Microsoft Makes Security Software Free, Symantec and McAfee Screwed (MSFT, SYMC, MFE)
Of course, Microsoft moving into the anti-malware space with a free product is disastrous for McAfee (MFE) and Symantec (SYMC), which have dominated the PC protection industry for years. Unfortunately, Microsoft will probably make a legal end-run around anti-trust regulators by not bundling Morro into Vista or Windows 7 -- leaving Windows users with a less-than-fully-secure operating system out of the box unless they're hip enough to know where and how to download Morro.
See Also:
Microsoft's Ballmer in London: Software To Be Free
Microsoft's Smart Cloud Catch-Up Plan: Three Years Of Free Software
I do not think McAfee and Co. are afraid of MS at least in the commercial/enterprise sector.
They will suffer in the personal/home sector even though they will then be against AVG and Co.
Waiting for the review comparison between AVG and MS Anti-virus.
Suggestion for site: Please add a feature to receive email everytime someone posts a comment.
Eric, have you ever looked at the comparative ratings for the current MSFT anti-virus offerings? They are lower than whale sh!t in the middle of the ocean. They consistently score dead last in all ratings. MSFT assuredly does NOT give the same functionality for free and certainly never will because anti-virus is like locomotives for GM.
No one in his right mind uses anti-virus from the BloatFarm because, like most of its other products (Vista, WinMo, PlaysForSure [wasn't that a great name? notice the past tense?], SPoT, LiveSearch, Xbox {are you begining to get a pattern?}, Zune, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseam) it is also (ahem) useless junk that simply does not work adequately.
Prediction: McAfee and the others will do quite well because:
1. the BloatFarmers have learned nothing about product excellence (see: Xbox, Zune [notice how they are cheaper today], WinMo, LiveSearch, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseam) and think they can foist MSFTSH!T on the public like they did with V!STA
2. MSFT is still a bloated heap of rotting monopolies that no one really wants to use and
3. Ballmer is far beyond stupid.
1. Use the free Microsoft offer to drive down costs of the incumbent to almost nothing
2. Stay on the current vendor's bits
This is our common playbook. Happy to have a new page in it, care of Uncle Steve.
Thank the DOJ and EUC for that.
"leaving Windows users with a less-than-fully-secure operating system out of the box unless they're hip enough to know where and how to download Morro."
Help me out here, what commercial desktop operating system is fully secure out of the box? Hint: there's no such thing.
That is quite dangerous.
"Free security software?
That is quite dangerous."
Incorrect.
In fact free security software tends to beat many pay based security software. Comodo and Online Armor (free firewall software) both out perform Norton and Mcafee (pay for firewall software).
http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php
AVG and Antivir (antivirus) outperform Norton an Mcafee (antivirus) as well.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2008_08.php
Just because it is free does not mean it is less secure and just because you pay for it does not mean it is more secure. Don't be mislead, research software before you purchase it.
Reading between your childish and petty insults, you state that Microsoft's products score lower than others. Looking at VB100's results, I see that OneCare has a pass rate similar to or better than other products from McAfee and Symantec. Forefront (the enterprise product from Microsoft) has a 100% pass rate.
You can get this data from the VB100 site:
http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/
(free registration required)
Maybe they'll change it t'Morro. LOL
A secuity software needs maintenance and frequent updates. That can be done only if it is backed by a virus research team and a monitoring team.
Just to be sure I use F-secure.