Microsoft readies free anti-virus software – Let the jokes commence in 1..2…3….

Microsoft recently shut down their previous attempt at providing a security software application, OneCare, due to a big *YAWN* in the marketplace. That experience though hasn’t deterred then from trying once more but this time they’ll be going with a simple free anti-virus application.

Currently in private testing under the codename of Morro the software giant has announced it will be providing a trial version, product beta, in the near future; or to use their terminology – “soon”. The reaction from competitors in the field range from Symantec and McAfee saying they don’t see this new product from Microsoft as a threat through to “no comment” from the other security software companies.

Analysts consider Morro to be more of a long tern threat (if it can get any traction) rather than having any near term impact.

Symantec shares fell 1.6 percent in afternoon trading and McAfee fell 1.8 percent, while Microsoft was up 1.1 percent. The Nasdaq composite index was down 1.2 percent.

Investors are closely monitoring the free service, code-named Morro after Brazil’s Morro de Sao Paolo beach, amid concern it could hurt sales of products from Symantec and McAfee, which generate billions of dollars of revenue a year protecting Windows PCs from attacks by hackers.

Source: Yahoo! Tech

I sure hope whatever they come out with is better than the OneCare program about which I am not surprised they closed it down.