Microsoft to enter the free AV game

Robert Hallock (Thrax)

June 11, 2009 10:43 AM ET in News, , , , , ,

morroA Microsoft spokesperson has recently confirmed that the firm is putting the final touches on a free anti-virus solution dubbed “Morro.”

The solution is believed to be a small, resource-light package focused on detecting viruses, rootkits and trojans without the bloat of a useless “security suite.”

The impending release of Morro signals a distinct change in strategy from the firm which previously tried to monetize security with the ill-fated Windows Live OneCare project. Having failed to entice a sufficient following with the application, Redmond has announced plans to cancel OneCare on June 30. It is expected Morro will be amongst the funeral procession and available for download in short order.

Though this gamble tinkers directly with existing free AV players like Avast! and AVG, bloatmasters McAfee and Symantec are shrugging the intro by extolling the virtue of those laughable “securite suites.”

9 Comments:

  1. AlexDeGruven
    11 Jun '09, 3:13 pm

    I've seen so little value add with the non-Enterprise virus software engines, I'm really surprised anyone uses them (but then I look at the current state of the home user and remember).

    If they do it right (I don't have any experience with One Care, so I can't speak to how well it works), then I think it could be a really great thing, and help to increase overall security in the home user market.

    But then, this is also Microsoft, so they could manage to completely boff the entire thing and cause major problems, as well.

  2. Cliff_Forster
    11 Jun '09, 3:28 pm

    I repair computers on the side. Its amazing how bad users are about protecting themselves. They click anything, they download programs with minimal or no research. 90% of computer users honestly have no clue. While, part of me would rather see Microsoft Partner with someone like AVG or Avira to include AntiVirus in the build (or perhaps multiple partners that have a chance to include following certain protocols and you pick on install), I do think its critical to get something inside of windows, that's self updating, that's self monitoring because frankly, people are just too simple to do it on their own.

    The issue for Microsoft is going to be anti-trust. Is Microsoft breaching the terms of prior rulings by pre packaging an anti virus tool as part of the core operating system, thus shutting out third party competitors from selling product?

    Lets face it, we at Icrontic are smart computer users, we probably don't even need to run Anti Virus to protect ourselves, but 90% of the market, I'm telling you, its scary how clueless people are about malware. Its in users best intrest to have something built right into the OS thats 100% maintenance free, that updates itself, that schedules scans on its own and removes threats on its own.

    Then again, that's going to cost me some jobs, so uhhhhhh, never mind.....

  3. Thrax
    11 Jun '09, 3:31 pm

    The issue with security is that it doesn't work.

    Preemptive anti-spyware? Yeah right.
    Virus protection? Works 50% of the time.
    Phishing filters? There's no stopping email.

    Security software is useless, because ignorant users will always be more powerful.

  4. Myrmidon
    11 Jun '09, 3:53 pm

    It still strikes me as batshit insane when I see an article about Microsoft with the terms 'resource-light' and 'free.'

  5. mirage
    11 Jun '09, 4:43 pm

    I will check this one out for sure. But is Windows Defender still included in Windows 7? I am tired of shutting down that useless service on every computer after installing AVG.

  6. primesuspect
    11 Jun '09, 4:53 pm

    Defender is still in Windows 7, according to my RC1 install (build 7100)

  7. mirage
    11 Jun '09, 4:59 pm

    OK. Thanks for the info. Life has to be always hard, right?

  8. Cliff_Forster
    11 Jun '09, 5:07 pm

    Robert, what your saying completely makes sense to me. It might be better than nothing, but as long as users are not educated, its only going to have but so much value.

    Maybe Microsoft should give people $10 discounts or something to watch a video tutorial on safe computer usage and pass a random quiz upon install?

    I don't know, just thinking out of the box.

  9. chrisWhite
    17 Jun '09, 3:05 am

    I like that idea Cliff, so much of this stuff is just computer basics that help avoid viruses and only rely on virus protection as your second layer of defense.

    Right now I'm not running any virus protection, I'm waiting for a light weight, free, x64 okay solution for Windows 7.

    Remember kids, McAfee is the fricken' virus. Domain policy forces it on us where I work and it is the single must frustrating POS software I have to deal with. The fact that it installs a Firefox addin to my USB key portable edition every time I start it really pisses me off. Oh yeah, and you can't uninstall it, you can only disable it. The thing can only run as it's own toolbar too, despite being one button, and you can't turn the toolbar off. Trash. Okay, /rant

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