Microsoft will introduce a beta version of a free anti-malware service name Microsoft Security Essentials on June 23. The product was earlier code named Morro. Photo Credit: AFPJune 18, 2009, (Sawf News) - Microsoft will introduce a beta version of a free anti-malware service name Microsoft Security Essentials on June 23. The product was earlier code named Morro.
To begin with, licensed users of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems in Brazil, Israel and the United States will be able to download the software to access the service. Later this summer, the download will become accessible from China.
Use of the service will not require any registration and Microsoft will not collect any information from user computers.
By keeping the service free, Microsoft aim not just to curb the menace of viruses, spyware, rootkits and Trojans, but hopefully convince users to buy genuine Microsoft software.
“Our intent is to actually raise awareness that non-genuine PCs are not as safe as genuine PCs,” says Theresa Burch, director of product management for Security Essentials. “If we are not able to convince them that their best security solution is to get genuine, then there are other free solutions they can utilize.”
Security Essentials will use cloud-computing technologies to store malware “signatures,” instead of storing them on user computers, which not only requires more disk space but also frequent updates.
Security Essentials will have a minimal footprint and check for updates when PCs are idle.
“We don’t want to get in the way of what people are trying to use their computers for,” says Burch.
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