Microsoft to replace OneCare with free AV product

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Nov 19, 2008

OneCare retirement announced, new product will be lighter on systems and pockets.

Microsoft has announced plans to put an end to its home-user security product Live OneCare, and to replace it with a simpler, free anti-malware product aimed at reducing numbers of unprotected Windows PCs.

The end date for OneCare sales has been set for June 30th 2009, with the replacement product, code-named Morro due to be made available in the second half of 2009. Cutting back on the range of system backup and tune-up tools included with OneCare, the new product will be a more straightforward anti-malware solution based on the core Microsoft detection engine, currently used in both OneCare and the corporate Forefront product. It will be handed out free of charge, with the aim of improving security in general by providing cover for currently unsecured systems, users in developing countries being singled out as particular targets for the new product.

Microsoft's official announcement of its plans is here, with comment on the expected impact of the move on the rest of the industry from Randy Abrams of ESET here and from Sophos's Graham Cluley here.

Posted on 19 November 2008 by Virus Bulletin

twitter.png
fb.png
linkedin.png
hackernews.png
reddit.png

 

Latest posts:

VBSpam tests to be executed under the AMTSO framework

VB is excited to announce that, starting from the Q3 test, all VBSpam tests of email security products will be executed under the AMTSO framework.

In memoriam: Prof. Ross Anderson

We were very sorry to learn of the passing of Professor Ross Anderson a few days ago.

In memoriam: Dr Alan Solomon

We were very sorry to learn of the passing of industry pioneer Dr Alan Solomon earlier this week.

New paper: Nexus Android banking botnet – compromising C&C panels and dissecting mobile AppInjects

In a new paper, researchers Aditya K Sood and Rohit Bansal provide details of a security vulnerability in the Nexus Android botnet C&C panel that was exploited in order to gather threat intelligence, and present a model of mobile AppInjects.

New paper: Collector-stealer: a Russian origin credential and information extractor

In a new paper, F5 researchers Aditya K Sood and Rohit Chaturvedi present a 360 analysis of Collector-stealer, a Russian-origin credential and information extractor.

We have placed cookies on your device in order to improve the functionality of this site, as outlined in our cookies policy. However, you may delete and block all cookies from this site and your use of the site will be unaffected. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to Virus Bulletin's use of data as outlined in our privacy policy.