by boat. To the east, to Morrowind. Fear not, for I am watchful. You have been chosen . . ."

LOL you are one of those game addictive guy...
#4 Menge on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:15
i couldn't care less for the AV companies. this is what Microsoft should've done from the start.

actually i miss the point. Microsoft should've never made the default user the computer administrator from the start. but i digress...
(8 replies) #5 CentralDogma on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:16
Onecare was awful. Why should I expect any better from Microsoft this time.
#5.1 Kevincvz on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:19
I don't think Onecare was/is awful.
#5.2 MusicMan08 on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:43
Kevincvz said,
I don't think Onecare was/is awful.


I agree, I use it on a few of my machines. I have had no issues at all but then again I don't download things that I am unsure about.
#5.3 +Xerxes on 19 Nov 2008 - 01:00
MusicMan08 said,
I agree, I use it on a few of my machines. I have had no issues at all but then again I don't download things that I am unsure about.

That is down to your safe browsing habits, not Onecare. Onecare was benchmarked awhile ago against the other AV solutions and it didn't do well.
#5.4 GreyWolfSC on 19 Nov 2008 - 02:36
Xerxes said,
That is down to your safe browsing habits, not Onecare. Onecare was benchmarked awhile ago against the other AV solutions and it didn't do well.


Really? It's done fine on Virus Bulletin. It hasn't failed any more than any other solution.
#5.5 rev23dev on 19 Nov 2008 - 04:14
Way to back up a stupid statement. How about you give a reason for this useless comment. OneCare is just as good (if not better) than any commercial software available. The engine is fast, and isn't resource intensive, and notifications are low and it stays out of your way. I love it.

So, I just renewed my OC subscription. OneCare is obsolete once this comes out?
#5.6 +Xerxes on 19 Nov 2008 - 06:19
GreyWolfSC said,
Really? It's done fine on Virus Bulletin. It hasn't failed any more than any other solution.



rev23dev said,
Way to back up a stupid statement. How about you give a reason for this useless comment. OneCare is just as good (if not better) than any commercial software available. The engine is fast, and isn't resource intensive, and notifications are low and it stays out of your way. I love it.

So, I just renewed my OC subscription. OneCare is obsolete once this comes out?

It's not a useless comment, OneCare 1.5 did fail the VB100 tests. So my comment are not blatant lies, just a *little* outdated I didn't even know there was a version 2.0, which is why I never knew MS did some major work on it to vastly improve it, that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
#5.7 +DonC on 19 Nov 2008 - 14:55
Xerxes said,
rev23dev said,
Way to back up a stupid statement. How about you give a reason for this useless comment. OneCare is just as good (if not better) than any commercial software available. The engine is fast, and isn't resource intensive, and notifications are low and it stays out of your way. I love it.

So, I just renewed my OC subscription. OneCare is obsolete once this comes out?

It's not a useless comment, OneCare 1.5 did fail the VB100 tests. So my comment are not blatant lies, just a *little* outdated I didn't even know there was a version 2.0, which is why I never knew MS did some major work on it to vastly improve it, that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

It didn't help that Microsoft didn't play the AV game either. OneCare didn't actually report things as vulnerabilities when running on Vista when Vista had never been vulnerable to them.

In engineering terms, OneCare has been a godsend to those I know that have switched to it from Norton's suite.
#5.8 Krome on 03 Dec 2008 - 16:48
GreyWolfSC said,
Really? It's done fine on Virus Bulletin. It hasn't failed any more than any other solution.

1 Failure out of every 3 Success is a lot! That's 33.34% failure rate!
#6 +tunafish on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:23
At the end of the day correct me if i am wrong but aint AV companys simply making money from the lack of security provided from microsofts OS....

So really it should be upto microsoft to secure thier OS and they are doing that and then end up getting sued for it?
I for one welcome this new software as i hate going around and seeing people with Norton it makes me want to cry!!!
(4 replies) #7 zeta_immersion on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:32
'Built on Microsoft's "award-winning malware protection engine"' ... am i missing something? which one is that?
#7.1 thealexweb on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:35
zeta_immersion said,
'Built on Microsoft's "award-winning malware protection engine"' ... am i missing something? which one is that?


Erm hello Windows Live Onecare, the latest version 2.5 is quite good.
#7.2 tiddlie on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:40
OneCare won two VB100 awards. I'm no expert on the anti-virus world's award schemes so i'm not sure quite how highly this ranks in the grand scale of things.
#7.3 zeta_immersion on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:41
thealexweb said,
Erm hello Windows Live Onecare, the latest version 2.5 is quite good.



Thanks man , without this my pron collention would have been lost to the Win32kick_ass sys32 error .. all hail MS L1C
#7.4 excalpius on 19 Nov 2008 - 08:12
Windows Defender was the result of MS buying the Giant Anti-malware code. It was the best of its day, award-winning, and apparently still holding up VERY well.
#8 thealexweb on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:34
I saw this coming, XP brought a firewall, Vista brought Anti-Spyware, 7 will bring everything!
#9 CrazyK on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:35
If its a good step forward and MS offer it an an optional download then hopefully it will go far. If its a poor attempt to crack the anti virus market using hype or MS use sleazy tactics then it will fail. Time will tell but lets not judge just yet.
#10 Bri- on 18 Nov 2008 - 23:11
It's about ****ing time.
#11 darkpuma on 18 Nov 2008 - 23:30
Funny, third article in the past week that i can say... weird, i was telling my girlfriend how MS should do this, just yesterday!
#12 Soldiers33 on 18 Nov 2008 - 23:33
nice
#13 rm20010 on 18 Nov 2008 - 23:49
If any other AV companies (i.e. the ones who complained about PatchGuard) want to complain, they can shove their inefficient pieces of crap up their arses. Realize that what Microsoft is doing is no different than what Avira, AVG, Alwil, etc. are doing by offering free antivirus protection.

