Microsoft's Security Essentials team has confirmed the final version of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) will be made available in the coming weeks.
MSE is Microsoft's free anti-virus and anti-spyware product that is set to replace Microsoft's paid Windows Live OneCare subscription service which was withdrawn earlier this year. In an email to beta testers the team thanked testers for their participation and encouraged them to upgrade to version 1.0.1500.0 of the beta to ensure a "smooth experience". Neowin exclusively revealed Security Essentials in June when it was codenamed "Morro". Morro was renamed Security Essentials and appeared in beta form in late June.
MSE is likely to be targeted to compete with the low end of anti-virus products from other providers, and it will not have much of an impact on sales of full-blown security suites. According to Janice Chaffin, president of Symantec's Consumer Division, "Microsoft's free product is basically a stripped down version of the OneCare product Microsoft pulled from the shelves. A full Internet security suite is what consumers require today to stay fully protected."
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