Coming Soon: Microsoft’s Free Anti-virus Software

re: Coming Soon: Microsoft’s Free Anti-virus Software

MenthiX — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:42:04 GMT

@paperlock: I don't think any virus exists for the Xbox, and probably none for the Zune either. If there would be a virus on your Xbox or Zune it is probably a PC virus, which won't be able to do anything until it's actually executed on a PC. As long as that PC has antivirus installed it will be detected before it gets a chance to do damage.

Scanning over the network might be interesting, but very slow. Since the product is free it is easier to just install it on every machine in the network.

re: Coming Soon: Microsoft’s Free Anti-virus Software

efjay — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:11:20 GMT

I hope there is a version that runs on Windows Home Server that will monitor the installs on clients in the network.

re: Coming Soon: Microsoft’s Free Anti-virus Software

empirestatebuddy — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:47:37 GMT

Free anti-virus software from Microsoft? Awesome! How could anyone be upset by this (aside from Norton, McAfee, etc)? It's great news.

re: Coming Soon: Microsoft’s Free Anti-virus Software

paperlock — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:01:21 GMT

Morro will turn out to be a good product.Next question can i use it two scan my ny network and other computer.Plus can i use two scan my xbox and zune.

re: Coming Soon: Microsoft’s Free Anti-virus Software

MenthiX — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:54:21 GMT

They whole monopoly issues are only because they bundle products with Windows. I think Microsoft has learned from that.

Hope Morro will turn out to be a good product: Simple UI, but great quality detecting all the active malware in vrii in realtime. Daily signature updates an no large number of false positives.

If it is all that it will be great to recommend to family and other normal users.

re: Coming Soon: Microsoft’s Free Anti-virus Software

Sunshine — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:20:43 GMT

Under only basic features Microsoft understands: protection from several types of malicious software including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. It's an Anti Virus program and not a security suite, so no firewall, encryption etc. Most, if not all, of these features can be found in Windows already anyway, just as you said calum-cook. To me it sounds complete, I never liked security suites anyway (too much potential clashes with built in Windows security stuff).

@yertthedestroyer: possibly

re: Coming Soon: Microsoft’s Free Anti-virus Software

calum-cook — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:14:18 GMT

Yes, exactly. Let's just see about that. It may only contain anti-virus software, while other suites contain anti-spyware software etc, but what Symantec and McAfee seem to be forgetting is that all that extra stuff is already built into Windows. Morro will see these companies become irrelevant, and about time, too. Like yertthedestroyer said, I can't wait to be rid of their bloatware.

re: Coming Soon: Microsoft’s Free Anti-virus Software

yertthedestroyer — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:57:43 GMT

They will claim not to see it as a threat as they peddle their bloatware, then they will claim Microsoft is abusing monopoly position or something if their marketshare takes too big a hit.