October 24, 2006 10:01 AM PDT

Microsoft's free anti-spyware hits market

By Dawn Kawamoto
Staff Writer, CNET News

Share
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
- Reddit
- Facebook
Email
Print

Related Stories: Piecing together Windows Vista
November 8, 2006; Security rivals shut out of Microsoft meeting
October 19, 2006; Rivals skirmish with Microsoft over Vista security
September 19, 2006; Spyware-killing Vista could take out rivals
March 17, 2006; Microsoft launches anti-spyware beta
January 6, 2005; Microsoft: No antivirus product yet
June 15, 2004

Microsoft announced on Tuesday the general release of its free anti-spyware program, a move that significantly steps up the software maker's competitive challenge in the security industry.

Windows Defender anti-spyware is now available in English to Windows XP users, with other languages set for delivery in coming weeks. Windows Defender will also be bundled with Windows Vista, Microsoft's next-generation operating system, when it is released in January.

Elsewhere on CNET
Download it

Get Windows Defender and more information at Download.com

Windows Defender is expected to raise the competitive stakes with security vendors McAfee and Symantec, which charge for their anti-spyware products. The security industry has had a long time to ponder the free anti-spyware product, given that it has been in beta testing since January 2005.

Microsoft also released the Beta 2 test version of its Microsoft Certificate Lifecycle Manager on Tuesday. The software is designed to lower costs for companies that use digital certificates and smart cards by simplifying the maintenance of the certificate system. It aims to ease the administrative process and deployment of the technology, which can be handled through a centralized or self-service management system.

See more CNET content tagged:
anti-spyware, Microsoft Corp., security, Microsoft Windows

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 3 comments

happy and not
by thedreaming October 24, 2006 11:09 AM PDT: I'm happy a free realtime scanner is now available for spyare, but I'm said it's windows defender. It's not the most accurate of the free ones, but since most people will tell you to run more than one and have even a paid one, then the more the better.; Reply to this comment

Interesting. What's bad for Symantec...
by john55440 October 24, 2006 4:57 PM PDT: Between Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool, Windows Defender's very long beta testing, and OneCare, MS should have a pretty good handle on what's "out there", and how to deal with it.

Besides, anything that Symantec and McAfee hate MUST be a Good Thing.; Reply to this comment

In any other market... this would be called dumping!!!
by wbenton October 28, 2006 7:12 AM PDT: Except for Microsoft.

There are too many exceptions as far as Microsoft is concerned...

TOO MANY...

Just TOO MANY...

They break the coincidence barriers left and right, time and again and again and again.

Makes one wonder how Microsoft keeps the payoffs off the record!

Walt; Reply to this comment

Latest tech news headlines

What you can--and can't--find about Palin on the Internet
Posted in News - Politics and Law by Stephanie Condon

September 4, 2008 10:20 PM PDT
Michael Moore plans Net-only film premiere
Posted in News - Digital Media by Steven Musil

September 4, 2008 9:20 PM PDT
McCain talks up oil drilling, green energy
Posted in News - Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh

September 4, 2008 9:11 PM PDT

RSS Feeds

Add headlines from CNET News to your homepage or feedreader.

More feeds available in our RSS feed index.

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right

Nanotech: The Circuits Blog
Timing rumors surface for AMD plant spin-off
Rumors persist that Advanced Micro Devices is planning to spin off all or part of its manufacturing operations.
Gallery
Photos: Ron Paul's RNC alternative
As the Republican convention took place just miles away, a crowd rallied for the former presidential candidate and his message of limited government, ensured civil liberties, lower taxes, and peace.
Digital Noise: Music and Tech
Was 1980s music that bad?
NPR asks listeners which year featured the best music, and the 1980s emerge as a bleak era. Personally, the '80s figure prominently in my collection, but well behind the 1970s.
Beyond Binary
Microsoft begins big ad push
Microsoft's multi-year push, estimated at $300 million, begins with a spot featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld aired during Thursday's NFL game.
Video
YouTube plays party politics
During the presidential campaigning four years ago, YouTube didn't even exist. Now it's a tool candidates must master to get their message across. CNET's Kara Tsuboi stops by the YouTube upload booths at the Democratic and Republican conventions to find out why Google's video site has such a big presence in Denver and St. Paul, Minn.
News - Digital Media
Michael Moore plans Net-only film premiere
Filmmaker plans to premiere his latest documentary exclusively on the Internet for free, forgoing the traditional theatrical release.
Video
Political party playlists
We know the Democrats and Republicans are split over policy issues, but does their musical taste fall down party lines too? And what kind of gadgets did they bring to the conventions to listen to their music? CNET reporter Kara Tsuboi finds out.
News - Politics and Law
What you can--and can't--find about Palin on the Internet
John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate has inspired a wealth of creativity on the Internet.
News - Cutting Edge
Execs predict next Google-like tech
On eve of company's 10-year anniversary, researchers and business pundits speculate about what technologies might someday have as much impact as Google.
Gallery
Photos: The brains behind Google Chrome
Here's a look at some of the engineers and executives who took the stage at the company's headquarters as they unveiled the new browser.
Crossfade
Ying Yang Twins, 'Look Back At It': Free MP3 of the Day
This amped-up duo gets the party started with a mix of crisp, Southern hip-hop beats and shout-along rhymes. Download a free MP3 of "Look Back At It" courtesy of CNET Download Music.
Green Tech
Clean-tech group forms to support Obama
"Clean Tech and Green Business for Obama" aims to raise $1 million for the Democratic presidential nominee while elevating issues of climate change and alternative energy.