However, if they want to bundle, go right ahead. I don't recall there being much of a stink over Windows Defender being integrated into the OS.
(1 reply) #14 Kushan on 19 Nov 2008 - 00:34
i don't think AV companies are going to be too worried about this, any future malware will likely be targeted at this program anyway, so it makes sense to use a different one.
#14.1 GP007 on 19 Nov 2008 - 01:11
Like all the attacks on symantics apps and so on? Other A/V apps have been hit already.
#15 akav0id on 19 Nov 2008 - 00:47
There can be no anti trust lawsuits so long as Microsoft don't bundle it with their OS
#16 +Hell-In-A-Handbasket on 19 Nov 2008 - 01:01
im all for MS doing this, and hope they dont get bullied down
#17 bolix on 19 Nov 2008 - 02:35
Still, it's like having to buy security fences and cameras if you live in an unsafe area and you don't get proper safety from the cops. Security companies can't sue the cops if they start doing their job good and people stop buying their security stuff.
#18 Relativity_17 on 19 Nov 2008 - 03:23
It seems in the best interests of AV companies to wait until this product nears release before opening up with anti-trust complaints. That way, it hurts Microsoft after they've committed resources to developing this software.
#19 helios01 on 19 Nov 2008 - 03:57
This sounds great but is MS setting itself up for another lawsuit, by bundling a free AV, more than a few companies that depend on sales of AV software will be upset and since MS is apparently unable to bundle anything with an OS...
#20 kingco on 19 Nov 2008 - 04:23
Only if they package it with Windows 7, which from the sounds of it ("stand-alone download" won't be the case

If MS bundled it with windows then you will have people complaining while others making software to delete Morro from their newly slipstreamed windows CD....
#21 simon360 on 19 Nov 2008 - 04:36
I don't think that the AV companies would have a reasonable complaint, even if Microsoft bundled it. All someone would need to say to the EU is that AV companies have been profiting from people's unfortunate loss of data and need for protection from bad practices (ie running everything as an admin) for years, which is unfair to the customer. Everything gets down to the customer eventually, and it's always been unfair that the AV companies anally rape anyone who wants protection, protection that has become a computer need.

That's how I see it.
#22 afusion on 19 Nov 2008 - 05:54
IMO this is how it should be, anti -mal/virus software should be provided by the origin who supports the OS with daily patches and so on w/out charge. If you promote your OS to be "more secure than ever" you should back that claim to your customers.

Seriously, who has time to put up with that sh*t, people use their computers and that's it; Why should they have to worry about it? It seems really stupid to have to be paranoid about such a thing.

Computers should make people's lives easier with the intent of creating less of a burden to begin with.
(2 replies) #23 dvb2000 on 19 Nov 2008 - 06:11
Nice idea Microsoft - its not April 1st is it?

We all know "toMorrow" never comes!
#23.1 +tunafish on 19 Nov 2008 - 09:28
Nice to see the trolls are out today
#23.2 +tunafish on 19 Nov 2008 - 09:28
Nice to see the trolls are out today
#24 Jock Horror on 19 Nov 2008 - 09:40
I anticipate Morro will be walked around in 3Q 2009! LOL!
#25 Unto Darkness on 19 Nov 2008 - 10:02
It sounds real funny when Companies promote their ware as "Award winning <ENTER PRODUCT>". It almost like an actress who just won the Oscars....
#26 A1Capone on 19 Nov 2008 - 10:58
EL Morro it's being in Puerto Rico since the year 1539

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_San_Felipe_del_Morro

JujuuuuU!! HAHAHHA!
#27 bluarash on 19 Nov 2008 - 18:42
We can only hope that it can at least compete with McAfee and Symantec... it is unlikely it will ever hold a candle to Avira, Eset or any other good security company.
(1 reply) #28 +techbeck on 19 Nov 2008 - 19:24
Yea, and to everyone who says MS only cares about money, then you are morons.
#28.1 magik on 21 Nov 2008 - 04:04
Actually, you would be the moron if you honestly thought that. By providing a free anti-virus solution, they're ensuring their flagship product is protected from the inside out. This makes Windows even more appealing to those seriously considering other operating systems.

Inevitably, it's all about money in the end. There's no charity here.
#29 magik on 21 Nov 2008 - 04:02
It's about time, I say!!
#30 RebelSean on 21 Nov 2008 - 17:59
As much as I love Windows Live as a whole, I'm actually pleased to see OneCare being discontinued. I've never "bashed" Microsoft, but OneCare was terrible. Yeah it's alright for those who know what they're looking at on web-pages and know how to surf the web, but for those who download music and surf dodgy websites, it was terrible and detecting a blocking threats. As a tester, that was the #1 thing I complained about. I downloaded a few virii infected files purposefully through LimeWire and Ares, and they were never detected. There were quite a few times where OneCare didn't catch virii on my families' PC. I hope Morro offers better detection analitics .

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