[3monkeys]

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Microsoft on Tuesday introduced its long-awaited consumer security suite Microsoft Security Essentials, a free download that replaces the paid-for OneCare product.

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), which was previously code-named Morro, provides antivirus, anti-spyware, rootkit protection and other tools to protect systems again malicious attacks. It uses the same technology as Microsoft's Forefront Client Security business product, and runs on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 machines.

The software is available as a free download, with no registration or trial period. However, the software will run Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage tool before installing, to check the user's copy of Windows is not counterfeit.

"By making Microsoft Security Essentials easy to get and easy to use, Microsoft hopes to encourage broader adoption of antivirus protection across the consumer audience, which in turn will help increase security across the entire Windows ecosystem," the company said in a statement.

Microsoft will not bundle MSE with Windows, Julia Owen, Microsoft UK's consumer product manager, told ZDNet UK.

"It's a standalone product," she said. "Obviously we work very closely with OEMs [PC manufacturers], and [bundling] could be a possibility, but at the moment we have nothing to announce around that."

[brownsfan019]

Interesting, thanks for posting.

I'll be watching for reviews of this to see if it can compete w/ other free software.