Microsoft Plans Free Security Offerings

Microsoft is planning a new security offering code name ‘morro’, which the software giant hopes with curb the tide of malware infecting our systems. In addition Microsoft will stop making the paid subscription version of Windows Live OneCare effective June 30, 2009.  According to the press release Microsoft states:

“Customers around the world have told us that they need comprehensive, ongoing protection from new and existing threats, and we take that concern seriously,” said Amy Barzdukas, senior director of product management for the Online Services and Windows Division at Microsoft. “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.”

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.

Windows Live OneCare, one of the first all-in-one suites to be launched in the consumer market, includes a number of non-security features, such as printer sharing and automated PC tune-up. By shifting to focus on the core anti-malware features that most consumers still don’t keep up to date, “Morro” will be able to provide the essential protections that consumers need without overusing system resources, and will help more consumers have better protection against online threats.

It sounds like Microsoft may be coming out with a free version of their Windows Live OneCare product that didn’t make it commercially. Hopefully the new ‘morro’ software will consume less resources, since this seems to be what most of us are concerned with.

What do you think? Would you trust Microsoft to protect your system?

Comments welcome.

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