Microsoft Offer Free Protection Software

[GhostShip]

In the usual effort to gather a market, Microsoft are giving away yet another peice of "loss leader" software.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7737520.stm

In a surprise move, Microsoft has announced it will offer a free anti-virus and security solution from the second half of next year.
It will stop selling OneCare, its all-in-one security and PC management service, from the end of June 2009.

The new software, code-named Morro, will be a no-frills program suited to smaller and less powerful computers.
The software will be free to download and will support Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.
Since its launch in May 2006, OneCare has garnered less than 2% of the security software market share.

I fully expect them to reintroduce a payment system when the numbers pick up and we are all aware of how microsoft slip in their own brands of malware such as the famous WGA nagscreen when it suits them, this offering ceratinly looks prime as a vehicle for such things and in my view should be avoided.

[Cobra]

I have an answer for free protection as well: Remove Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.

[White Stripes]

@cobra: cant remove IE and outlook from 2k and up due to application dependancies (even the add/remove programs in the control panel uses IE)

even winmx uses parts of IE......

want better security... switch to linux or wait for reactos (open source windows clone) to be finished...

there is no way to -really- get those two nasty apps out... (cos as soon as you do another app will complain)