The IT Nerd

You might recall that I posted a story about Microsoft coming out with free security software “real soon now.” Well, the software appears in beta form next week according to the Associated Press:

The program, Microsoft Security Essentials, is designed to find and kill malicious software that can steal passwords and other personal information or turn PCs into spam distribution hubs.

Once the PC security software is installed, Microsoft said it will download updated lists of identified malware daily, but will keep a low profile unless it detects dangerous software.

Okay. That sounds interesting. I suppose I’ll toss it onto a PC when it does appear and see what it does. But so far, I don’t see any need to change from what I’m using now. There is a bit of a twist to this though. Microsoft doesn’t want companies like Symantec and McAfee to go out of business just because they’re entering this market:

Security Essentials will compete with rival subscription programs from McAfee Inc. and Symantec Corp., and with several other free packages. But [Theresa] Burch [Director of their security team] said Microsoft isn’t going after those company’s customers — instead, the goal is to improve security overall by getting people who don’t have current antivirus software to protect their PCs.

In fact, it’s important that Microsoft’s competitors stay in business, Burch said.

“If there was only one solution out there addressing threats, all the malicious software developers out there would have a very easy target,” she said.

That’s something that I’m not used to seeing from the company who came up with “Embrace, Extend, Extinguish.” Perhaps they’ve turned over a new leaf? That would almost be too good.

Imagine my surprise when I saw this Reuters story on Microsoft getting ready to launch a free anti-virus product:

A Microsoft spokesman said on Wednesday that the world’s biggest software maker is testing an early version of the product with its own employees. Microsoft would “soon” make a trial version, or product beta, available via its website, he added, but declined to provide a specific date.

So, what will this product do? Here’s what’s known about Morro (named after Brazil’s Morro de Sao Paolo beach):

Microsoft has said that Morro will offer basic features for fighting a wide range of viruses, which would likely make it comparable to low-end consumer products from Symantec and McAfee that cost about $40 per year.

Okay. So my first thought is what makes it different than the free version of AVG which does basically the same thing? So far I’m not impressed, but then we’re talking about a product that doesn’t exist yet. So that may not be a fair statement to make. However, it seems that others aren’t impressed either:

“Microsoft’s free product is basically a stripped down version of the OneCare product Microsoft pulled from the shelves,” said Symantec Consumer division president Janice Chaffin. “A full Internet security suite is what consumers require today to stay fully protected.”

Joris Evers, a spokesman for No. 2 security software maker McAfee, said his company is already enjoying strong growth despite competition from free anti-virus products that are on the market.

“On a level playing field, we are confident in our ability to compete with anyone who might enter the marketplace,” he said.

So, the $64 question is should you get it when it comes out?  If you’re using nothing whatsoever, then using Morro would be an improvement. If you’re using some other product (free or not) then I don’t really see a reason to switch to this as long as whatever you’re using works for you.

Expect a beta to appear “soon” and a release version to appear sometime after that.