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November 19, 2008

Microsoft kills OneCare; plans free antivirus

Free Morro security software coming next year

Oliver Garnham

Microsoft has officially announced plans to exit the paid-for antivirus software market, killing off the Windows Live OneCare product it launched just two years ago.

Windows Live OneCare will no longer be available from June 2009, at which time Microsoft will offer a free antivirus product, called Morro, to Windows users. The company said the free security software would help encourage more people to take antivirus seriously, claiming nearly 50 percent of Windows users don't have an antivirus tool installed on their PC.

"Our goal with OneCare was to get more customers more protected, and I don't think we were able to do that to the extent that we would have liked," said Amy Barzdukas, a senior director of product management with Microsoft. "As we look around the world now, the countries where PC growth is most rapid, in emerging markets such as Brazil and India and China, the malware threat is even greater."

However, Morro, which is expected to run Windows OneCare's antimalware engine but will use fewer system resources, won't be bundled into the operating system, Barzdukas said. That decision could help placate concerns from security software vendors, whose ability to sell antivirus products to consumers would be hampered if Microsoft bundled a free tool with its operating systems.

Morro is also expected to be a low-end security tool - it will provide protection from viruses and Trojans, but will not include the systems management and backup capabilities.

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Comments received


Fyty said on Wednesday, 19 November 2008

MS more used to bring Sorro to its users

djlen said on Wednesday, 19 November 2008

MicroSuck should be building a virus-proof bullet-proof operating system like Apple continues to do.

I have absolutely no problem with antivirus companies going out of business - they'd be able to concentrate their talents toward producing programs that we'd "like" to use instead of programs we MUST use.

Patrick Smith said on Wednesday, 19 November 2008

I use LiveOneCare and I have found it exellent, Will the replacement be as good or is this just another moneyspinner?

sunny staines said on Wednesday, 19 November 2008

With AVG & AVAST available as free AV that a lot of people use I do not think free MS antivirus will make any difference.

Skidz said on Wednesday, 19 November 2008

Could be useful to some. I'll stick with KIS 2009 though.

Terry Edwards said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

Three weeks ago my brother bought one care, with two years subscription, will he still be able to download updates for it, after June2009

Phil said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

Will the software continue to work? I bought the software with a new PC with a three year subscription, I guess no refunds will be forthcoming??

Deyaa Addeen Fahmy Shedeed said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

Waiting, thanks.

John Zebedee said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

Microsoft kills OneCare

About time IMHO

Alan said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

Yes - I am not impressed with the Morro announcement.
I will stay with KIS 2009 on my laptop and Norton Internet Security 2009 on my desktops.
If you haven't tried it - look out the OEM system builders version. Instead of about £50 you only pay about £15 - and its totally legit. so long as you've built your own PC.
LOW on system resources and installs and updates in just a few minutes. Amazing. Keeps you clean and you don't know its there!

Alan said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

Yes - I am not impressed with the Morro announcement.
I will stay with KIS 2009 on my laptop and Norton Internet Security 2009 on my desktops.
If you haven't tried it - look out the OEM system builders version. Instead of about £50 you only pay about £15 - and its totally legit. so long as you've built your own PC.
LOW on system resources and installs and updates in just a few minutes. Amazing. Keeps you clean and you don't know its there!

Ray Woods said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

If Microsoft made a secure OS they wouldn't need anti virus software. So, seeing they don't, it is only right they pay for it. Perhaps they should look at Registry Cleaners, etc, next.

shrove86 said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

It is about time they did their own free virus software. But many people, such as myself, already use and trust AVG which is free. Bundling virus into an OS will be the only way they will get antivirus software onto people's pcs. A registry cleaner/organizer should be the next step.

smell the coffee said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

DJlen

openyour eyes, OS is only targetted to a lesser degree due to its low installed userbase. As and when it becomes more successful this position of self denial based safety will change, as has bee demonstrated in recent years!

antivirus.about.com/od/macintoshresource/Macintosh_Viruses_and_Mac_Virus_Resources.htm

Andrew Hill said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

I guess many lo-tech people will have appreciated OneCare's comprehensive (but a bit nanny-like) package and will have done what they were told and may miss the slimmed-down version in future. I must say that on one laptop OneCare was the only way I was able to remove a trojan some time ago which had eluded Avast and, as it's only that type of protection I want, Morro will be an option I'll consider if, indeed, it's free. For now, a selection of excellent free alternatives seem to be doing a fine job on the rest of the family's computers.

Skidz said on Thursday, 20 November 2008

Registry cleaners cure nothing. Thats the LAST thing MS need included. Can you imagine how many times users would screw up their systems with a built in one. !!!

Asterix said on Sunday, 23 November 2008

The usual comments...anti-Microsoft. Who cares if you will continue to use your exiting AV product? I will continue to use mine but I'm not going to slate Microsft for giving away free product, good or bad. There's no AV product on the market that works flawlessly so all of them are up for criticism, even the ones you are all happy with. You are just members of the Bandwagon party and 90% of you complain because others are doing it, not from your personal experience. Give the program a chance before you make judgement, I'd hate to see you on a jury.
Oh, and if apple is so great why are you on a Microsoft discussion? How did you even find it?

B Mor--- said on Monday, 01 December 2008

As A One Care product User and a valid Microsoft product user with full valid licenced software for all my computers I would like to thank Microsoft for what I think they should have done years ago. If you use a computer with any operating system running then I think the operating system should contain a Virus protection within the operating system software. Please would you let Microsoft this is the way to go. Apple computers Bah I would not have an Apple computer thrown at me. Exspensive junk>

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