Microsoft’s “Morro” A Threat To Security Companies

Live OneCare - On the way out

Redmond, Washington-based software behemoth Microsoft Corporation put the proverbial “free software” cat amongst the priced security-software pigeons by announcing a product code-named “Morro”. The software will run on top of its various Windows operating system flavors, and protect the computer from viruses, spyware, rootkits and Trojans. Morro can be downloaded from Microsoft’s site as a stand-alone product from June 30, 2009 onwards. Uncharacteristically, but with sharp business logic, the product is being offered free.

The announcement comes on the heels of the shutting down of the priced version of Microsoft’s security solution, ”Live OneCare”. Customers could subscribe to this solution at a cost of USD 29.95 per year (slashed from USD 49.95). This offering will run its course till the official launch of Morro.

Markets reacted quickly on the news of Microsoft’s latest attempt to enter the security solutions market by beating down the prices of scrips of established security solutions players such as Symantec and McAfee. It is not that there are free anti-virus softwares already available in the market, however consumers usually look upon them with suspicion. Microsoft is a different ballgame altogether.

Read more about Microsoft’s Morro here.