Microsoft to Launch Morro Antivirus Soon

Microsoft is set to launch its own free security service called Morro. The new antivirus software will be out in the second half of 2009.

Amy Barzdukas, the senior director of product management for Microsoft’s online services stated, “this new, no-cost offering will give us the ability to protect an even greater number of consumers, especially in markets where the growth of new PC purchases is outpaced only by the growth of malware.”

Morro will be available as a separate download and offer malware protection for the Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. The security offering will provide comprehensive protection from malware, including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. All four attacks are different at their own level and it would require serious coding for malware detection at the lowest level in an operating system. Microsoft has said previously that Morro will be suitable for use on low-cost, low-powered netbooks that are growing in popularity in emerging markets.