Microsoft: Free Antivirus, Addresses Fake
Microsoft is gearing up to take on Symantec and McAfee with a free anti-virus service for PCs, but will this lead to another antitrust case?
While Microsoft is busy going after a fake antivirus program through its Malicious Software Removal Tool, the company plans to launch a free anti-virus service in the immediate future. Microsoft is currently testing an early version of the anti-virus product internally with company employees, however there are plans to make a public beta available on the Microsoft website. The move to provide a free anti-virus product puts Microsoft on the map as a rival to Symantec and McAfee. However, the move may also spark more antitrust controversy for Microsoft, seen as means of dominating another aspect of the PC market.
Code-named Morro, the free service derives its name from Brazil's Morro de Sao Paolo beach. The service will also provide basic features that will make it comparable to the low-end, $40-per-year products offered by McAfee and Symantec. Microsoft said that Morro would protect end-users from various types of malicious software including trojans, spyware, viruses, and even rootkits. "It's a long-term competitive threat," said Daniel Ives, an analyst with FBR Capital Markets. In speaking with Reuters, he added that the near-term impact was actually minimal.
Both Symantec and McAfee seem unphased by Microsoft's free protection, and even referred back to the previous anti-virus software Microsoft released three years ago. Called OneCare, the company eventually pulled the software from store shelves due to poor sales. Janice Chaffin, Symantec's Consumer division president, said that Morro is basically a stripped down version of its OneCare product. "A full Internet security suite is what consumers require today to stay fully protected," she told Reuters.
McAfee also chimed in with confidence, saying that it has the ability to compete with "anyone who might enter the marketplace." While Trend Micro declined to comment, analysts say that they are looking forward to the Morro beta in order to compare its features with products offered from competitors.
In other news, Microsoft released an update to its Malicious Software Removal Tool yesterday that addresses a fake antivirus program known as "Win32/InternetAntivirus," although it's commonly known as General Antivirus, Personal Antivirus, and Internet Antivirus Pro. According to Microsoft, the rogue program "scares" victims with false and misleading alerts regarding malware in order to convince users to purchase rogue security software. Additionally the program displays a fake "Windows Security Center" message, and will also download a password stealer called TrojanSpy:Win32/Chadem. This program tries to grab FTP username and passwords that can be used to compromise servers for hosting more malware.
"They use new domain names every day, often registering multiple names at a time, like scanfan4.info, star4scan.info and scanstar4.info," the company said. "Win32/InternetAntivirus also installs a component to display messages in your browser, similar to the combination of Win32/FakeXPA and Win32/Yektel. And it displays a bogus Windows Security Center, which reports that Internet Antivirus Pro is "unable" (sic)."
Microsoft has listed the alert level as Severe, so consumers should update their version of the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool with the latest definitions. The company also said that reports of rogue antivirus programs have been more prevalent as of late. "Some of these programs may display product names or logos in an apparently unlawful attempt to impersonate Microsoft products," the company added.
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This will probably work as well as vista does.
Wrong. You don't need security software at all - basic stuff is fine. If you're smart about what you do, you'll be fine.
I doubt this will displace AVG.
From the Urban Dictionary:
morro - A verb, meaning to borrow with absolutely no intention of paying back. An underhanded way of taking advantage of a good soul
Or, we can continue to use AVG or Avast for free...
Being from Brazil, it is good to see my country finally getting into the good side of the international setting. Both Microsoft's new stuff are named after Brazilian settings, such as the Natal camera for the Xbox 360 and this free anti-virus. I only bothers me a little that the author misspelled Sao Paulo state (he wrote is as Sao Paolo).
From the Urban Dictionary:morro - A verb, meaning to borrow with absolutely no intention of paying back. An underhanded way of taking advantage of a good soul
Sorry, but in Portuguese, where that name came from, a Morro is like a hill, or in this case, the name of the beach.
[citation]However, the move may also spark more antitrust controversy for Microsoft, seen as means of dominating another aspect of the PC market.[/citation]
Only if they bundle it with Windows. Otherwise, I'm with Frozenlead and saying it's not displacing AVG for free protection.
How can Microsoft make Anti virus when the most common OSs that get hacked are Vista and XP?
It is an oxymoron, a person who gets sick all the time is making something that cures you and prevents you from ever getting sick.
That's just plain stupid
Microsoft should have been entrenched in this market years ago. Security is a double-edged sword... write solid code that maintains/promotes safe practices and kill the critters that might get through those defenses. Anti-trust is a moot point, since the world has demanded this model of security and endlessly criticized and taken action against Microsoft for not providing it. Lack of anti-trust against MSRT is all Microsoft needed to test the waters. The latency of this decision has only made things worse than they otherwise might have been. I say let the have at it, be quiet about it, and the world might actually benefit.
this will be quite sad if this causes another serious suit against microsoft, they try to provide free protection for the software that they are the sole producers of and people complain. u would think that people might complain if the performance ended up being like one care was but the very act of offering it FREE, please find something else to whine about
I've got a better idea... why not make their OS impervious to viruses? I know that could have a negative affect on the IT industry as dealing with malicious software takes up about 60-70% of IT support's time these days but hey!.. it's not like I'm asking them to make it stable too...
Microsoft is probably asking for it.
..Or this is payback to AVs that majorly screws-up Windows with faulty updates.
