Microsoft to offer free security

[echrada]

The new software will protect machines running XP, Vista, and Windows 7
In a surprise move, Microsoft has announced it will offer a free anti-virus and security solution from the second half of next year.

It will stop selling OneCare, its all-in-one security and PC management service, from the end of June 2009.

The new software, code-named Morro, will be a no-frills program suited to smaller and less powerful computers.

The software will be free to download and will support Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

The move comes as sales of the OneCare subscription service are flagging - reportedly because the anti-virus marketplace is already flooded with big-name players such as Symantec and McAfee.

Since its launch in May 2006, OneCare has garnered less than 2% of the security software market share.

In a statement, Microsoft said that Morro would be designed specifically to be a small-footprint program that uses fewer system resources. This, it said, would be ideal for users with low-bandwidth connections or computers without much processing power.

That will be of particular interest to consumers buying comparatively low-powered "netbook" computers.

Amy Barzdukas, senior director of product management in the online services division at Microsoft, said: "This new, no-cost offering will give us the ability to protect an even greater number of consumers, especially in markets where the growth of new PC purchases is outpaced only by the growth of malware."


BBC NEWS | Technology | Microsoft to offer free security

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I can already here the cries from the anti-trust lawyers....:huh:

Thanks for the article echrada!















Later :sarc: Ted

 

[Ex_Brit]

Sounds good, if they don't get their pants sued off for doing that. The question remains however, how good is their protection anyway? Apart from Windows Defender, I've never used MS protection.

 

[x3haloed]

Sounds good, if they don't get their pants sued off for doing that. The question remains however, how good is their protection anyway? Apart from Windows Defender, I've never used MS protection.

I don't really know either. I haven't tested Live One Care. The truth is, I don't really need antivirus software anymore. I haven't been using antivirus software and I haven't gotten a single virus in the past two years that I've been using Windows Vista.

If Microsoft's new security software is lightweight enough, I may just leave it enabled just for the "feel good" aspect of knowing that I do have antivirus software, much in the same way that I leave Windows Defender enabled, becuase I really can't say I've seen real performance benefits to disabling it.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Well I'm certainly going to give it a try on one of my systems when it's released. I moderate at the McAfee forums so have to use that product on at least one of them...sometimes to my regret...LOL. Actually I have very few problems.
Meanwhile I'm still waiting or the free 1-year subscription download of ZoneAlarm Pro that I applied for yesterday (it was only available for 1 day) and want to see if it will work on Windows 7.

Update...much later...ZA dose NOT work...in fact it will mess up everything even in compatibility mode.

 

[Barman58]

Hi all,

For any interested parties this is from the OneCare Blog ...

Windows Live OneCare Team Blog

 

[Airbot]

Then we'll all see just how effective it really is.

 

[patrickbdunlap]

I don't really know either. I haven't tested Live One Care. The truth is, I don't really need antivirus software anymore. I haven't been using antivirus software and I haven't gotten a single virus in the past two years that I've been using Windows Vista.

If Microsoft's new security software is lightweight enough, I may just leave it enabled just for the "feel good" aspect of knowing that I do have antivirus software, much in the same way that I leave Windows Defender enabled, becuase I really can't say I've seen real performance benefits to disabling it.

A fully patched Vista (Win7) machine with UAC running, firewall turned on, and the user not set as admin is good protection and would not require you to run Anti-Virus. Other then that, you might already have viruses and spyware and not even know it. I oversee the security of over 5000 Win clients and since we started patching, keeping software, and running client firewalls, infections have gone down a lot.

Run AVG. Its good, lite weight, and catches most issues.

 

[SConk]

I loved WLOC and hated to see it end, but I can see where it was more than most people wanted. I mean you get a decent firewall in Vista and Win7, the backup program is already there in Win& and is easier to use. Spyware support comes free with Defender and free antivirus programs like Avast! provide the antivirus, trojan, and additional spyware protection.

So Morro may be all that a lot of people need.

 

[johngalt]

The fact that it is free makes a *huge* difference....

 

[markglobalmsglive]

OneCare

Hi Guys/Girls,

Have to say I was a keen user of OneCare for some years and never had any malware/virus/trojan issues what so ever,It warned me about them but quite happily dealt with them swiftly.

I didnt mind paying the annual cost, considering you are allowed to protect up to a circle of 3 machines and have one of them as a master hub, was great.

Its only downside was that it was for Vista only. Sounds like a step in the right direction, my Windows 7 reg is currently sat on my new Macbook within a VM, so although I am currently only protected by defender from a windows perspective, I am pretty secure behind my time capsule router!!

Cheers

Sounds good, if they don't get their pants sued off for doing that. The question remains however, how good is their protection anyway? Apart from Windows Defender, I've never used MS protection.

 

[garysgold]

Welcome to the Seven Forums, markglobalmsglive.

I will probably give it a try for free, but couldn't see paying for it when there are decent free programs that have done the job for me. TBH, I've only had one alert in the past year and it was a false positive.

Gary

 

[Gilbertpwns]

I used One care for a whole year and it was an ok experience. It had the usual protection settings, backup files and what not. Pretty lightweight too compared to some other software. There was one time scare where Microsoft had an updating problem and the software reported that your pc was not being protected. Eventually it was fixed but it was a hassle. Might give the freeware a try though.

 

[darkassain]

they already have a app like that...
its called "Microsoft Forefront Client Security"
i thought MS forefront was going to be their "free antivir"

its currently cheaper than most...lol

and they are having a beta....

 

[HikerRemastered]

I don't really know either. I haven't tested Live One Care. The truth is, I don't really need antivirus software anymore. I haven't been using antivirus software and I haven't gotten a single virus in the past two years that I've been using Windows Vista.

If Microsoft's new security software is lightweight enough, I may just leave it enabled just for the "feel good" aspect of knowing that I do have antivirus software, much in the same way that I leave Windows Defender enabled, becuase I really can't say I've seen real performance benefits to disabling it.

If you're not running any AV software at all, how do you know if you do or don't have virus?

I have an excess need for AV, being a PC game modder who downloads lots of tools and mods, many rars and zips from untrusted sources, I have been using Eset NOD32 and Outpost Firewall, and the occasional free online scan from Trend Micro since shortly before Vista, and I still do.
I haven't given them a spin on W7 yet, since I'm using the Kaspersky (which is really annoying sooo many pop ups and "Help me! I'm an AV and a firewall and I don't know what I'm actually supposed to do!) beta, or trial thing that W7 itself suggests. I won't recommend it, but to be fair I haven't tried the other suggested ones.

 

[darkassain]

If you're not running any AV software at all, how do you know if you do or don't have virus?

I have an excess need for AV, being a PC game modder who downloads lots of tools and mods, many rars and zips from untrusted sources, I have been using Eset NOD32 and Outpost Firewall, and the occasional free online scan from Trend Micro since shortly before Vista, and I still do.
I haven't given them a spin on W7 yet, since I'm using the Kaspersky (which is really annoying sooo many pop ups and "Help me! I'm an AV and a firewall and I don't know what I'm actually supposed to do!) beta, or trial thing that W7 itself suggests. I won't recommend it, but to be fair I haven't tried the other suggested ones.

most of them are dead giveaways (through process explorer....)

the others that cannot be solved by using a simple command such as sfc /scannow are not worth your trouble as the most of those are rookits anyways....
(im not saying not to use av its just my opinion as i have on avast for the av and drive-by downloads protection)
if you are carefull enough (and check for packed files that might be trojans inside the download )you should be actually thwart about 99% of attacks the others are zero day and nothing in the world would be able to stop them...:shock:

 

[boxterduke]

Just saw this, now we are talking