David Flynn20 November 2008, 7:57 PM
Anti-trust ruling would prevent it from building virus protection into Windows, so Microsoft is doing the next best thing: giving away its security software for free.
Microsoft will next year stop selling its OneCare security suite in favour of allowing Windows users to download a free package codenamed ‘Morro’.
Like OneCare, Morro will carry the Windows Live brand to reflect its role as part of the company’s software-plus-service strategy. But it won’t be a direct replacement for OneCare: Morro will be a stripped-down program with a primary focus on detecting and defending against malware such as viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans, while OneCare’s system diagnostics and firewall are likely to replicated in Windows 7.
Morro’s ETA is sometime in the second half of 2009, and while it’s expected to complement Windows 7 the software will likely precede the OS’ planned December debut. Microsoft has confirmed that Morro will run on Windows XP and Vista as well as 7.
Morro is good news for the most mainstream Windows users, a large number of whom still don’t buy any form of security software to protect against the inevitable attacks. But it’s not so good for security vendors such as Symantec, McAfee and co, all of whom rely heavily on initial consumer sales and then annual upgrades.
Those companies may be forced to re-evaluate their line-up and introduce their own free security software simply to retain brand loyalty and get a foot in the customer’s door to promote upgrades to a more feature-filled offering.
The cost of anti-virus software has fallen to well under $100 in recent years, due in no doubt to Microsoft’s ability to put its own OneCare front-and-centre for Windows users. For example, OneCare is promoted on the ‘Welcome’ screen which greets all users of a new PC or a new Vista installation.