Microsoft is working on a new product codenamed “Morro” which will be available for free download in the second half of 2009 and will provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. Microsoft, being the most commonly used operating system, is also the most targeted one by virus writers.
“Morro” will be available as a stand-alone download and offer malware protection for the Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. When used in conjunction with the ongoing security and privacy enhancements of Windows and Internet Explorer, this new solution will offer consumers a robust, no-cost security solution to help protect against the majority of online threats.
As per the announcement, this new malware will be built on Microsoft’s award-winning malware protection engine.
Built on Microsoft’s award-winning malware protection engine, “Morro” will take advantage of the same core anti-malware technology that fuels the company’s current line of security products, which have received the VB100 award from Virus Bulletin, Checkmark Certification from West Coast Labs and certification from the International Computer Security Association Labs. The new solution will deliver the same core protection against malware as that offered through Microsoft’s enterprise solutions, but will not include many of the additional non-security features found in many consumer security suites.
Microsoft will also discontinue retail sales of its Windows Live OneCare subscription service effective June 30, 2009.
As “Morro” will be available for free, and the fact that it is developed by Microsoft. Selling antivirus softwares will certainly be a lot more difficult unless they have something more to offer than what Morro can. As ReadWriteWeb puts it:
The release of this free product promises to help Microsoft better bookend that problem, corralling viruses from both sides. But what does giving the product away do to a market that has grown up around Microsoft’s vulnerability? And does the potential cannibalization of that market raise red flags from the antitrust watchdogs? Hard to say. It’s likely that some of the current antivirus companies will survive by providing additional features and functionality – or by employing their technology in other ways. But – clearly – selling antivirus solutions just got a great deal more difficult.
