Microsoft on Tuesday said it is changing its strategy for offering PC antivirus software, with plans to discontinue its subscription-based consumer security suite and instead offer individuals free software to protect their PCs.
Code-named Morro, the new offering will be available in the second half of 2009 and will protect against viruses, spyware, rootkits, and Trojans, the company said in a statement.
With the arrival of Morro, Microsoft plans to stop selling the Windows Live OneCare service, although the two services are not identical. Morro lacks OneCare's non-security features, such as printer sharing and automated PC tuneup. Morro will, however, use fewer resources than the fee-based offering, making it better suited to low-bandwith systems and less powerful PCs.
Microsoft decided to switch to a free product because there still so many PCs out there that lack any antivirus software.
"A majority of consumers around the world do not have up-to-date antivirus, antispyware, and antimalware protection," the company said in a posting on its Windows Live OneCare Team Blog that includes a detailed FAQ for customers.
The move is clearly a blow to Microsoft's rivals in the security space, such as Symantec and McAfee. Both companies were not immediately available to comment.
Microsoft had been selling Windows Live OneCare for US$49.95 per year, which covered up to three PCs and offered centralized backup and optimization features in addition to security capabilities.
Windows Live OneCare will continue to be sold for Windows XP and Vista via retailers through June 30, 2009, and direct sales will be gradually phased out as Morro becomes available. "Microsoft will ensure that all current customers remain protected through the life of their subscriptions," the statement said.
Morro, which will be available for download over the Internet, will work on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and the upcoming Windows 7.
The news frustrated OneCare customer Cas Purdy who complained on Facebook: "I just paid for OneCare. I'm kind of bitter."
Purdy, who heads up public relations at security firm Websense, said in a follow-up phone interview that he paid for his OneCare subscription a few weeks ago for his home laptop. Websense does not compete with Microsoft on consumer software.
"I'm all for a free tool but given that I just paid for it...we'll see," he added.
While representatives from McAfee and Symantec could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon, Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, said the news does not impact his security firm because it focuses on the enterprise market.
"I think this announcement may cause some sleepless nights for the chiefs at McAfee and Symantec--they've always done well out of the consumer anti-virus market, and with tougher financial times ahead of them [they] won't be pleased to see the possibility of that evaporating further," he wrote in an e-mail response to questions.
Microsoft started selling OneCare in May 2006, three years after signaling its intent to enter the security software market with its purchase of Romania's GeCad.
Although OneCare received only mixed reviews, it significantly shook up the security software market, resulting in generally lower prices.
The software maker has also started selling its Forefront line of security software for businesses and indicated at its Microsoft Online launch on Monday that it plans to expand its lineup of hosted security services.
CNET News' Ina Fried contributed to this report.
This article was first published as a blog on CNET News.com.
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Hi All, This is great news. The only thing that worries me is that if this software is as stable as the OS (Windows XP, Vista) god only help the end users. Just see the number of updates that Microsoft brings out ... even on its latest Vista Platform!!!! Only hope it does not harriss the general public and is another gimic to extract money from the common users. They are having a tough time in their core products as it is ... why will they spend time and money on a freeware !!!Lets see...
Posted by anonymous on Thursday, November 20 2008 01:49 PM