Morro screenshots reportedly leaked; Will it be cloud-based?

Updated Wednesday with Microsoft comment.

A Windows enthusiast blog on Tuesday posted what it says are leaked screenshots of Microsoft's upcoming free security software, code-named "Morro," which is due for public beta release soon.

The Neowin.net blog has three screenshots that it says it obtained from an anonymous source. The software is reportedly being tested internally at Microsoft.

Meanwhile, CNET News' sister site ZDNet is reporting that Morro will be almost entirely cloud-based.

"Instead of scanning every file or network packet as they arrive into the computer from the Web or an external device, it creates a virtual tunnel between your incoming Internet pipe at the back of your computer to a Morro data center, which scans every byte and packet for malware," writes Zack Whittaker on the iGeneration blog.

"This is factually incorrect but we have nothing to add at this time," a Microsoft spokesman wrote in an e-mail.

Microsoft announced in November that it was discontinuing the subscription-based Windows Live OneCare consumer security suite in favor of a free offering that protects against viruses, spyware, rootkits, and Trojans, but lacks some non-security features OneCare had like automated PC tuneup and printer sharing.

Subscription-based Windows Live OneCare is being replaced by the free Morro security offering.

(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft said at the time that the new offering would be available in the second half of 2009. Windows Live OneCare will continue to be sold for Windows XP and Vista via retailers through June 30, 2009 (nearly $50 per year for up to three PCs), and direct sales will be gradually phased out as Morro becomes available.

Morro, which will be available for download over the Internet, will work on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and the upcoming Windows 7.

OneCare, launched three years ago, received mixed reviews but still managed to significantly shake up the security software market, resulting in generally lower prices.

I asked some security vendors whether they were considering offering free software to compete with Morro.

"With a number of free products already available, McAfee has experienced more than three years of global growth," a McAfee spokesman said. "On a level playing field, we are confident in our ability to compete with anyone who might enter the marketplace."

"Microsoft isn't going to change the business dynamic. Freeware is really about customer acquisition," Dave Cole, Symantec's senior director product management. "Norton offers trialware as a means to secure customers and even freeware vendors such as AVG, Avira, and Avast recommend upgrading to their payware solution for more complete protection. The reality is that shareware and freeware vendors have been in the market for 20-plus years. The freeware space is crowded and Microsoft is just joining the fray."

And this from Justin Priestley, senior vice president of consumer sales at Kaspersky Lab Americas: "Right now, Kaspersky Lab offers free access to our antivirus detection technology through our Web site, allowing consumers to scan their systems or suspicious files...and for the foreseeable future, that will be the extent of our no-charge offerings."

[Super2online]

As a user of OneCare who has been very satisfied with it's performance, I will not use a free version of it offering less protection. When my subscription elapses in November I will find another reliable company's product to purchase for our systems

[CTO_Dude]

@Super2Online <br /> <br />Just curious... why would you assume that Morro will offer less protection that OneCare in terms of antivirus/antimalware?

[El_Segfaulto]

Just because something is free does not make it less useful than its overpriced cousins.<br /><br />Infrarecorder<br />7 Zip<br />AVG<br />Thunderbird

[TV James]

@CTO and @El - because it will no longer offer tune-up, printer sharing, and backup. (I don't use printer sharing, but I really appreciate the tune-up and backup offerings.) I tried OneCare after buying SystemWorks online, and having it hang during installation. Norton couldn't get it to install correctly. OneCare also hung during install (some remnants of an old SystemWorks locking the firewall) but Microsoft was decidedly-un-Microsoft in how quickly and efficiently and helpfully their support engaged me (and not in the standard "you're a clueless non-technical person" sort of way that most tech support sites treat you even after you show them you know more than they do) and OneCare was up and running in a few days and it took over two months for Norton to process my refund and then mail me a check in the mail. <br /><br />I've also appreciated how simple Money was (as a former Quicken user) and am bummed that Microsoft would continue to pour money into a horrid product they don't charge for - Internot Exploder - while dropping paid programs I was happily paying for.<br /><br />Microsoft, I'm trying to give you money. Won't you please take my money? I know... I feel as dirty thinking that as you do reading it.

[walletless]

I believe that morro is probably based on forefront or onecare (or both).. I have used forefront extensively at work, and I am very much impressed - low footprint and works very well. At my work place, we have completely replaced our older etrust solution in favor of forefront. <br /> <br />Onecare was also good, and I used its 30-day trial on my personal laptop.. it seems to do the job. I got the updates frequently, and the virus definition database was maintained well. However, when it was time to pay up, I decided to use AVG instead, since it was free and worked well. Like onecare, AVG also has a low footprint. <br /> <br />If Morro is indeed free, and if like onecare and forefront it is not a memory hog, I will definitely use it as opposed to other solutions available on the market (particularly if Morro can detect everything - virus, spyware, etc... currently I install AVG as well as Spybot S&#38;D to keep my machine clean).. Norton and McAfee better shakeup and think about how to tacke this.

[BogusBasin]

Microsoft giving stuff away. Like IE to Netscape. Ever notice their new anti-Mac commercials? Yeah. They are giving away laptops to show how much more Macs cost. MS doesn't even make laptops. They compete with Apple on operating systems. But you don't see any MS commercials comparing the retail cost of Windows vs. Mac OS. Why is that? Because Windows cost so much more.<br />[CNET editor's note: Offensive comment deleted.]

[El_Segfaulto]

Commenting is so much easier when you have copy and paste options. I try not to reply to trolls, especially those with less imagination than the average bot.

