Microsoft To Release Free Anti-Virus Software Morro Soon

Martin | Jun 11, 2009 | Comments

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Microsoft is about to release a first public beta version of their new free anti-virus software program Morro which is supposed to fill the gap left by the Microsoft One Care demise. Morro seems to be concentrating on being an anti-virus software program without additional modules that allow a user to create backups or use a firewall for extra protection. Those extra modules are on the other hand already available in the Windows 7 operating system which makes Morro the ideal candidate to fill the one layer of protection that is not already shipping with Windows 7: Anti-virus protection.

Microsoft has said it will provide protection from several types of malicious software including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans.

It is not yet clear how Morro will run along with Windows Defender. It basically seems that Morro will be Windows Defender with added capabilities to detect and remove viruses, rootkits and trojans as well as spyware. The anti-virus software is expected to enter public beta stage in the coming months with no exact date given yet.

Which leads to the closing question: Which (if any) anti-virus software programs are you using on Windows 7?

via ZDnet and Paul Thurrott.

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Filed Under: Windows 7 News

Tags: anti-virus • antivirus • Microsoft • morro • Windows 7 • windows 7 antivirus

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jmh363905
This is not a case of MS "fixing" an issue. This is a case of MS doing something about an issue which is out of their control because no matter how hard they try, people are gonna make malicious software; this is where definitions come in. I already use Forefront Client Security (MS AV) and it works better than anything I've tried.

Soulstorm
Yep, maybe a functional brain...al Operating sistems have security flaws, windows is the most targeted because it has 90% of the market share. Who are you going to write malware for, 10 percent or 90 percent ?
Now that OSX is becoming more popular look what happens : http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=3575
That is the 7th attack on OSX in the last months. When OSX had 3 percent, nobody even bothered, 0 viruses or malware.

And let us take a look at the Snow Leopard page : http://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx/secu...

â€œThe Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box. However, since no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, antivirus software may offer additional protection.â€

Eoraptor
Well, people malign microsoft more often than they should on security... it IS a very big and juicy target. On the other hand, these ARE the geniuses who thought that attaching the browser to the kernel and then leaving it wide open on all ports and in all interoperations was a GOOD idea. Which is why Mac and Linux are both inherently more secure; the browser, while not operating in a separate sandbox, is at least not part of the freaking OS.

My concern is this... One Care (M$'s existing AV offering) routinely comes in at or close to dead last in tests... Why should we expect something they WON'T be making any money from will somehow be superior? Especially when (according to what I have read already) it will be a live service instead of a resident app. if I'm not online, will I still be protected?

The company who makes the damned OS can't patch their own security holes or make a worthwhile security offering, so we're left to third parties to fix problems which, by rights, shouldn't BE problems in the first place.

Incidentally, I run Avira's current suite when in Windows 7. Free, relatively small, and effective in my experience.

Jim
You asked what people use on Win 7 (x64)? nothing at this time. I tried something free (Avg I think) and it kept crashing. Meanwhile, I haven't run AV on win7 or vista since mid-last year. Defender yes. HW Nat yes. AV no.

Haven't had any virus issues. The real question is I guess - if I did, would I know?

Riley
I have been using TrendMicro Internet Security 2009 all thru the Beta and now into the rc- TM program crashing thru the beta but after sending rusults back to TM and MS, working flawlessly on the rc...

chieftain20
Of course I use Avast! on all my computers.
Works great.
Although I've never had a problem with viruses to start out with anyway.

SparkyRih
I used OneCare before (WinXP, Vista)... On Win7 I use Avira Antivir right now (and on XP/Vista before to)...

Nick
onecare sucked, it kept blocking every program that tried to connect to the internet and it had shitty definitions. i use malwarebytes along with avg.

Primedeath
I have used a computer since I was 7. I have not had a virus yet. I am smart enough to use Sandboxie on what I download and smart enough to not download anything I wouldn't trust. I have been virus free since I was 9. The only virus I have encountered was one a friend put on there.