Microsoft to give away free antivirus software

Microsoft plans to release free antivirus software code-named Morro. This new offering will be made available by the end of next year, and is slated to replace its embattled Windows Live OneCare product, which will be discontinued. In a nutshell, Morro will be a no-frills antivirus software that is able to run on minimal resources.

Such a move is certain to anger existing antivirus vendors, who already are unhappy over the paid-for Windows Live OneCare. Microsoft, however, claims that it merely intends to "remove barriers" that are stopping a sizeable percentage of consumers from installing antivirus applications. So is Microsoft is really concerned about stopping malware, or is it merely putting pressure on antivirus firms such as Symantec and McAfee?

Mary Landesman of web security company ScanSafe suggests that the reason might have more to do with Windows OneCare not generating significant returns in the first place. Pushing it to users' desktops like the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool however, would leverage on existing technologies developed by Microsoft to increase the company's insight into users' desktop. And, of course, there is no doubt that having even a basic antivirus utility on all Windows desktops will be beneficial in the fight against viruses and malware as a whole.

In this context, rolling out a fully functional free antivirus scanner makes sense.

For more on this story:
- check out this article from ZDNet News