Microsoft's free antivirus suite arriving in "weeks"
By Stuart Turton
Posted on 21 Sep 2009 at 10:57
Microsoft has confirmed that its free antivirus package, Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), will be available to customers "in the coming weeks".
The package, formerly known by the codename Morro, is currently in beta and will offer basic tools for combating viruses, spyware, trojans and rootkits.
"The final version of Microsoft Security Essentials will be released to the public in the coming weeks," Microsoft informed its beta testers in an email, encouraging them to upgrade to the latest version, and thanking them for their assistance.
Microsoft Security Essentials replaces the OneCare security package, which was scrapped in June. MSE is being targeted at the lower end of the antivirus market and will not features OneCare's more advanced "performance-enhancing tools" such as disk defragmenting, firewalls, password protection, parental controls and data backup.
Microsoft's free product is basically a stripped down version of the OneCare product Microsoft pulled from the shelves
We know that there are still some 60% of consumers in developed markets, and even more in emerging markets, that don't have up-to-date security protection on their PCs, and we want to help provide that core level of protection," says Amy Barzdukas, senior director of product management at Microsoft.
Unsurprisingly, rivals have been quick to dismiss the free offering. "Microsoft's free product is basically a stripped-down version of the OneCare product Microsoft pulled from the shelves," says Symantec Consumer division president Janice Chaffin. "A full internet security suite is what consumers require today to stay fully protected."
The sentiment was echoed by McAfee spokesperson Joris Evers. "On a level playing field, we are confident in our ability to compete with anyone who might enter the marketplace," he says.
Find out why our own Jon Honeyball is excited by the release of MSE.
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I am worried about this, if Microsoft starts bundling this anti-virus suite with Windows, that might damage the competition a lot (again).
On the one hand a bundled anti-virus product would be a plus, a lot of people aren't running any anti-virus software and it's these people that are hit with virusses and worms most often.
But on the other hand less competition in the security market would translate to less and incentive for improving anti-virus software and quickly releasing new virus definitions.
I'm not sure where I stand on this.
By Woudenberg on 21 Sep 2009 
Can't wait
I for one can't wait for MS's AV product. Look at the AVComparitives website and you'll see that MS's detection engine is higher than you think and alot higher than those who cared to comment on this new release.
I have a feeling the AV world is about to have a huge wake up call.
Fantastic. About time too.
By metalmonkey on 21 Sep 2009
Let's wait and see...
I've used products like Norton and McAfee before and found them to be too bloated for my liking.
I enjoy using a combination of common sense and basic (free) AV. If Microsoft can offer a comparable product with a small footprint and small demand for system resources, I'll jump boat.
A stripped down product is exactly what I want. Leave the all-encompassing security suites for the Daily Mail readers.
PS. Did we really think that Symantec would welcome a competitor?
By pepperalex on 22 Sep 2009
Competition
While in the case of media players, browsers etc competition is definitely an issue.
Personally, though if Microsoft decides to release software to protect their own operating system that's a different matter.
By malfranks2 on 23 Sep 2009
'A full security suite is what people need today'
So unless security doubles bootime and hogs half the resources, its no good? What about the free AV's. I think MS is doing a fine thing, providing basic protection to a demographic that can't afford or don't know about AV protection, and what they do with their OS is up to them.
By qwertyqwerty87 on 24 Sep 2009
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