Nov 25

Written by: jgaskell
25/11/2008 9:47 PM 

Microsoft have announced that they will be discontinuing their OneCare security software (anti-virus, anti-malware, etc.) and replacing it with a new free offering next year, codenamed Morro. So far details are pretty sketchy.

According to Microsoft, Morro will be a comprehensive anti-malware solution and will be available as a free download.

Some would argue that it makes sense for Microsoft to clean up their own systems by offering this free service, but it will be interesting to see what impact this has on existing providers of anti-malware solutions. Of course, Microsoft is not the first to offer free anti-malware software.

Probably the most popular free anti-virus solution in use is AVG Free Edition, used by millions of home computer users (including myself).

AVG Free Edition is intended to lead people to the commercial AVG product, which has more features and is suitable for use in a business environment.

There are no details yet as to whether Microsoft will use this same plan of attack by releasing a commercial version of Morro with additional features. There are other free options, such as Avira AntiVir, free trials of commercial products such as CA's EZ Antivirus and open source solutions such as ClamAV, so Microsoft is hardly breaking new ground here.

Having said that, it would not be the first time that Microsoft have arrived late to the party and then gone on to dominate the room.

Internet Explorer is a classic example.