Free program to be out in
Autumn
Software giant Microsoft said it will release a beta test of its
free computer security program next week and is on track to launch a
finished product in autumn.
Microsoft Security Essentials is a bog
standard AV product that claims to find and kill malicious software that can
steal passwords and other personal information or turn PCs into spam
distribution hubs. Redmond has promised to upload updated lists of identified
malware
daily, but will keep a low profile unless it detects dangerous
software. Theresa Burch, a director on the security software team, said the
program tries to spot malicious software even if it's not on the list of
known corrupters. When it encounters something suspicious, it phones
home to Microsoft server for updated intelligence before allowing the
program to run, a process Burch said is almost instantaneous.
Microsoft
will also have a list of trusted software sources, so the tool won't
accidentally block items like Google Web browser toolbar, she said. Security
Essentials could put the fear of God into McAfee and Symantec and several
other free packages. Burch said Microsoft was not interested in knocking such
people out of business but instead wanted to improve security overall by people who don't have current antivirus software to protect their
PCs.
The security software will come as a free download, but it won't be part
of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system, which goes on sale in
October. Bundling the two could be fodder for antitrust complaints.