[sanenazok]

Disagreeing with you isn't flaming. What does Apple have to do with this story? Do you think about other things? MS is allowed to give away software, just like Apple gives away Quicktime/iTunes. You know if the MS laptop ad is constantly running in the back of your mind (because you mention it even when it's not at all pertinent) then it's working very well as a marketing tool.

[BogusBasin]

You guys should hold hands while you edit your registry. Better yet, drop into a command line and type in i_@m_a: slave2MS

[sanenazok]

@Bogus: do you ever answer questions?

[BogusBasin]

No. I don't answer baited and ignorant questions. Oops!

[sanenazok]

@Bogus: Yet you ask questions yourself. Geez I hope you're not like this in meatspace, especially at work, but it's hard to adopt a completely different persona online than in the real world. Too bad for people who work with you.

[monkeyfun14]

@BogusBasin<br /><br />Its funny you call Windows users slaves.<br /><br />But your the one running around doing your masters PR work. Sweet sweet irony.

[sargess25]

Morro name is an apt description for Windows Vista users ..... just delete an 'r' and add a 'n' at the end. That really sums them up!

[El_Segfaulto]

I saw what you did there! A remarkable play on words. See you took the word Morro and changed it to Moron! Holy crap do you write for a comedy show? I mean you should, rather than clogging the boards at a tech site with your inane drivel.

[sanenazok]

Good thing you spelled out what you meant because the first part of the sentence was just so very subtle. Otherwise your co-coreligionists would not have understood it.

[TV James]

@sargess - Wait... I'm confused... so Windows Vista uses should be described as a beach in Brazil? Or as people who can't spell moron correctly? Or is that second part you?

[TV James]

Ha. I can't spell either. "uses" = "users"

[hsb248]

I am regularly testing antivirus programs in search of a low footprint well rounded menu of things it can do with the lest amount of effort at my end. So many are slow scanning and slow down ones computer, I really thought I had found a good one Sunbelt Viper it was fast had most of the bells and whistle one wants but it hated AOL and also once became corrupted had to reload it. Used for a long time AVG full suite not the free one. E-mail scanning was important the free products tend not to offer this. I was in love with AVAST still am most features for a free option took a bit to understand the scanning process after my learning curve it was a piece of cake to use it until I had work related intranet site I began using for searching it would not let the searches happen/work over the internet via my browser so had no choice but to change antivirus programs again. Used a multi licences copy of Norton which worked better then past Norton but had issues with keeping running after I tried to close down my computer. At this point I used the free OEM version of McAfee way to show a scanning process plus read and heard it was not well rated. I have now found NIRVANA ESET NOD32. I read a review on it in Forbes Business Magazine it sparked my interest based on the review to investigate the website for it. The tests show awesome results. Just purchased it after the 30 day trial free trail. FYI my favorite firewall is the free version Agnitum Outpost Firewall. My second computer is still running McAfee it is used for e-mail and a little bit of internet searching but limited. I tried OneCare it seemed okay but the reviews all said it did not provide a comprehensive protection so it was no longer on my list. I did use the free spam and defrag and other such stuff occasionaly to clean up my computers it worked well. No antivirus product seems to be the ultimate answer to a secure computer. Also it ends up being a personal judgment call as to what one wants and what one will pay for it. The more secure you make your computer the more scanning it takes and more programs are added. I will try the free Microsoft Antivirus program and hope it can hold up to the standards set forth by others I mentioned above or be better, But then again security risks change all the time so every service that is legitimate will hopefly meet the new concerns / security risks some how. Until it is proven other wise NIRVANA ESET NOD32 is my current Nirvana.

[sharmajunior]

You can try Eset Nod32. Only 29 MB program and runs fast and doesn't use much resources.

[ewsachse]

Are you a marketing trol for ESET NOD32?

[sharmajunior]

No, but I saw that he tried it and it works good. That's all. Gosh, people get raped here for suggesting anything.

[Hellcat]

Ever notice that Apple started with their slanderous commercials about Microsoft? I've been using PC's...since PC's were made for the home and since XP I've had VERY few problems...and now that I'm using Windows 7 since the betal I've had virtually none. Apple would have people think that everyone with a PC is getting blue screens by the day and virii by the second. Oh and I hear that 2 more trojans were found for the Mac, hopefully this is just the beginning of the onslaught that will come to show that the only reason Mac OS didn't have virus' is because they didn't have enough market share, now its getting a little higher and virus developers are coming for the Mac. Apple should be scared of Windows 7, and the Zune HD, and Palm Pre, and Android Phones, and Windows Mobile 7 because its only time until Apples market share shrinks again.<br /><br />Why don't you open a command line and type in Im_part_of_the_Apple_cult.

[Hellcat]

Ok no that note, I think Morro is a good idea. I'll see what reviewers think before I try it, who knows. I did try one care and it was nice. Hopefully Morro will be a good product, otherwise I'll just stick with Avast.

[Dango517]

Consumer might ask themselves one question. "Why am I'm I buying or using software to fix my computer" and more specifically, my Windows OS? That answer is scale. Windows by far, out sales all other OSs. This being the case it is most susceptible to any possible hack imaginable. That Windows is primarily an American company has something to do with its vulnerabilities, as well as the vast amount of money generated by the Internet. Unfortunately they continue to miss the boat on what there priorities are and where the burden of responsibility falls. <br /> <br />Windows is large enough and should leave this one to the minor league players. Windows certainly has a large enough share of the computing market. In fact the Commerce Department should insist on it.