Antivirus firms shrug at Microsoft's free security suite
Updated at 1:15 p.m. PST Wednesday with comment from Symantec and at 11:45 a.m. PST Thursday with comments from McAfee and Kaspersky.
For some security companies, Microsoft's decision to offer a free anti-malware product, code-named Morro, won't result in a dramatic change in how they do business.
Morro will be available in the second half of 2009 and will protect against viruses, spyware, rootkits, and Trojans, according to Microsoft.
"With OneCare's market share of less than 2 percent, we understand Microsoft's decision to shift attention to their core business," Joris Evers, director of worldwide public relations for McAfee, said in an e-mail.
As for confronting a free malware solution from a software giant, Evers said, "With more malware attacks than ever before, we believe our advanced technology, commitment to consumer education, superior protection, dedicated focus on security, and our 20-plus years in this business will provide consumers the confidence to choose McAfee as their trusted adviser and expert in security."
Justin Priestley, senior vice president of consumer sales at Kaspersky Lab's Americas division, also seemed not that concerned at the prospect of facing a free security solution from Microsoft.
"Having entered the U.S. consumer market at the same time as Microsoft, we initially viewed them as a formidable player. They've continued to hold a very low market share in the consumer market, and we don't expect the exit of OneCare to change the playing field drastically," Priestley said. "With the increasing threat malware and Web attacks pose, security is as important as ever, and we believe people will continue to choose antimalware software based on the quality of protection and will choose the highest-level product available."
Rowan Trollope, senior vice president of Symantec's consumer business, characterized the announcement as a "capitulation by Microsoft, and a reinforcement of the notion that it's simply not in Microsoft's DNA to provide high-quality, frequently updated security protection."
Here's the rest of his statement, provided via e-mail:
Consumers have already rejected OneCare, even though it entered the market at a lower price, because OneCare offered substandard protection and poor performance, as evidenced by scores of third party reviews. The offering only gained modest market share and ultimately was deemed unsuccessful in the marketplace.
Making a significantly scaled-back version of that same substandard security technology free won't change that equation. Simply put, innovation and protection matter. So even if it's free, the Microsoft "OneCare-light" offering will certainly fare worse than its predecessor, essentially putting consumers at increased risk without additional protection.
Additionally, our research clearly indicates that, after effective protection, what consumers care most about in a security product is performance. OneCare is widely recognized as one of the most egregious offenders in hogging system resources.
On Tuesday, Amy Barzdukas, senior director of product management for the Online Services and Windows Division at Microsoft, had dismissed similar criticism from McAfee. "If the current approach isn't working (as far as protecting consumers broadly), we need to go with a new approach," she said.
A representative for AVG Technologies, maker of AVG Antivirus, told CNET News on Wednesday, "We view this as a positive step for the AV (antivirus) landscape. AVG has believed in the right to free antivirus software for the past eight years."
The company said it will be "business as usual" and doesn't plan to make any changes to its own product offerings as a result. "Based on what Microsoft is planning to deliver, we don't feel the need to make any changes to our free product at this time," the company said.
Asked if AVG had any advice for Microsoft, the company said "consumers will use a free product if it's robust and it protects them. The product has to be easy to use, fast, unobtrusive, and be able to address the latest Web threats."
Alex Eckelberry, CEO of Sunbelt Software, maker of Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware, said the move to get out of a profitable business appears to a capitulation on Microsoft's part. "This gives them a chance to do something altruistic while getting out of an unattractive business," he said. He noted that Microsoft will still be selling Microsoft Forefront, a collection of business security products.
Eckelberry said there remain two questions: One, how exactly will Microsoft distribute the product (will it consider bundling it with Windows 7)? And two, will the company make the application available through enterprise group policy management?
In the end, AVG said the market still needs to be educated. "Microsoft will have to do more than simply make the product available," the AVG representative said.
(CNET News' Elinor Mills contributed to this report.)
As CNET's resident security expert, Robert Vamosi has been interviewed on the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets to share his knowledge about the latest online threats and to offer advice on personal and corporate security. Listen to his podcast at securitybites.cnet.com or e-mail Robert with your questions and comments. 
"Anything MSFT puts out will be so bug-laden as to drive customers--new and old-- to MSFT competitors."
Why would this happen? It's not like microsoft is forcing people to use their software (which will drive them to use something else).
If this is really the first antivirus program that people use, then I think they don't know it's bad, and will probably keep using it.
Also, calling people clowns just makes you sound bitter. So, let's keep the trolling to a minimum.
It must be Microsoft. That's enough for people to complain about without any basis.
Users will still have the options they have today but at least there will be some sort of malware detection out of the box which is more than they have now. I agree with you.
Really, Rowan?
That is definitely a Pot/Kettle statement If I've ever seen one.
The Microsoft product might have been ineffective and borderline useless, but at least it was cheaper than the equally awful product(s) that Symantec churns out every year.
"most people will just disable it."
Most people won't know how! And what makes you think it can be disabled? This is M$ we are talking about.
We've all been using AVG,Avast and Avira for years, all are free and pretty damn good.
Microsoft would never be able to keep up with the updates needed to stay ahead of the game just look at the firewall updates in XP.
MY xp firewall actually failed the GRC Shields-up test yesterday,
ho hum, back to zonealarm, again.
John H
- by kai7070 December 18, 2008 6:07 PM PST
- You want to see some serious protection? Just ask Santa Claus!!!!
- Like this Reply to this comment
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