“Oh, FFS!” That’s what the likes of Norton and Symantec can be heard saying today with the news that Microsoft plans to release free anti-virus software, code-named Morro. (That’s the name of a beach in São Paulo, and is pronounced “MO hoo. Tell your friends.) A beta is expected “soon,” but Microsoft hasn’t said when the final version will be available.
Morro is being described as a stripped-down version of Live OneCare, the company’s rubbish commercial anti-virus application it released a few years ago.
Will Morro be as feature rich as something from Norton and Symantec? Maybe not, no, but for the Average Joe out there, for someone who might not even bother with an anti-virus as it is, it might be perfect.
1) Norton and Symantec are the same company
2) Their product sucks
3) Microsoft free anti-virus is hardly something for majot AV companies to sweat over considering the past flops such as one care and ms anti spy, etc.
4) The better AV applications are the lesser known and some are already free. Example, I have used Avast for years and years exclusively on hundreds of computers, all free. Avast was not flipped upside down and made to say uncle by major virus’s and malware in the past as was Symantec and Mcafee
So not to worry Symantec and Mcafe, you can still buy your way onto every new Dell, Gateway, E-Machine, etc and funnel people into buying your products.
1) Norton and Symantec are the same company
2) Isn’t this old news? Haven’t we known about this since MS announced it was discontinuing OneCare last year?
True It Should Be Norton And Mcafee
I think if they can beat the like’s of symantec and mcafee in terms of virus definition updates and provide it with their Windows 7 platform it would be a Hit.
Nick,
I love you. Yooose my favorite.
I disagree on the point that OneCare is rubbish. In my experience OneCare is leaps and bounds ahead of Norton and Symantec in terms of effective operation without creating a big drag on the system. Frankly, it’s one of the few software products I buy that I’ve got no problem with the price ($49.95/three machines) I have no affiliation with Microsoft, I just feel you are dead wrong on your assessment and such a strong conclusion suggests lack of meaningful real-world testing of the product. Friends have tried and been pleased with OneCare as well. I wish they’d keep it alive as is.
+1
yes, OneCare was the very best and cheapest all in one solution ever ever. once you had set it up you had to do absolutely nothing for as long you had the subscription. in the last AV report it even got up to 3 place in all AV software again avg, avira, avast, etc,etc. how so it was “rubbish”?
i was very interested in OneCare 3.0 since it would had come with WHS and Windows Live integration.. such a shame..
Now the tune-up/maintenance part of OneCare will be in Windows Advisor and the AV,ASW, AMW and Firewall will be in Morro
Lol, spoken like true techies :-) (not).
Lack of real world testing??? All I ever do is computers, day/night, both jobs, network security expert.
You are entitled to your opinion too though.
I dont care if its good or bad just put Symantec out of business and im happy.
Hello its good
On my above comment I meant to write “Symantec and McAffee.” Nick’s article that we are commenting on did the same thing I did so I suspect he had the same — rolling off the fingers — issue I did, and wasn’t demonstrating a lack of knowledge on the topic. I’ll give him a pass on that. I concede that it is worth a giggle that we both entered it that way.
I, too, have been in the PC business for quite a long time both as a job and hobby so have racked up a few hours on this stuff myself (since 1981). I have used and administered all three products in both small and enterprise environment. I’ve also used AVG (pretty good) and Kaspersky (lots of problems) in small environments. Nick, what you don’t say is what product IS the best product out there in this category. That would be good to hear from you because it would put your comments in perspective. I stand by my earlier post. OneCare is a great combination of light-weight, easy to use, and reasonable price.
P.S. M$ announced this news — Morro, end of OneCare — many months ago so most news sources are only picking it up now. Crunchgear is usually early on this stuff.
In response to Chirs’s question “What is the best”, I am going to say Avast a thousand times. The free version smokes the others with ease. It won best AV of 2006-2007? or was it 2006-2008? Don’t remember but give it a try, throw some virus’s and malware at it. It is also the lightest weight and most configurable I know of.
what the hell you’re talking about? “morro” means “hill” in portuguese.
See here where the name comes from: Morro de Sao Paulo.
thanks
continu