Microsoft Confirms Plans to Release Free Anti-Virus Service

If Morro provides good protection, it could "provide a significant value for users." From Microsoft's perspective, Morro, the free anti-virus software could improve user experience with Microsoft-based products and could help them to improve their charged-for enterprise products.

As it gets ready to launch a new operating system, Microsoft Relevant Products/Services confirmed Wednesday that it is getting ready to release a free anti-virus service later this year.

The new service is currently code-named Morro, apparently after the Morro de Sao Paolo beach area in Brazil. Observers are expecting the free service to compete directly with McAfee and Symantec, two of the leading companies in this field.

A Microsoft spokesperson told news media that the software giant is currently internally testing the new software among its employees, and then it will offer a public beta at some unspecified point in 2009. The software is expected to be available for computers running Windows Vista, XP, and the upcoming Windows 7.

'Basic Anti-Malware Software'

Microsoft had previously launched security Relevant Products/Services services with Live OneCare, for which retail sales will be discontinued by the end of this month, although support will continue to the end of current subscriptions. All OneCare sales, including those online, are expected to be phased out as Morro ramps up.

It is expected that Morro will only be available via online download, not as part of Windows 7.

Peter Firstbrook, an analyst with industry research firm Gartner, described Morro as "basic anti-malware software," using the OneCare engine. These days, he said, "signature-based anti-virus software is basically a commodity," and, with no price, Morro is likely to "get a really good reception."

"Microsoft originally got into anti-viral protection," he added, "because they felt that Symantec and McAfee weren't really getting enough penetration, people's machines were getting infected, and it was impacting the Microsoft experience."


See full detail: http://www.enterprise-security-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=67113&full_skip=1

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