Microsoft confirms it is releasing Microsoft Security Essentials, its free anti-malware product, on Sept. 29. The slimmed-down solution will replace Microsoft's Windows Live OneCare in the battle against malware.
Microsoft
officials announced Sept. 28 that the
company's much-anticipated Security Essentials product will be
generally available Sept. 29.
The
Microsoft Security Essentials freeware is a slimmed-down replacement
for Windows Live OneCare, which the company stopped selling retail earlier
in 2009. Unlike OneCare, Security Essentials does not deal with firewalls or
data backup. Instead, Microsoft chose to focus on anti-malware
and anti-rootkit functionality.
"In
November 2008, Microsoft announced plans to deliver a new no-cost anti-malware
solution-code-named Morro-to consumers in the second half of calendar year
2009," a Microsoft spokesperson said. "By providing this core
anti-malware solution to consumers at no cost ... Microsoft [is able] to better
address the security needs created by smaller PC form factors, explosive growth
of PCs in emerging markets and rapid increases in the incidence of global
malware, and ... remove some of the barriers that stand in the way of consumers
having quality anti-malware protection."
Security
Essentials is "the first Microsoft security product to make use of the
company's new Dynamic Signature Service, a technology that helps ensure [that] users
stay protected by the most current virus definitions available without having
to wait for the next scheduled download," Microsoft said in a news
release. In addition, Security Essentials uses the service to validate
suspicious files against newly identified malware in near real-time. Actions
from unknown sources such as unexpected network connections, attempts to modify
privileged parts of the system or the downloading of known malware all trigger
requests for updates from the Dynamic Signature Service, company officials said in a June statement.
The
product will be available in eight languages and 19 countries: Australia,
Austria, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada,
France, Germany,
Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Japan,
Mexico, the Netherlands,
New Zealand, Singapore,
Spain, Switzerland,
the United Kingdom
and the United States.
"There
has been an amazing response from users eager to download Microsoft Security
Essentials, a no-cost download that protects consumers against viruses, spyware
and other malicious threats," the spokesperson said. "We appreciate
the continued support and look forward to delivering Microsoft Security
Essentials to consumers in 19 markets worldwide on Tuesday."
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