In either case, since most common Windows users would readily trust Morro (since it's also from MS), MS should either make sure Morro is very effective for its intended scope. Otherwise, it should have a visible note to users stating Morro's limitations and should seriously consider a full-blown AV. Not clear? Think of compact car performing as advertised/expected rather than a an SUV crippled to perform as a compact car just to make it cheaper.
This will probably work as well as vista does.
So pretty dam good then? Since only a idiot thinks Vista is bad now.
And of course the EU will sue them for anti-trust laws. Oh well, hopefully more of the pirate party get's some seats so that madness can stop. I mean Microsoft has the best change of making the best anti-virus out there, they know the code more then anyone else.
I've got a better idea... why not make their OS impervious to viruses?
Only way that is happening is if you never connect a computer to the internet and only run the programs installed with it. You will never make a OS immune to viruses, it's impossible.
How can Microsoft make Anti virus when the most common OSs that get hacked are Vista and XP?It is an oxymoron, a person who gets sick all the time is making something that cures you and prevents you from ever getting sick.That's just plain stupid
Uh what? There's a good reason why XP and Vista are the most hacked OSes, they have the most market share by far. I goes over 90% windows, 4% Mac and the rest Linux and the like. I would hope windows is the most hacked otherwise it's the most secure OS out there easily.
Not to mention, it's Microsoft making the viruses you moron. Gee the stupidity of people.
I tell friends that Norton stuff 'may' keep you virus free but your computer will run like crap with it and you will be out 50 bucks so why bother. Pick up Avast which does a good job anyways and your computer still runs fast. (I have notice Avast makes my computer connnect to networks slightly slower after bootup).
Win32/FakeXPA is a pain to get rid of.
AV's have given nothing but problems. Can't turn them off, can't uninstall.
I hope this doesn't result in more lawsuits, that would make me sad.
I haven't even used a anti-virus for a long time now, and I prefer it just because some anti-virus programs get fat from all the resources they require.
Windows Defender and the integrated firewall have done me just fine actually.
If all else fails, I not afraid of reformatting my OS. The best virus cleaning utility.
Well if it's as good as Symantec or McAfee, it must be a big old Microsoft placebo. I'm sure it will be light years ahead of those two, but not others like Kaspersky. I've seen heavily infected systems with both and they don't find jack. I don't think people would even use them if they weren't crammed down people's throats at Best Buy.
i have no protection software of any kind and my pc runs flawlessly, lesson to be learn is don't be a newb.
= )
Anti virus? All i need is my router firewall a good hostfile, Homer/edexter and the number one rule of don't trust anything.
I think microsoft should have every right to develop antivirus software to protect its operating system. It's only a shame that they haven't been doing this from the start.
I can tell you as a computer technician i have been cleaning computers for 25 years that the reason why onecare bombed is because it is buggy also nortons,mcafee,bitdefender and others are defeated by simple rootkits.
I spend more time removing these av's than anything else norton's detection rate is the worst on the market mcafee while not a memory hog is not much better either.
AVG and avast are ok but are easily defeated by these rogue av's even with current versions and updates it cannot remove these threats.
Nod32, kaspersky, Panda have the best protection atm with threatfire also installed protects you better.
AVG or Avast are good IF you also install treatfire because of the ability to detect and remove rootkits and zero day trojans/worms/viruses.
If Microsofts new av cannot pickup rootkits it will be just as useless and nortons and mcafee.
To have a good av it MUST be able to pickup and remove rootkits otherwise it cannot protect your computer properly.
Again another Microsoft dilema. If it make the great antivirus software than it call monopoly. If it make bad antivirus that it call usual bad microsoft made program. Microsoft Antivirus has been made since Dos MsAV. In Windows era it stop. Back with One Care and FrontLine for enterprise. It really really difficult become a Microsoft.
I've been using Avira AntiVir Personal and it works like a charm.It's free and I never had any performance issues with it. Detects all the crap incl. rootkits without any problems.I wouldn"t switch to MS antivirus at the early stage - let them prove themselves first.Then, maybe...
... it is funny... if you are a windows user, there is no way, that you don't use a proper antivirus, and it costs...
http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
... and not just antivirus is needed... common sense is useful too...
... there is alternatives... OSX or LINUX...
... it is funny... if you are a windows user, there is no way, that you don't use a proper antivirus, and it costs... http://anti-virus-software-review. [...] ws.com/... and not just antivirus is needed... common sense is useful too... ... there is alternatives... OSX or LINUX...
When I am in windows... I use avast... which is free. When wine can run all windows programs and games flawlessly... I'll switch over for good.
I'll stick with my Nod32 I think
When I am in windows... I use avast... which is free. When wine can run all windows programs and games flawlessly... I'll switch over for good.
... avast, avira, avg free edition and all cracked and free antivirus versions is more work for me... so i don't complain... there was a virus, a trojan circling the skype... called hahahaseeyourmomnaked.pif... all that had the avg free edition and avast got infected... so you know, witch don't use a good antivirus... but, if you are skilled to do a reinstall everytime when a virus, malware, trojan, worm messes up you pc... nice...
morro-nic? Mainly in reference to the fact that the EU will sue MS over this. I'm surprised they haven't sued them for the malicious software removal tool.
That being said there should be some sort of basic anti-virus that comes with an OS. The odds that it would cut too much into the dedicated anti-virus is slim as the people that would benefit from this are the ones without anti-virus currently.
People interested in security would still pick up a good firewall and anti-virus, especially since people would be focusing on morro and not on Norton or AVG.